After 2 days of successful firing operations, fire officials have determined there is no need to continue with hand and aerial ignitions on the Montoya Prescribed Fire. Firefighters completed 835-acres of the proposed total 899-acre unit within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. Today, they focused on igniting a few unburned areas within the perimeter and securing the control lines on the east and west by cooling hot stumps and logs that were near the line.

Personnel will remain in the area to continue checking the fire by walking the unit boundary, mopping up the perimeter, falling hazard trees and monitoring any remaining interior burning. Smoke will be observed at times from interior smoldering pockets of unburned fuels, but no further growth is expected.

The burn area is experiencing low to moderate intensity fire effects, allowing for a healthier forest while creating a strong buffer against future wildfires around the community of Canjilon. If a future wildfire reaches the area after treatments are completed, the fire behavior will likely be modified to a less intense, more manageable surface fire.

The area in and around the burn remains open, but locals and visitors are asked to take caution when entering a recently burned area. Motorists should slow down when in the area and around firefighters or apparatuses.

Mostly cloudy skies with a chance of sprinkles are forecasted for tonight with temps in the mid-40’s and humidity in the low-40’s. Mostly sunny skies will return tomorrow with temps from 68 – 72, humidity 11 -15% and variable winds. Ventilation rates are expected to remain excellent into next week.

Minimal smoke impacts are expected now that most of the fuels have been consumed. Find the latest air quality for your area at the Fire and Smoke Map (www.airnow.gov).

Since 2011, Forest Service staff and partners have been thinning and applying prescribed fire around the communities of Canjilon and Placita Garcia, which are surrounded by Carson National Forest. The Canjilon project is part of the 3.8 million-acre Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, which supports the National Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Dolores, Colo., May 18, 2024 – Fire managers are using a network of roads and other potential control lines to manage and secure the Spruce Creek Fire in Montezuma County. The fire was started by lightning on May 14th, just off Forest System Road 556 on Haycamp Mesa. It is burning in a mix of ponderosa pine, Gambel oak and aspen, about 11 air miles NE of Dolores and is 35 acres in size. Two Interagency Hotshot Crews and two Wildland Fire Modules are assigned to the fire and additional resources have been ordered. Fire managers plan to contain the fire within roads and other pre-identified control lines to protect values at risk and achieve objectives for the fire. Crews have been doing prep work over the past several days to protect fences, corrals, and other values in the area. 

“This fire started in an area that our fire and resource management personnel have studied closely for years,” says Dolores District Ranger Nick Mustoe. “And they have already put a lot of thought and effort into determining the best ways to contain a wildfire there, in ways that reduce the risk to our communities over the long term.” Fire managers are working on securing indirect boundaries along natural features and existing road systems that enable firefighters the highest probability of success to contain the fire. “Our approach here will be to take advantage of favorable weather conditions to keep fire to where it is having positive effects on the ground.” Mustoe said.

“This is a great opportunity to further reduce the long-term fire risk in this area,” added Pat Seekins, the Fuels Program Manager for the San Juan National Forest. “It’s early in the fire year and we have the fire resources available, in terms of engines, hand crews, and helicopters, that will help us keep the fire within pre-identified boundaries of our existing road network and other features that exist as control lines.” Seekins said. This effort aligns with the US Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come, Seekins added.

If weather conditions continue to be favorable in the coming days, firefighters will use drones, a helicopter and hand ignitions within pre-existing potential operational delineation boundaries, where fire behavior modeling and local experience suggest operations have the highest chance of successfully containing the fire. An Incident Meteorologist from the National Weather Service has also been brought in to provide a hyper-local forecast to aid Fire Management decisions.

Smoke will be visible to travelers along Colorado Hwy. 184 between Mancos and Dolores, and to residents of Montezuma County throughout next week. Please watch for extra fire traffic in the area, especially on FSR 556, Haycamp Mesa Road.

