Firefighters continue to make progress on the Little Bear Fire despite steep and difficult terrain. Firefighters are taking advantage of weather conditions to ensure the fire continues to meet multiple resource objectives including:

• Reduce the potential for unwanted stand replacement fires by reducing densities of shade tolerant conifer (blue spruce, white fir) seedlings and saplings and raise tree canopy heights by scorching lower branches to reduce ladder fuels.

• Reduce treatment generated and natural ground fuels and brush while maintaining post thinning structure within thinned areas.

• Promote Aspen regeneration and health of Ponderosa pine stands by reducing shade tolerant conifers in the understory and creating open spaces.

People recreating in the fire area are encouraged to plan accordingly as the smoke and suppression efforts may cause travel delays and limit access to some areas during the Labor Day holiday weekend. As a precaution and for firefighter and public safety, fire managers are asking for the public’s assistance by slowing down and driving safely, since smoke and dust from fire traffic on roads is expected to affect visibility at times. Fire managers also ask the public to limit their activities in the Badger Creek and Skunk Creek drainages to minimize impacts to firefighting efforts.

Forest officials ask the public to be extremely careful with all flammable materials and to ensure campfires are completely out and cold to the touch. With the increase in temperatures and decrease in humidity, fuels are drying out quickly and the potential for wildfire ignitions rises daily.

LITTLE BEAR OVERVIEW

Discovery Date: July 26, 2019.

Cause: Lightning.

Location: Approximately 7 miles southeast of Hatch along Badger Creek on the Powell Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest

Current Resources: One crew, three engines, and two miscellaneous fire management personnel

Total personnel: 99

Current Size: About 2,145 acres

Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and east of Tropic Reservoir with some reaching Bryce Canyon National Park and the town, of Tropic and Bryce Canyon City

Current Closures: Dixie National Forest managers have NOT implemented any Closure Orders at this time

Recent and Current Operations: Expecting moderate growth with active fire behavior. Firing operations will continue to containment lines and allowing the fire to continue to back towards containment lines.

Stay connected, visit the Dixie National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/dixie, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usfsdnf, and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfsdnf for the latest information.

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST – The Little Bear Fire has continued to steadily increase in size for the past week and is currently estimated at 1,919 acres. Warm, dry days are in the forecast for the next several days and the fire is expected to continue its path through remaining unburned fuels in the area.

Smoke will continue to be seen from the Little Bear Fire in the days ahead as weather conditions remain dry and warm with the possibility of precipitation towards the end of the week. These conditions have proved favorable to allow the Little Bear Fire to spread gently and moderately, while consuming acres of dead and down vegetation such as pine needles, dry brush and grass. Interior pockets of dead fuel and overgrowth will continue to smolder until a wetting rain event occurs.

Fire managers conducted air reconnaissance yesterday to assess movement of the fire within the interior and evaluate actions necessary in order to hold and secure confinement of the Little Bear Fire within the pre-identified planning area. After aerial reconnaissance, fire managers feel confident the Little Bear Fire is meeting the objective of functioning as a natural disturbance within the ecosystem as it reduces accumulations of forest fuels such as dead and down vegetation and encroaching, unhealthy stands.

Fire managers called in a Type I Helicopter to keep the fire in check, lower the intensity of the fire, while ensuring wildland firefighter safety, and to ensure the fire continues to meet multiple resource objectives including:

• Reduce the potential for unwanted stand replacement fires by reducing densities of shade tolerant conifer (blue spruce, white fir) seedlings and saplings and raise tree canopy heights by scorching lower branches to reduce ladder fuels.

• Reduce treatment generated and natural ground fuels and brush while maintaining post thinning structure within thinned areas.

Today, fire crews will focus on patrolling and holding the fire as necessary. Additional resources have been ordered and will be on scene today working to ensure fire stays within the planning area perimeter.

One of the main objectives for utilizing the Little Bear Fire within the planning area is for resource benefit. The fire managers are using a variety of methods to confine the fire within the predetermined area. These methods include the usage of natural barriers and constructed fire line while tactical firing operations along the perimeter are incorporated to add depth to the line. Once the line is completed, it slows or stops fire as it approaches.

The Little Bear Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure. As with all fires on the Dixie National Forest, public and fire fighter safety is the highest priority.

LITTLE BEAR OVERVIEW

Discovery Date: July 26, 2019.

Cause: Lightning.

Location: Approximately 7 miles southeast of Hatch along Badger Creek on the Powell Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest

Current Resources: One crew, three engines, and two miscellaneous fire management personnel

Total personnel: 79

Current Size: About 1919 acres

Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and east of Tropic Reservoir with some reaching Bryce Canyon National Park and the town, of Tropic and Bryce Canyon City

Current Closures: Dixie National Forest managers have NOT implemented any Closure Orders at this time

Recent and Current Operations: Wildland fire crews plan to continue improving roads and other designated control features around the perimeter within which the fire can move

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST – The Little Bear Fire has continued to steadily increase in size for the past week and is currently estimated at 1,370 acres. Warm, dry days are in the forecast for the next several days and the fire is expected to continue its path through remaining unburned fuels in the area of Badger Creek.

