Forest Service outlines 10-year strategy of fuels treatments and prescribed burns around Flagstaff
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Summary
U.S. Forest Service officials briefed supervisors on a 10-year strategic plan combining mechanical thinning and prescribed fire in priority neighborhoods and forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire; they cited specific projects and preliminary reductions in human-caused starts where nonmotorized use areas were piloted.
U.S. Forest Service officials told the Board of Supervisors they are expanding mechanical treatments and prescribed fire across the Flagstaff Ranger District as part of a long-term drive to restore natural fire regimes and reduce the chance of high-severity, crown-burning wildfires.
Matt McGrath, Flagstaff District Ranger, said the agencyis using three primary toolsmechanical thinning, prescribed fire and public engagementto reduce fuels near communities. He listed priority neighborhoods and corridors (Munns Park, Kachina, Mountain Air and areas southwest of the peaks) and credited county and flood-control district funding for accelerating projects.
"We're trying to restore as natural conditions as possible so that when we do have a fire, it rolls through more naturally," McGrath said, adding that the region cannot eliminate fire but can work to reduce catastrophic outcomes.
Drew Brown, the forest's fire staff officer, described a 10-year strategic plan to treat timbered acres with a mix of mechanical and prescribed-fire work, and he explained the three-stage restriction system used across Northern Arizona. Brown said preliminary data from a Peaks nonmotorized-use pilot showed roughly a 600% reduction in human-caused starts in that area during stage-2 restrictions.
Both officials emphasized planning and burn prescriptions: they said burn plans are years in the making and that prescribed burns are scheduled under favorable conditions (typically March—April or October—November) to reduce smoke impacts and keep fires at low to moderate intensity.
Board members praised completed projects and noted several major contracts are about to go out for bid, including the LaRue and PumpHouse Wash areas. Officials said the combined approach of thinning, prescribed fire and public education has reduced risk in several communities and will continue through multi-year work cycles.
The Forest Service representatives said that continued funding and county cooperation are critical to complete priority projects on schedule.
