Arizona News – UPDATE – Wolf Fire operations have resulted in the treatment of roughly 10,000 acres of land following a late April lightning strike on the Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District.
Fire managers spent roughly one week conducting firing operations to reduce dead vegetation and hazardous fuels, restore critical nearby watersheds, improve wildlife habitat and lessen the future risk of catastrophic wildfire in the Clints Well area.
“We’ve had really good fire effects with west winds pushing in over the last few days,” said Incident Commander (Trainee) Paul Oltrogge. “The weekend’s light rains moderated things nicely, and the effects of the Wolf Fire are already looking incredibly beneficial for the landscape.”
Firing operations wrapped up in advance of heavier predicted rains on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team, which has been managing the Wolf Fire since April 6, plans to transition management of the fire back to the Coconino National Forest on Wednesday.
A closure order remains in place for the area surrounding the fire, as does a temporary flight restriction. Drone and aircraft operators are asked to abide by the issued restrictions.
Forest visitors can check the Coconino National Forest’s website at coconinonationalforest.us for updates regarding fire area closures.
There are roughly 150 personnel assigned to the 9,896-acre Wolf Fire, including two Hotshot crews, nine engines, one dozer, two water tenders and one hand crew.
Lightning-caused fires allow an opportunity for land treatment: The removal of forest fuels – such as pine needle accumulation, dead and down trees and other dry plant matter – that create hazardous conditions that could lead to potential catastrophic wildfire.
Land treatment using fire is an important part of the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to reduce the risk of wildfire to critical infrastructure and communities.
As part of the overall Wildfire Crisis Strategy, the Coconino National Forest is committed to restoring land and protecting watersheds – including work on the Cragin Watershed Protection Project – as part of the wider Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).
This is the last scheduled news release regarding the Wolf Fire. For continued updates on the Wolf Fire, please visit inciweb.wildfire.gov, where fire updates will be posted until full fire containment.
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Clints Well-area roads open following temporary closure for Wolf Fire
Arizona News – May 11, 2024 – UPDATE – Fire and road managers have re-opened Clints Well-area roads following a temporary closure due to firing operations on the Wolf Fire, located on the Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District.
State Route (SR) 87 has opened in both directions between the SR 260 junction at milepost 278.5 and the Lake Mary Road junction at milepost 290.5.
While the road closure has been lifted, traffic delays along SR 87 and other area roads, such as Lake Mary Road, will likely persist.
Intermittent closures of area roads may occur throughout fire management should smoke impede roadway visibility.
Closures of SR 87 and other roads may include temporary full closures, reduction to single-lane traffic and the potential for pilot car guidance.
Reduced speed limits remain in place while firing operations continue on the Wolf Fire, and motorists are reminded to abide by all posted signage and remain cognizant of firefighters working along roadways in the fire area.
Motorists are advised to check road status prior to traveling via the Arizona Department of Transportation’s road status website at az511.gov, the AZ511 app or by calling 511.
Forest visitors are advised to check forest road status via the Coconino National Forest’s website at coconinonationalforest.us prior to traveling on forest roads.
The Wolf Fire is a lightning-caused fire that began 3 miles northwest of Clints Well. It was first reported April 29.
Up-to-date information regarding the Wolf Fire is available on InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.
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Clints Well-area roads to temporarily close as Wolf Fire operations continue
Arizona News, May 10, 2024 – Fire and road managers plan to temporarily close some area roads as ignitions continue on the Wolf Fire located about 3 miles northwest of Clints Well on the Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District.
The Wolf Fire Incident Management Team and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will temporarily close a portion of state Route (SR) 87 beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, May 10, during firing operations.
SR 87 will close in both directions between the SR 260 junction at milepost 278.5 and the Lake Mary Road junction at milepost 290.5. Multiple detour options, including SR 260 and Interstate 17, will remain available.
Motorists are advised to check road status prior to traveling via ADOT’s road status website at az511.gov, the AZ511 app or by calling 511.
While fire managers plan to lift the road closure late Friday as soon as it is safe to do so, intermittent closures of SR 87 and other roads, such as Lake Mary Road, may occur throughout fire management should smoke impede roadway visibility.
Road closures are instituted in the interest of public and firefighter safety.
Forest visitors are advised to check forest road status via the Coconino National Forest’s website at coconinonationalforest.us prior to traveling on forest roads.
Speed limits in the Wolf Fire area have been temporarily reduced to allow for firefighter and public safety. Motorists are asked to abide by all posted signage and remain cognizant of fire personnel working in the area.
A closure order remains in place for the area surrounding the fire, as does a temporary flight restriction. Drone operators are asked to abide by the issued restrictions.
The Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed management of the Wolf Fire on Monday, May 6.
There are roughly 150 personnel assigned to the Wolf Fire, including two Hotshot crews, nine engines, one dozer and one hand crew.
The Wolf Fire is currently 1,616 acres, and fire managers plan to treat roughly 11,000 total acres of forest land over the coming weeks during the fire management process.
Lightning-caused fires allow an opportunity for land treatment: The removal of forest fuels – such as pine needle accumulation, dead and down trees and other dry plant matter – that create hazardous conditions that could lead to potential catastrophic wildfire.
Naturally-ignited fires work similarly to prescribed fires in that they allow fire managers to help fire fulfill its natural role in the northern Arizona ecosystem.
Land treatment using fire is an important part of the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to reduce the risk of wildfire to critical infrastructure and communities.
As part of the overall Wildfire Crisis Strategy, the Coconino National Forest is committed to restoring land and protecting watersheds – including work on the Cragin Watershed Protection Project – as part of the wider Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).
Throughout the fire management process, fire managers will employ a strategic, risk-based response that is appropriate for changing conditions on the ground. This response will use a full range of management actions that consider fire and fuel conditions, weather, values at risk and resource availability.
Smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of land restoration work and wildfire. While early spring wind patterns typically funnel smoke upward for a wider distribution that will lessen smoke impact to nearby communities, area residents and visitors should be prepared for lingering smoke in the Wolf Fire area. More information is available at airnow.gov.