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Coconino National Forest starting management of lightning-caused Wolf Fire near Clints Well

Lightning-sparked wildfire located in area slated for a prescribed fire project later this year 

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., May 2, 2024 — The Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District will begin managing a lightning-caused wildfire sparked earlier this week in an area already slated for a prescribed fire within the coming weeks. 

The Wolf Fire, reported the morning of April 29, is roughly 1 acre and located about 3 miles northwest of Clints Well.

Fire managers had planned to treat the area of the Wolf Fire with the Clints prescribed fire project scheduled for later this month and will be proceeding with land treatment plans following the lightning-sparked ignition.

“These opportunities give us the chance to help fire as it plays its natural role in our fire-adapted ecosystem,” said acting District Ranger True Brown. “We’d already planned to treat this piece of land using prescribed fire. Now, we’re just going to treat it with wildfire. We think this will be a great thing for our nearby communities.” 

Lightning-caused wildfires allow an opportunity for land treatment: The removal of forest fuels – such as pine needle accumulation, dead and down trees and other dry plant matter – that create hazardous conditions that could lead to potential catastrophic wildfire.

While differing from a prescribed fire because they are unplanned, naturally-ignited wildfires use many of the same methods to allow fire managers to help fire fulfill its natural role in the northern Arizona ecosystem.

Fire managers aspire to treat roughly 11,000 acres of land over the course of the next two weeks. The northern Arizona-based Type 3 team has been ordered in to assume management of the Wolf Fire beginning Monday, May 6.

Throughout the fire management process, the team will employ a strategic, risk-based response that is appropriate for changing conditions on the ground. This response will use a full range of management actions that consider fire and fuel conditions, weather, values at risk and resource availability.

Ignitions will begin Monday, May 6. Fire managers hope to continue ignitions for roughly two weeks.

Land treatment using fire – whether it’s conducted as part of a planned prescribed fire or part of an unplanned wildfire – is an important part of the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to reduce the risk of wildfire to critical infrastructure and communities. 

As part of the overall Wildfire Crisis Strategy, the Coconino National Forest is committed to restoring land and protecting watersheds – including work on the Cragin Watershed Protection Project – as part of the wider Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).

Smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of land restoration work and wildfire. While early spring wind patterns typically funnel smoke upward for a wider distribution that will lessen smoke impact to nearby communities, area residents and visitors should be prepared for lingering smoke in the Wolf Fire area. More information is available at airnow.gov.

A closure order for the area of the Wolf Fire is expected to be issued soon.