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POINT (Monitor/Confine/Contain), Coconino NF, lightning caused, started 5/31, located 1 mile east of Pine, AZ (34 25 3 x 111 24 30). Values at Risk: Natural resources including MSO. Growth Potential: Medium; Difficulty of Terrain: High; Projected Demobe: 6/10. Type 3 Management (Miller, IC). (Last ICS-209 Received: 6/07, 2100)

Happy Jack , AZ — The Point Fire, that was started by lightning and first sighted on Sunday, May 31, 2009, is approximately 86 acres in size. The fire is located on Milk Ranch Point in the Coconino National Forest. It is being managed by 70 fire personnel from the Coconino and Tonto National Forests, and the Pine-Strawberry Fire Department for resource benefit and to reduce catastrophic wildfire danger to the communities of Pine and Strawberry.

Fire specialists from the Coconino are employing tactical actions to manage the Point Fire within a predetermined area that is defined by geographical features. The entire Milk Ranch Point area and all trails that pass through on top of Milk Ranch Point are officially closed to entry until rescinded. Hikers may access trails beneath Milk Ranch Point from trailheads on the Payson Ranger District in the Tonto National Forest. These trails, however, are closed to entry once they reach the top of the Mogollon Rim and level out on Milk Ranch Point.

Fire experts for several days have “prepped” along the western edge of Milk Ranch Point and along Forest Road 218 and will continue to implement extensive fire management safeguards in anticipation of conducting a burn-out operation in a predetermined area on Sunday, June 7, 2009, if favorable weather permits. Favorable weather is essential to ensure managed fire remains inside designated boundaries. Prep work is indispensable for conducting an efficient and safe burn-out operation.

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see a significant column of smoke develop during each day of the fire management operation (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday) as the fire grows to about 1200 acres over the three-day period. Smoke during the day should move in a northeasterly direction away from Milk Ranch Point. Diurnal air flow will move residual smoke into the areas of Pine and Strawberry in the evening hours.

Firefighters manage smoke whenever possible. As fire specialists develop their strategies for managing fire, they closely study up-to-date weather forecasts from the National Weather Service, fire behavior, topography, and proximity to communities – all factors that can affect smoke.

POINT FIRE north of Pine on Milk Ranch Pnt, Mog Rim: 400 ac. burnout ops continue 2day. Smoke likely visible from Payson & Verde Valley.
about 12 hours ago

For Immediate Release

Date: June 8, 2009



Happy Jack, AZ – Anticipated growth today will be an additional 250 plus acres planned. With weather conditions yesterday, June 7th fire managers were able to meet their resource objectives by reducing hazardous dead fuels that have accumulated on the forest floor.

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see a significant column of smoke again today. If weather conditions permit additional acreage is planned for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9th. Diurnal air flow will move residual smoke into the areas of Pine and Strawberry in the evening and early morning hours. Yesterday smoke from the Point fire was seen from Payson and the Verde Valley.

Fire Started: May 26, 2009

Cause: Lightning

Total Size of the fire: 400 acres

Anticipated Growth Today: 250 – 300 acres

Total Personnel: 4 engines, 2 Hotshot Crews, 1 Dozer, 2 Water Tenders, 1 fuels crew and miscellaneous overhead.

Cooperating Agencies: Coconino National Forest, Tonto National Forest and Pine Strawberry Fire Department

Firefighters manage smoke whenever possible. As fire specialists develop their strategies for managing fire, they closely study up-to-date weather forecasts from the National Weather Service. They also study fire behavior, topography, and the proximity to communities.

For additional information, contact the Blue Ridge Ranger Station, 928-477-2255.

Point Fire Update

For Immediate Release

Date: June 9, 2009

Happy Jack, AZ – Fire specialists were successful in achieving their objective yesterday in managing the Point Fire for resource benefit and to reduce catastrophic wildfire danger to the communities of Pine and Strawberry. Favorable weather was instrumental in allowing fire managers to treat an additional 250 acres of dense and decadent fuel loading with managed fire and raised their predetermined total to 650 acres. If weather today complies with necessary requirements for a safe operation, fire experts will complete their reduction of hazardous fuel loading on an additional 700 acres in the Milk Ranch Point area, within a predetermined area that has been “prepped” for safety, as the fire grows to about 1350 acres.

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see a significant column of smoke again today. Diurnal air flow will move residual smoke into the areas of Pine and Strawberry in the evening and early morning hours. Most smoke will dissipate from the Pine and Strawberry area by Thursday, June 11, 2009.

Fire Started: May 31, 2009

Cause: Lightning

Total Size of the managed fire: 650 acres

Anticipated Growth Today: 700 acres

Total Personnel: 4 engines, 2 Hotshot Crews, 1 Dozer, 2 Water Tenders, 1 fuels crew and miscellaneous overhead.

Cooperating Agencies: Coconino National Forest, Tonto National Forest and Pine Strawberry Fire Department

Firefighters manage smoke whenever possible. As fire specialists develop their strategies for managing fire, they closely study up-to-date weather forecasts from the National Weather Service. They also study fire behavior, topography, and the proximity to communities.

For additional information, contact the Blue Ridge Ranger Station, 928-477-2255.

chumley wrote:an additional 250 acres of dense and decadent fuel loading

big_load wrote:

chumley wrote:an additional 250 acres of dense and decadent fuel loading

I hope "decadent" is a technical term in this context and not a moral judgment on plant behavior.

jhodlof wrote:We had a lot of rain and the forest is in good shape to burn. The fires are doing a lot of good across the board. As we dry out this will change.

Lightning fires grow: Forest Ecosystem Benefits From Low-intensity Fire
Date: June 9, 2009

Contact: Coconino Supervisor's Office 928-527-3600

Flagstaff, AZ —Fire specialists on the Coconino National Forest continue to manage several lightning-caused fires to benefit forest natural resources.

Point Fire – about two miles northeast of Pine, on Milk Ranch Point along the Mogollon Rim. 650 acres, anticipated to grow to about 1,350 acres today. Smoke is visible from Pine, Strawberry, Payson and Verde Valley, and should dissipate by Thursday. Burnout operations over the past thre days have been successful in using low intensity fire to reduce hazardous accumulation of forest fuels. Due to fire operations, Milk Ranch Point, including Forest Roads 218 and 218A, is closed to public access. About 100 personnel from the Coconino and Tonto National Forests and Pine-Strawberry Fire Department are working on this fire; including three 20-person hotshot crews, four engines, one bulldozer and two water tenders.

Tucker Fire – about eight miles south of the Mogollon Rim/Blue Ridge Ranger Station on Dick Hart Ridge. Estimated 115 acres. Crews are monitoring.

Real Fire – about 5 miles southeast of Munds Park, east of I-17. Currently 250 acres. Smoke visible from I-17. Due to fire operations a portion of Forest Road 226 is closed to public access. About 24 personnel assigned, including three engines.

Rattle Ridge Fire – about three miles northwest of Stoneman Lake and east of Interstate 17. Approximately seven acres with increasing activity. Two engines (13 firefighters) are assigned. Public travel is being restricted within the fire area. Smoke is visible from I-17.

These lightning-caused, low-intensity fires benefit the fire-dependant ponderosa pine ecosystem as the fires are being managed for both protection and resource objectives. Fire managers work closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to monitor smoke production.

Information for the Point and Tucker Fires is available at the Mogollon Rim Ranger Station 928-477-2255. Other Fire Information is available at 928-527-3600.

big_load wrote:They could say "rotting", but it probably doesn't have enough syllables.