Single Publication

Williams, Ariz., June 30, 2023 – With light winds and double-digit humidities this weekend, fire managers on the Ridge and Three Lakes fires will be able to continue tactical firing operations. This means crews apply fire to strategic locations within the planning areas as a safety measure in advance of the main fire. Doing so helps maintain the generally slower pace and lower intensity as the fire moves across the landscape. On the North Kaibab Ranger District, tactical firing operations along State Route 67 are creating a fire-treated boundary on the eastern edge of the Three Lakes Fire planning area. Crews on the Tusayan Ranger District are working on the eastern and northwestern edges and in the interior of the Ridge Fire planning area.

To reduce risks to ground crews, fire managers on the Ridge Fire are using an Uncrewed Aerial System (or drone) to conduct reconnaissance and ignitions in areas where entry by foot or vehicle is unsafe or impossible due to high temperatures and hazardous terrain. Under the direction of on-the-ground personnel, the drone will deploy “dragon eggs”, potassium permanganate-filled plastic balls injected with glycol prior to release. These spheres drop from the drone and ignite 10 seconds later after hitting the ground.

Ridge Fire: 3,131 acres with slow growth within the planning area - Seventy-nine personnel are assigned to this fire.

Three Lakes Fire: 2,481 acres with slow growth within the planning area – Ninety-eight personnel are assigned to this fire. Some short-term smoke impacts to State Route 67 are possible. Fire managers are working closely with Arizona Department of Transportation to use pilot cars if necessary. Motorists should be prepared to slow down or briefly stop.

Hull Fire: 1,491 with no growth within the planning area – Twenty-five personnel are currently assigned to this fire.

More details on each fire can be found on InciWeb.

Managing naturally caused wildfires across the landscape is a very effective tool in restoring the forest to a healthier condition, and these efforts align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the Fire Information Hotline at 928-635-8311 or local ranger stations.