The Little Bear Fire remains moderately active due to available fuels and persistent hot and dry weather over the past several days that has contributed to more fuels availability and increased growth as things dried out. No precipitation is expected over the Little Bear Fire in the near future with weather predictions for the weekend to be hot and dry with the long-term forecast calling for similar weather conditions.

Firefighting resources assigned to this incident fluctuate, based on the level of fire activity. The assigned crews continue to be fluid and right-sized daily to meet the overall objectives of the Little Bear Fire. Firefighters are continuing to strengthen and improve control lines in optimal locations while allowing the fire to move through the available fuels naturally towards those lines. This strategy allows firefighters to work in the safest locations around the perimeter while meeting other resource objectives.

Fire managers are utilizing the naturally ignited fire within a pre-defined area to achieve positive restorative benefits to the land. Low intensity wildfire can be advantageous by providing an efficient and safe way to remove the dead and decaying plant material under desired conditions that could act as fuel for future forest fires. Future fires occurring under hotter and drier conditions, as typically occur during this time of year, with current fuel levels could create uncharacteristic and undesirable fire effects.

Fire personnel are managing the fire for multiple resource objectives including:

• Reduce the potential for unwanted stand replacement fires by reducing densities of shade tolerant conifer (blue spruce, white fir) seedlings and saplings and raise tree canopy heights by scorching lower branches to reduce ladder fuels.

• Reduce treatment generated and natural ground fuels and brush while maintaining post thinning structure within thinned areas.

• Promote Aspen regeneration and health of Ponderosa pine stands by reducing shade tolerant conifers in the understory and creating open spaces.

The Little Bear Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure. As with all fires on the Dixie National Forest, public and fire fighter safety is the highest priority.

LITTLE BEAR OVERVIEW

• Discovery Date: July 26, 2019.

• Cause: Lightning.

• Location: Approximately 7 miles southeast of Hatch along Badger Creek on the Powell Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest

• Current Resources: One crew, three engines, and two miscellaneous fire management personnel

• Total personnel: 71

• Current Size: About 1,370 acres

• Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and east of Tropic Reservoir with some reaching Bryce Canyon National Park and the town, of Tropic and Bryce Canyon City

• Current Closures: Dixie National Forest managers have NOT implemented any temporary Closure Orders at this time

• Recent and Current Operations: Wildland fire crews plan to continue improving roads and other designated control features around the perimeter within which the fire can move

Little Bear Fire information is available through the following source:

• Little Bear Fire Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6525/

Stay connected, visit the Dixie National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/dixie, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usfsdnf, and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfsdnf for the latest information.

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST – The lightning-caused Little Bear Fire was first discovered on July 26, located about 7 miles southeast of Hatch. The Little Bear has grown to approximately 850 acres and has 32 fire personnel assigned. It is gradually spreading north and east within the identified boundaries of the planning area. As it burns naturally through the area, it can be beneficial to the fire-adapted ecosystem by removing fuels that could feed future forest fires.

The Little Bear Fire remains moderately active due to available fuels and persistent hot and dry weather over the past several days. Firefighters will continue to monitor fire spread and strengthen control lines to contain the fire to the desired area. Mastication work is ongoing along the eastern and northern portions of the perimeter of the planning area.

No precipitation has materialized over the Little Bear Fire for the past week with weather predictions for Monday to be hot and dry with the long-term forecast calling for similar weather conditions throughout the week.

Fire managers are utilizing the naturally ignited fire within a pre-defined area to achieve positive restorative benefits to the land. Low intensity wildfire can be advantageous by providing an efficient and safe way to remove the dead and decaying plant material under desired conditions that could act as fuel for future forest fires. Future fires occurring under hotter and drier conditions, as typically occur during this time of year, with current fuel levels could create uncharacteristic and undesirable fire effects.

Fire personnel are managing the fire for multiple resource objectives including:

• Reduce the potential for unwanted stand replacement fires by reducing densities of shade tolerant conifer (blue spruce, white fir) seedlings and saplings and raise tree canopy heights by scorching lower branches to reduce ladder fuels.

• Reduce treatment generated and natural ground fuels and brush while maintaining post thinning structure within thinned areas.

• Promote Aspen regeneration and health of Ponderosa pine stands by reducing shade tolerant conifers in the understory and creating open spaces.

The Little Bear Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure. As with all fires on the Dixie National Forest, public and fire fighter safety is the highest priority.

LITTLE BEAR OVERVIEW

• Discovery Date: July 26, 2019.

• Cause: Lightning.

