'An opportunity': Crews near Flagstaff fight Basin Fire with fire
Officials in northern Arizona used a small wildfire as a tool to burn off excess forest vegetation and prevent more catastrophic fires in the future.
Crews finished the majority of their operations to manage the Basin Fire north of Flagstaff on June 10, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service. Lightning caused the fire on June 5, though flames were limited, consuming only one acre in the next few days, according to federal tracker Inciweb. Since then, crews have actively shepherded and contained the fire so it would burn up excess fuels in surrounding forests.
'When we have lightning strikes that happen at the right time in the right place and when we have the resources available, we will use those lightning strikes as an opportunity to let fire fulfill its natural role in our ponderosa pine ecosystem,' said Randi Shaffer, public information officer for the Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team which was handling the operations.
Pillars of smoke drifted up from ponderosa forests as the operations got underway on June 8. Crews actively managed the fire to burn 9,145 acres of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests and reach 42% containment, according to InciWeb. The flames had died down to a smolder by June 11, and crews went back to burn up any excess dead vegetation that the fire hadn't taken care of, officials said.
'We live in a fire-adapted ecosystem up here in northern Arizona, which means that our ponderosa pine trees really love fire. We need fire for myriad reasons," Shaffer said. "Fire is really great for the nitrogen in the soil. It's really great for cleaning up dead and down fuels, and it's a really crucial part of our environment.'
The area around the fire operations along U.S. Route 180 was closed to the public for safety reasons. The closure was expected to remain in effect for several days after June 11, according to Shaffer.
Crews burned buffer zones along perimeters around the fire using 'firing operations,' taking out any fuels the fire could use to spread once it arrived at those buffers.
Shaffer explained that crews use official guidelines to decide when and how to use wildfire as a tool. Fire crews often use 'controlled burns,' or managed fires they start on purpose, to clear out fuels and harden landscapes against future wildfire.
In this case, the crews used a naturally occurring fire to do the same thing. Fire managers ensured that the operations didn't draw resources away from emergencies or other fires where they might be needed.
'If you can burn that stuff out during times of ideal weather, you are lessening the risk of a catastrophic wildfire later in the year,' Shaffer said.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fire crews near Flagstaff use fire to prevent other wildfires
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
California Wolf Fire Map, Update as Huge Blaze Sparks Evacuations
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Residents in the path of a wildfire in California have been urged to flee as officials order evacuations across the region. Dubbed the "Wolf" fire, the blaze is burning across some 1,165 acres in Riverside County. Evacuation orders are in place throughout the surrounding areas because of the "immediate threat to life," according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). An archive photo of a U.S. Forest Service firefighter firing flares into the brush to set a backfire near Calimesa, in Riverside County, California, in October 2005. An archive photo of a U.S. Forest Service firefighter firing flares into the brush to set a backfire near Calimesa, in Riverside County, California, in October It Matters In January, California saw wildfires that killed at least two dozen people and left thousands homeless, while thick plumes of toxic smoke blanketed the city. More recently, the Ranch fire and the Henderson fire blazed across hundreds of acres, while the Lake fire erupted around 4 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday at the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area in San Bernardino County and spread to 478 acres over the subsequent five hours. Evacuation orders were issued, but they were later lifted as firefighters managed to contain the flames. What To Know The Wolf fire broke out at 3:09 p.m. on Sunday in the area of Old Banning Idyllwild Road and the Wolfskill Truck Trail south of the city of Banning. Cal Fire described the blaze as a vegetation fire and rated its severity as critical. The fire's cause is still under investigation, according to the agency. Some 300 personnel are fighting the blaze, equipped with four helicopters and 70 fire engines. Evacuation orders are in place, with officials warning: "Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access." The affected area runs north of Poppet Flat Divide Truck Trail, south of Interstate 10, east of Highland Springs Avenue and west of Old Cabazon Road. Besides the evacuation orders, a number of "evacuation warnings" are also in place. According to authorities, residents living in affected areas face a "potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now." Areas covered by evacuation warnings include an area south of Highland Springs Avenue, east of Bergamo Avenue, and west of Highway 243. On Sunday, Cal Fire shared details and updates about the blaze on X, formerly Twitter. In an update about the wildfire posted shortly after 4 p.m., the agency said, "The fire has been mapped at 62 acres and continues to burn at a moderate rate." An update shortly after 6 p.m. said evacuation orders and warnings were in place, while an update at 9 p.m. said the fire remained out of control—with firefighters still working to contain it. According to Cal Fire's incident