Forest Service Manages Lightning-Sparked Fires
The Kaibab National Forest has had 22 lightning caused fires since July 1. Fire managers are allowing two of them to burn for resource benefits.
Northern Arizona’s forests have been saturated by recent monsoon rains. So fire restrictions have been lifted on the state’s national forests.
The Kaibab National Forest’s Holly Krake said the level of wildfire danger has dropped from extreme to moderate. So they’re able to manage wildland fires rather than suppress them.
“These are managed fires for resource benefit,” Krake said. “So we’re really trying to take that right fire at the right place and the right time and do what’s best both for our landscapes and for our communities.”
She said allowing these fires to burn reduces fuels that cause high intensity catastrophic fires, increases firefighter safety, protects archaeological sites and wildlife habitat.