• Location: Approximately 7 miles southeast of Hatch along Badger Creek on the Powell Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest

• Current Resources: One crew, three engines, and two miscellaneous fire management personnel

• Total personnel: 32

• Current Size: About 850 acres within the planning area

• Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and east of Tropic Reservoir with some reaching Bryce Canyon National Park and the town, of Tropic and Bryce Canyon City

• Current Closures: Dixie National Forest managers have NOT implemented any temporary Closure Orders at this time

PRESCOTT, AZ August 16, 2019 –

PEMBERTON FIRE OVERVIEW

Location: 13 Miles Northwest of Prescott, AZ on the Chino Valley District (T15N, R4W, S33)

Start Date: August 6, 2019

Size: 1,173 Acres

Percent Contained: 0%

Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Pinyon-Juniper, Grass and Brush

Resources: 3 engines and misc. overhead

There was little active fire behavior on the Pemberton Fire yesterday with just some isolated flaming of juniper trees and brush. There will be no more ignitions applied to the fire and remaining crews will continue to patrol and monitor along established control lines.

There may continue to be some smoke from the fire for several days as fire in the interior encounters unburned fuel, but smoke should generally dissipate quickly. Due to smoke impacts and the continued presence of firefighters and equipment, we ask drivers to use caution along roadways.

The Rawhide Fire, which started August 8, is 100 percent contained. Fire managers do not anticipate any additional growth on 10,050-acre fire. Local crews will continue to monitor and patrol the fire area, mopping up any remaining hot spots. Smoke may continue to be visible from Carlsbad and Queen, NM until the area receives precipitation.

The closure order for Forest Service Road 522B is scheduled to be lifted in the next few days.

The Lincoln National Forest has allowed this lightning-caused fire to spread within a defined planning area of 21,500 acres. The positive benefits of this fire include a reduction of dead and down forest fuels, which may decrease the chance of high-severity wildfire in the future. Additionally, an increase in soil nutrients is typical after a low-intensity fire like the Rawhide Fire. Ash from the fire contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, which acts as a natural fertilizer for established and new plants. While the fire did not spread across the entire planning area it did cover about 47 percent of the area.

This will be the last update on the Rawhide Fire unless there is a significant change.

Smoke was visible the past two days on the Rawhide Fire as it grew 600 acres in the Lawyer Canyon area of the Guadalupe Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest. Hand ignitions were successfully conducted on Wednesday to help check and direct the fire's movement through the canyon.

Monsoonal rains will likely hit the fire area within the next two weeks. In the meantime, crews will continue to allow the fire to fulfill its natural role in the ecosystem. Fire plays an integral role by reducing fuels on the forest floor. It will also help curtail encroachment by juniper trees which can regenerate rapidly, out competing other vital plants like grasses, which are needed for forage.

Higher humidity levels are resulting in low to moderate fire behavior on the 9214-acre fire. The lightning-caused Rawhide Fire is burning in an area with no structures or infrastructure at risk.

Soon after the Rawhide Fire started on August 8, fire managers identified a 21,500-acre planning area to confine the fire. Crews worked diligently to secure the area utilizing roads and ridges to anchor from and backburn. The fire has burned through 43% of the planning area so far.

The Rawhide Fire was active over the weekend as crews conducted aerial and hand ignition operations targeting areas of unburned and thicker fuel loads. The lighting-caused fire burning five miles northwest of Sitting Bull Falls has now increased to 8,004 acres.

Fire activity on the Rawhide Fire was minimal Thursday because of high humidity levels following rain showers Wednesday evening. Crews continued to monitor the fire throughout the day as thunderclouds passed over the fire. Ignition operations earlier this week were successful and brought the total number of acres burned to approximately 2,305.

Once favorable weather conditions return, a helicopter will be utilized to conduct aerial ignitions along the edges of the already burned areas. As the fire moves across the landscape, it may encounter dense pockets of fuel that may result in increased smoke and fire behavior. Smoke may be visible from Carlsbad and Queen, NM throughout the weekend.

Parts of the Rawhide Fire planning area had already been identified to be prescribed burn in the future. Instead, fire managers can take advantage of this naturally-started fire to bring positive restorative benefits to the landscape now. The location of the Rawhide Fire combined with the time of year is ideal to see desired and beneficial results of reducing forest fuels. Unlike fires during the hottest and driest times of the year, the Rawhide Fire occurred when intermittent rains are likely to continue. Recurrent rainfall increases fuel moistures and typically decreases fire behavior. Historically, lightning fires occurred on this landscape every 15-35 years and burned freely under similar conditions.

The Forest Service Road 522 Loop including Road 522B remains closed to the public to ensure firefighter safety. The lightning-caused Rawhide Fire started August 8 about five miles northwest of Sitting Bull Falls in Rawhide Canyon. It is spreading predominately west and is still well within the 21,500-acre planning area.