Three fires being managed on the Globe Ranger District

Lightning strikes cause fires in nearly 600 acres in Pinal and Superstition Mountains

       

Globe, Ariz. (August 30, 2011 ) – Globe Ranger District fire specialists are currently managing three lightning-caused wildfires, the Frio (450 acres), the Kellner fire (5 acres), both in the Pinal Mountain range, and the 650 Fire of approximately 125 acres which began Aug. 28 in the Superstition mountains on the top of Montana Mountain.  Smoke and flames from the 650 fire may be visible to East Valley residents.   The Kellner fire is not showing any activity.   

Forest visitors can expect to see light to moderate smoke throughout the day, with very little smoke impact to the towns of Globe or Miami. 

           

Due to current monsoon humidity, these lightning-caused fires can be allowed to play their natural role in the ecosystem. 

Managed wildfires are monitored by fire specialists to meet resource benefits such as allowing them to burn naturally in fire-adapted ecosystems when it can been done safely, effectively and efficiently (pose no immediate risk to life, safety, property or resources).

A managed wildfire is started from a natural ignition, such as lightning. Wildfires that are human-caused cannot be classified as a managed wildfire. Managed wildfires are utilized to improve and benefit natural resources.  Benefits to natural resources derived from a managed wildfire may include: 

• Reduction of heavy fuel loading that diminishes the threat of catastrophic wildfire. 
• Reintroduction of fire into the landscape to perform its historical role of cleaning the forest floor of dead and down vegetation, eliminating sickly trees, and generally keeping the ecosystem healthy. 
• Raising the crown base height. The crown base simply means the lowest limbs on a individual tree that would allow a ground fire to climb into those limbs and transition the fire vertically up into the tree to create a crown fire.   
• Recycling valuable nutrients back into the soil. 
• Maintaining and improving wildlife habitat.

For further information, please call the Globe Ranger District at 928-402-6200.  Residents can also stay updated on prescribed fires at www.fs.usda.gov/Tonto.  To report a wildland fire, the fire emergency number is 866-746-6516, or dial 9-1-1.