report, as of 9:46 p.m. on Sunday, the Wolf fire was 0 percent contained. #WolfFIRE [UPDATE 4:09 p.m.] The fire has been mapped at 62 acres and continues to burn at a moderate rate. No evacuations have been ordered. Vegetation Fire: rpt @ 3:06 p.m. Old Banning and Idyllwild Road X Wolfskill Truck Trail, south of Banning. Firefighters are on scene of... — CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) June 29, 2025 What People Are Saying A status update on Cal Fire's website said: "The fire continues to burn at a moderate rate in medium to heavy brush. Four night-flying helicopters and hundreds of firefighters will continue working throughout the night on containing the fire. … Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow." What Happens Next Residents should regularly check their local news reports and follow Cal Fire on its social media feeds for the most up-to-date information on evacuation orders and safety advice. An evacuation shelter is in place at Hemet High School (41701 East Stetson Avenue, Hemet 92544), while an animal evacuation shelter can be found at 581 South Grand Avenue, San Jacinto 92582.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Lightning caused nearly 9,000-acre Forsyth Fire in Utah, officials say
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah – The Forsyth Fire continues to burn thousands of acres in Utah and was officially started by a lightning strike, officials said. Firefighters have been battling the wildfire since it was discovered on June 19. It has now burned 8,899 acres and is uncontained. The Dixie National Forest division of the U.s. Forest Service announced Tuesday that the fire was caused when lightning hit a tree. During the initial attack on the fire, the incident commander discovered a tree that was hit by lightning near the fire's point of origin in the Pine Valley Wilderness Area. An investigation into the cause showed thunderstorms came through the area June 9 – just 10 days before the fire was discovered. Evaluation of the tree proved that the lightning strike hit the base of the tree, igniting a fire within the tree's trunk. Bolts From The Blue: How Dangerous Lightning Can Strike Miles Away From Thunderstorms The U.S. Forest Service said these types of lightning strikes are so hot, they vaporize any sap and moisture in the tree, starting a very slow smoldering fire that burns from the inside out. Because the fire was contained inside the tree, it went undetected until strong winds Thursday increased fire activity, finally revealing smoke. Which States Have The Most Lightning Insurance Claims? Quickly after discovery, fire crews worked to try and stop the fire spreading. High temperatures, extremely low humidity and high winds caused the fire to make a swift run toward Pine Valley. The Washington County Sheriff reported Monday that 13 homes have been destroyed by the fire. Nearly 700 fire personnel are responding to the Forsyth article source: Lightning caused nearly 9,000-acre Forsyth Fire in Utah, officials say
USA Today
7 days ago
- USA Today
As heat wave boils US, what is the right temperature to set AC? Cast your vote.
Experts say 78 degrees is ideal for energy efficiency, but we want to hear from you. What is the right summer AC temperature? Scroll down to take our poll. On the first official day of summer, as the outside temperature in Phoenix climbed to a moderate 104 degrees, my partner eyed me cautiously and broached the question he knew I was dreading. 'I think it's time to lower our AC.' I sighed. We can't, I protested. Our utility company was already sending us warning emails that our bill would 'exceed the threshold you had set' (blame the 111- and 113-degree days that preceded this). On Friday, June 20, summer had only officially begun – though we'd been in triple digit territory for the better part of two months – and we couldn't give in now, in this economy. Besides, our thermostat was already set to the temperature experts agree is best: 78 degrees. Which is the correct temperature. Is 78 too hot for a house? As the nation grapples with a major heat wave with temperatures soaring to extremes on the East Coast, Midwest and in the Plains – coupled with something I, mercifully, don't have to contend with: humidity – I wanted to know: Am I right? (Scroll down or click here to take our poll.) Turns out, most Arizonans agree with me. An Arizona Republic reader poll found that most people preferred 78, with 80, 77 and 76 degrees rounding out the top four. My very unofficial research in my group chats of former and current Phoenicians found the same thing – though I am immensely jealous of a friend in San Diego who 'hardly uses' it. This aligns with what the Environmental Protection Agency recommends to maximize efficiency and save money. But outside of Arizona, answers have varied wildly. Colleagues have bravely admitted they set it at 74 and even 73 degrees. When discussing this column, my editor confessed he used to keep his AC at an icy 68 degrees. The bill would be well past $200, he said. (I didn't have the heart to admit ours was well past that now.) While all of those sound like a nice reprieve from the outside temps – and some downright frigid – none of them seem 'right' to me. Was Trump wrong to bomb Iran? Are you concerned about war? Tell us. | Opinion Forum What is the best temperature to set your AC? Vote below. So I want to know what you do. What is the ideal temperature to set your AC to – for comfort or for energy efficiency? If you don't have AC, what methods do you use to stay cool amid record-setting heat waves like this one? Do you think we've reached the point where everyone should have AC, or can we survive without it? Cast your vote in our poll below – and stay cool out there. Janessa Hilliard is the director of audience for USA TODAY Opinion and Opinion at Gannett.