An incident webpage has been set up for the Spruce Creek Fire at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cosjf-2024-spruce-creek-co

Wildfire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please go to: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health  

-USDA-

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Fry Fire Update

Date: May 18, 2024             11:00AM

Fire Information: 

• Phone: 218-248-7240
• On inciweb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-fry-fire
• The Superior National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/superior 
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF

Containment: 90%         Size: 265 acres (56 acres prescribed fire and 209 acres wildfire)

Location:Superior National Forest, Tofte Ranger District. National Forest System lands south of the arc Trail, 177A, north of MN Highway 1 and east by the Little Isabella Campground. Lake County, MN (Township 60N, Range 9W, Sections 25, 26).

Current Status: Containment on the fire has increased to 90% as crews continue to make progress securing the fire edge by mopping up hot spots to improve and strengthen the control lines. Mop up involves putting water on areas of heat or smoldering stumps and wood and using tools to mix in soil and water extinguishing the heat and cooling the area. Fire activity remains minimal again today, with occasional creeping and smoldering observed on some parts of the fire. Firefighters are also working to extinguish and cool down any areas of heat in the interior of the fire where it is safe to do so. Minimal smoke is being observed from the fire area. There is no immediate threat to private property or structures. The fire is not actively pushing in any direction. Highway 1 is open for public use.

Planned Actions: The number of crews and engines needed on the fire has decreased as containment has increased. One engine and one hotshot crew are assigned today, May 18 and will be working on the fire throughout the day. These crews will continue to secure the control lines, monitor the containment lines, and continue to work on mopping up hot spots and pockets of heat in the interior where safe to do so. Fire activity is expected to remain minimal throughout the day and crews expect to continue to make good progress on containment and mop up. The immediate threat of fire growth has been greatly diminished and continues to be subdued. Due to increased containment and minimal fire activity, one final fire update will be prepared tomorrow, May 19.

While we don’t expect the fire conditions to change, public and firefighter safety are the highest priority so if conditions do change, we will communicate that quickly by working with Lake County Emergency Management, and posting on the Superior National Forest Facebook page, Constant Contact email list (sign up here), and notifications to local media.

Resources: One Engine with crew, one off-Forest hotshot crew, and a few individual firefighters.

After careful consideration of the current and forecasted weather, as well as the fuel conditions, fire officials determined that today was the best day to begin ignitions on the Montoya Prescribed Fire within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project.

At 6:20 pm tonight fire crews finished burning 835-acres of the proposed total 899-acre unit. They were able to create a solid black line along most of the perimeter of the Montoya Prescribed Fire Unit today. The fire crews are now monitoring and holding the fire within the perimeter. If the conditions are right, crews will continue ignitions and work to complete the burn tomorrow.

The area remains open, but locals and visitors should take caution when entering a recently burned area. Some smoke will be visible throughout the weekend from the interior smoldering pockets of unburned fuels and clean-up work. Motorists should slow down when in the area.

Clear skies with lows in the mid to high-40’s and humidity’s in the mid-30’s is expected tonight. Very good to excellent ventilation is forecasted through at least early next week. Saturday is sunny becoming partly cloudy, temps in the mid-70’s and winds out of the west at 5 to 7 mph.

Smoke is visible from Canjilon, El Rito, Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu and Taos. The permanent air quality monitor at the Taos Fire Station was at 62 AQI, which is the low end of moderate, at 7 p.m. tonight. People who are unusually sensitive to smoke are recommended to keep outdoor activities light and short. Go indoors if you have symptoms. Keep up to date with the Taos Fire Station air quality monitor and other local monitors on the on the Fire and Smoke Map.

Since 2011, Forest Service staff and partners have been thinning and applying prescribed fire around the communities of Canjilon and Placita Garcia, which are completely surrounded by Carson National Forest. Many adjacent private landowners, with the assistance of the state, are contributing by thinning and applying prescribed fire on their properties. A map that shows how the Montoya Unit fits into the bigger picture is available online.

If a future wildfire reaches the area after treatments are completed, the fire behavior will likely be modified to a less intense, more manageable surface fire.

The Canjilon project is part of the 3.8 million-acre Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, which supports the National Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Fire managers are monitoring conditions for potential ignition as soon as Sunday, May 19, on the Forsythe II Prescribed Burn Project. Ignitions continue to be contingent on having appropriate weather conditions fall within the parameters of the burn plan, such as suitable dispersal wind speeds and ignitable fuel moistures. Ignitions may also be possible on Monday, May 20.

