Community News

News releasee: Fire behavior momentarily increases on Cat, rain from Hurricane Rosa anticipated Monday

September 28, 2018

 Fredonia, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2018 — For Immediate Release. Fire activity increased due to lower relative humidity and increased winds mid-afternoon yesterday. Meanwhile, firefighters completed firing operations on the western flank of the main fire along Forest Road 2599 and south to FR 610. 

 

Today firefighters plan to conduct firing operations on an as-needed basis only and install dozer line off FR D2441. This dozer line will help firefighters reinforce the western flank in the event that increased fire behavior pushes the main fire westward toward FR219. 

 

Cat Fire Overview:

 

Date reported: August 6, 2018                                  Cause: Lightning

Size: 4,620 acres                                                               Personnel: 13

Location: The Cat Fire is about 25 miles southeast of Jacob Lake in the Saddle Mountain Wilderness on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Fuel: Mixed conifer, ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper/mountain mahogany.

 

Weather: Northwest flow aloft will bring dry and warmer air to Northern Arizona through Friday. High temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Expect poor overnight humidity recovery. Saturday through Monday, expect dry conditions, slightly cooler high temperatures, and breezy southwest winds through Sunday afternoon. Subtropical moisture from what is left of Hurricane Rosa is expected to increase over Arizona starting Sunday night. Shower and thunderstorm coverage to increase on Monday, with the potential for several inches of rain across large portions of northern Arizona.

 

Area, road and trail closure: The Restricted Area includes the boundary roads and trails described as beginning at the junction of Forest Road (FR) 610 and the Arizona Trail #101, then north to the junction with the Arizona Trail #101 and North Canyon Trail #4, then proceeding east on the North Canyon Trail #4 to FR 631 continuing to FR 8910 Junction. Then south on the FR8910 to South Canyon #6/ Nankoweap Trail #57, then going west on the South Canyon #6/Nankoweap Trail #57 to FR610 continuing west on FR610 to the Junction of FR 610 and the Arizona Trail #101.

 

Trails. All trails described above and depicted on the map attached as Exhibit A and within the Restricted Area, and the Point Imperial Trail (NPS Trail) from the National Forest boundary to FR 610; along the North Canyon Trail #4; along the South Canyon Trail #6; and along the Nankoweap Trail #57.

 

Roads. All Forest Roads described above and depicted on the map attached as Exhibit A, which are identified as the area perimeter; the area within the perimeter boundary is closed.

 

Smoke: Smoke impacts have been minimal thus far, but motorists are asked to always use caution when driving near or around all fires. For more information on local air quality resources, please visit https://www.airnow.gov/.

 

For additional information the following sources are available:

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6109/

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Twitter: twitter.com/kaibabnf 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/

Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311.