WILLIAMS, Ariz., April 7, 2020 – Fire crews from the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, Sherwood Forest Estates, and Parks Bellemont Fire Departments responded to a wildfire late Tuesday afternoon south of Interstate 40 near the neighborhood of Sherwood Forest Estates east of Williams.

The Beacon Fire was discovered about 3:00 pm on Tuesday April 7, and was burning in grass and ponderosa pine. Several Local residents reacted quickly with tools and equipment to help slow the spread of the fire as responding units arrived on the scene. The fire was contained just after 5:00 pm at 15.6 acres in size. The fire burned on both private and National Forest land. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation at this time.

Additional Information can be found from the following sources:

• InciWeb inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6685/

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab 

The Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park, and Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District announced today that all new ignitions for prescribed fire have been postponed until further notice.  

Potential smoke impacts to the public are considered in all prescribed fire and wildfire management. As always, we will work in coordination with local and state health organizations and make any necessary changes should the need arise. This decision to temporarily postpone prescribed fire activities will prevent any effects from smoke that might further worsen conditions for those who are at risk in our communities while reducing exposure for employees who might not otherwise need to travel and creating social distancing for resources working on the fire.

The Bly Ranger District, USFS, plans to conduct a prescribed fire operation starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, through Friday, March 20, 2020, to burn hand piles resulting from a fuel reduction and hazardous tree removal project.

The prescribed fire activities will focus on burning approximately 79 acres of hand piles in the Horseglade Meadow, Camp 6, area. Hand piles are a result of using chainsaws to thin the forest. Much of the smaller cut material is piled for burning. Piles must be burned before the project is complete.

Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations. Wind helps disperse smoke created during pile burning operations and snow helps keep the piles contained. Seeing flames and smoke, even after dark, is part of normal operations. This is one way that we can help reduce the buildup of fuel on the landscape under the safest conditions.

Conditions are evaluated each day to determine if ignition will take place. Precipitation, wind, temperature, fuel moisture, and staffing all play a part in when and whether ignition occurs. Ignitions are generally expected to begin after 10 a.m. and will cease several hours before sunset. Firefighters monitor the area after burning is complete. Fire spread from pile footprints occurs and can often be anticipated within the treatment area.

Treatment areas typically lose snow more quickly than surrounding untreated areas as a result of increased sun exposure and wind scour from thinned trees. Fire managers track weather and site conditions for control, primarily focusing on treatment area perimeters. If snow is lost or piles continue to hold heat within areas near unit perimeters, fire crews will extinguish them. Smoke and flames are often visible while piles burn down.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of the prescribed fire. However, during operations, fire personnel and vehicles may be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

The Bly Ranger District, USFS, plans to conduct a prescribed fire operation starting Friday, March 13, 2020, inside the West Spodue Project Area. 

The prescribed fire activities will focus on burning approximately 120 acres in Elde Flat Meadow. Fire managers plan to take advantage of tree line snowpack to focus on burning grasses within the meadow.

Smoke will be visible from the community of Beatty and roadways and recreation areas in the general vicinity of this project.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of the prescribed fire. However, during operations, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

The Fremont-Winema National Forest is part of a fire-dependent ecosystem. Fire on the landscape is critical to overall ecosystem functioning and the sustainability of local communities, watersheds, and wildlife habitat.

Prescribed fire season has arrived in South Central Oregon, and fire managers on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview District Bureau of Land Management, and Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex will be applying prescribed fire to the landscape.

Prescribed fire is used by fire managers to improve forest health and wildlife habitat, and to reduce hazardous fuels to minimize the threat of high-intensity, severe wildfires in our area. Applying prescribed fire is a part of our continued commitment to protecting communities and natural resources from wildfires.

Warmer temperatures, reduced snowpack, adequate humidity, and favorable winds are improving the conditions needed for firefighters to start applying fire to planned units.

Area residents and visitors may notice smoke or fire on public lands in various areas during the next few months. Each prescribed fire can appear different visually depending on the forest type, fuel load, prescribed fire objectives, and how long fire has been absent from the area. Areas, where prescribed fire operations are taking place, will be well signed and may have increased fire personnel, traffic, and smoke in the area. Please stay clear of these areas when possible for public and firefighter safety.

Prescribed fire occurs on days when the Oregon Department of Forestry Smoke Management Office indicates there are suitable weather conditions for smoke dispersal. Following that approval, if overall fuel and weather conditions are favorable, firefighters ignite a test fire before moving forward with the prescribed fire. If the test-fire indicates conditions are not suitable, the prescribed fire will be postponed until conditions improve. All burning operations are monitored and patrolled frequently by fire professionals, to ensure public safety.

All South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership employees are committed to a safe and successful prescribed fire season for the public and employees within these designated areas.

For more information and current updates, check online at Facebook at facebook.com/SCOFMPFireInfo

The Longfellow Complex is a  total combined size of 6,330 acres and is 100% contained.Texas A&M Forest Service crews and fire managers are no longer responding to these fires. 

Fire managers on the Longfellow Complex report minimal fire activity after beneficial rain over the last 24 hours. The total combined size is 6,330 acres and 90% contained. Some crews were released during today's operational period, with remaining resources staying on site in anticipation of a wind event this evening.

 Crews on the Longfellow Complex report that both fires received beneficial rain last night. They will return today to monitor and patrol containment lines.

 
Acreage and containment for the Longfellow Complex remains the same. The fire is receiving beneficial rainfall at this time.

WILLOWS, Calif., March 3, 2020 — The Baseball Fire on the Covelo Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest is 100 percent contained at 211 acres. The fire is located about 15 miles southeast of Covelo in Mendocino and Glenn counties.    

Crews will continue to mop-up and patrol the fire until the fire is considered out. The fire started on Tuesday, Feb. 25 after debris piles that were burned several weeks ago reignited on the Baseball prescribed fire project. The fire has burned at a low to moderate rate in a mosaic pattern similar to the desired effects from a prescribed fire.

 ovelo District Ranger Frank Aebly says, “The Baseball Project is a multi-year effort aimed at improving wildlife habitat, decreasing stand density, reducing hazard fuels and decreasing fire intensity in the event of a future wildfire. It was the previous thinning and prescribed burning activities on this project over the years that helped prevent the fire from spreading rapidly and negatively impacting the area.”   

Information is available on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6679/