Since our first ignition date on April 15, fire managers have successfully treated approximately 122 acres at Forsythe II this season. Fire managers hope to treat up to an additional 70 of acres with this ignition, if conditions allow. We have published a video, linked towards the end of this email, with additional information regarding this upcoming potential burning period.

There may be notable smoke visible from the Forsythe II Prescribed Burn during this burn. Residents and visitors in the area should expect to see smoke and flames when operations are underway. The following areas in particular may see and smell smoke during this burn: Lakeshore subdivision, Crescent Village, Crescent Meadows, Gross Reservoir, Walker Park Ranch, Miramonte, Wondervu, Eldorado Canyon State Park, and parts of eastern Boulder County. 

Fire managers work closely with experts to minimize the impacts of smoke to the best extent possible. Air quality is carefully monitored before and during a prescribed fire and all prescribed burns comply with state air quality regulations to minimize impacts to communities. More information is available at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

The public is advised to not call 911 regarding prescribed fire activity. Additional email notifications will be sent on days when burning is expected to begin. To receive these ignition updates, join our email list and select "Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 72 (Coal Creek Canyon) to Hwy 119 Boulder Canyon (Nederland and Magnolia areas)." These updates will also be posted here on our InciWeb page. 

We have added a video to the videos tab here on InciWeb with this information update from Burn Boss Trainee Luke Finn. 

Ignitions are complete on this project for Spring 2024. Fire resources were able to complete 41.7 acres of roadside prescribed fire. Previously ignited units will continue to be patrolled until incident objectives are met.

Ignitions are complete on this project for Spring 2024. Fire resources were able to complete 41.7 acres of roadside prescribed fire. Previously ignited units will continue to be patrolled until incident objectives are met.

Williams, Ariz., May 16, 2024 —Kaibab National Forest fire managers plan to initiate prescribed fire treatments on Monday, May 20, on the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project located just north of the City of Williams and Interstate 40, east of Airport Road, west of Highway 64, and along the north shore of Kaibab Lake. The planned ignition date may change should conditions not prove conducive for safety and smoke impacts. Crews are targeting a total of 2,245 acres on four units and anticipate ignitions to take up to three days, conditions safely allowing. 

Area residents and visitors can expect to see and hear a helicopter in the area as aerial ignitions will occur on portions of the burn. Citizens are strongly urged to refrain from using any type of aerial-drone systems near the active project area that could potentially interfere with aircraft operations. Approximately 70 personnel will be assigned to this fire, and fire managers will be in close contact with the National Weather Service for current and predicted weather before and during operations, as well as with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Air Resources Division who will be modeling and monitoring the smoke.

Smoke will be highly noticeable from the Williams area, particularly the H.A. Clark Memorial Field Airport, Kaibab Lake, Ash Fork, Red Lake, Valle, and portions of State Route 64 and I-40. Smoke can be expected to lift during the day, however cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying areas surrounding the burn location. Fire managers are looking for winds out of the south/southwest to minimize smoke impacts to the City of Williams.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of the Three Sisters prescribed fire project. However, during operations, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public. Visitors to the Kaibab Lake area need to be especially cautious and aware during and in the days following ignitions for their safety. Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

Fire managers recognize that community members may be sensitive to smoke and use strategies to limit the amount and duration. This includes dividing large projects into smaller units so that crews can focus efforts where and when conditions will help smoke disperse away from developed areas and ventilate quicker, reducing the impacts to local residents and businesses. Prescribed fires with shorter-term impacts to air quality help significantly reduce the risks to public health and safety. 

Goals of prescribed fire treatments include decreasing the threat of unnatural severe wildfire and potential negative consequences to the community, improving forest health, and reintroducing fire to an ecosystem that relies on frequent fire to maintain resilience. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. These efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come. 

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by an agency administrator and by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

The Kaibab National Forest remains committed to providing the public with ongoing updates with as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, X, Facebook, Flickr, or by contacting local ranger stations.