Aerial Ignition Operations Begin on Kendrick Mountain

Williams, Ariz., June 14, 2017—For Immediate Release -- Helicopter aerial ignition operations continue today near the Kendrick Mountain peak. The operations, in which incendiary devices are dropped from a helicopter to reduce dead and down fuels, began near the peak on Tuesday. The plan is to continue to use aerial ignition to bring fire slowly down the mountain. The tactics benefit the ecological conditions in the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness while minimizing impacts.

A community meeting in east Flagstaff (see above) on Thursday will provide information on the Boundary Fire and on potential impacts from smoke that may affect the eastern side of Flagstaff over the next several days. Health and emergency management personnel will also be on hand. Representatives of the Coconino and Kaibab national forests will discuss fire restrictions that take effect Thursday.

For more information, details, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5209/. Quick updates are available via Twitter at @KaibabNF and @CoconinoNF. Follow us if you would like to be updated as information is received.

Name: Boundary Fire Reported: June 1 Cause: Lightning

Containment: 13% Size: 5,784 acres Resources: 495 personnel

Location: About 17 miles northwest of Flagstaff burning in the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness and north and east of the Wilderness on the Coconino and Kaibab national forests.

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

Closures: Closure Order Number 04-17-13-F (map) affecting the Boundary Fire Planning Area is still in effect. US Highway 180 will remain closed because of smoky conditions until further notice. Visit azdot.gov or visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at www.az511.gov.

Trails: These trails are closed: Pumpkin Trail; Kendrick Mountain Trail; Bull Basin Trail and the 4th Connector Trail.

Smoke Impacts: Communities to the south and east of the fire may be affected. Smoke could settle in Fort Valley, Baderville and east Flagstaff. Low winds will keep smoke from moving out of the area and it may drift further south. An air quality report is available on the Boundary Inciweb page under maps.