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Lightning caused Locust Fire on North Rim reaches 423 acres
Forest Service fire managers could allow managed fire to grow to 3,283 acres

The McRae fire. Photo/USFS

The McRae fire. Photo/USFS

FREDONIA, Ariz. - During the last 24-hours, North Zone firefighters have continued to monitor weather, fire behavior and fire progression, as well as scout and prepare for firing opportunities along the perimeter boundaries of the Locust Fire being managed to improve forest health on the Kaibab Plateau.

Fire personnel discovered the lightning-caused fire during an aerial reconnaissance flight on June 15. At this time the fire has burned around 423 acres. There are currently 113 personnel committed to managing it.

The fire is located 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Arizona and northeast of Locust Point.

Over the coming weeks, fire crews will manage the fire within a 3,283-acre boundary. Roads, trails and ridges will help crews maintain low to moderate fire spread within the area.

In anticipation of predicted thunderstorm activity later in the week, firefighters are using burnout operations to manage risk. This allows firefighters to add sufficient depth to control lines in order to ensure the fire remains within the established boundaries and reinforces perimeter lines in anticipation of higher winds and the potential for increased fire behavior.

"Burnout operations allow us to manage risk by securing perimeter boundaries and reducing the overall complexity of the main fire," said Dave Robinson, north zone fuels specialist. "Burnout operations allow us to secure our lines and remove fuels between control lines and the advancing flaming front."

The objectives fire managers are working to achieve on the fire, include returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling of nutrients into the soil, enhancing wildlife habitat and protecting the area from future high-intensity wild fires. To help accomplish these objectives, fire crews are removing vegetation, also known as prepping, around designated perimeter roads known as Management Action Points (MAPs) where actions will be taken to slow, redirect or prevent fire spread.

There may be visible smoke from Highway 67 and Highway 89A. At this time, there are no road closures in effect. Motorists are reminded to exercise caution when in the area.

More information or to get fire activity updates and maps 24 hours-a-day can be found at the fire information line at (928) 635-8311 or from the Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov or by texting 'follow kaibabnf' to 40404.


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