Community News

News Release: Type III Incident Management Team takes command of wildfire located on Kendrick Mountain northwest of Flagstaff

June 6, 2017

 Williams, Ariz., June 6, 2017—For Immediate Release. A Type III Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander True Brown assumed command of the Boundary Fire at 6 a.m. this morning. The 380-acre Boundary Fire is currently burning on the Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest but is expected to move onto the Kaibab National Forest side of the boundary line within the next several days.

Fire managers have completed a Wildfire Decision Support System (WFDSS) analysis of the fire area to determine the course of action to suppress the Boundary Fire. This analysis identifies the planning area, values at risk, the incident objectives, and the courses of action, including the suppression strategy (or strategies) to be employed to safely and successfully manage a wildfire. The WFDSS analysis indicates that the main fire suppression tactic to be employed on the Boundary Fire will be indirect suppression tactics. Indirect suppression tactics are firefighting actions that are not directly adjacent to the flaming front of a fire. Fire managers chose this suppression tactic because the wildfire is burning on steep slopes with heavy dead and down trees, snags (standing dead trees) and forest debris left from the Pumpkin Fire of 2000. These conditions are not safe for firefighters due to poor footing, falling snags and rocks, and the hampered ability to move quickly if a fire blowup occurs.

Firefighters will be working building and preparing firelines on road systems that surround the Kendrick Peak away from the actual fire. As conditions warrant, the firelines along roads will have firing operations to remove fuels between the fireline and the flaming front of the wildfire. This tactic is much safer than direct fireline construction in the steep, heavy down wood and snags that occur where the fire is currently burning. This action also allows firefighters to suppress the fire on firefighters’ terms, rather than the fire dictating a responsive action. For more information, details and the specific objectives for the Boundary Fire, please visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5209/. Quick updates will also be provided via Twitter at @KaibabNF and @CoconinoNF. Please follow us if you would like to be updated as information is received.

 

Name: Boundary Fire

 

Reported: June 1

 

Cause: Lightning

 

Location: About 17 miles northwest of Flagstaff burning on Kendrick Mountain on the Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest; latitude 35? 25’54.9” longitude 111? 49’ 53.0”

 

Size: 380 acres

 

Fuels: The wildfire is burning in heavy dead and down trees and forest debris left from the Pumpkin Fire of 2000.

 

Resources: Flagstaff and Mormon Lake hotshot crews, a 10-person fuels crew, three engines, one dozer, local fire prevention units and various support personnel; approximately 100 total fire personnel are currently assigned.

 

Expected Actions: Fire suppression activities for today include improving the control line on the west side of the fire and providing structure protection around the Boys Ranch property. In addition, fire crews will scout and construct firelines and provide structure protection in the areas of Bull Basin and Pumpkin Center. Crews will also begin structure protection at Kendrick Mountain Lookout and the historic cabin at the lookout. No ignitions are planned at this time, but there may be the need for firing operations in the future to remove fuels near firelines to protect structures. Fire officials have identified a system of roads at the base of the mountain to serve as boundaries from which to halt the wildfire’s progression.

 

Closures: A closure order is currently being established for the fire area. Details regarding the closure area will be provided as soon as they are available.

 

Smoke Impacts: Smoke will be visible from Flagstaff, Baderville, Parks, Williams, Interstate 40, and the Grand Canyon. Smoke is predicted to impact the communities of Cameron and Tuba City during the day, and Spring Valley, Pumpkin Center, Parks and Baderville during the evening hours.

 

Additional information sources, including maps, will be provided as soon as they are available.