August 14, 2008

Black Fire

Flagstaff, AZ – A lightning-ignited fire on the Peaks Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is being managed as a Wildland Fire Use (WFU) Fire. The Black Fire started over the weekend in the cinder-laden landscape northeast of Flagstaff – approximately 2 miles north of Sunset Crater National Monument and Forest Road 545, 2 miles south of the Strawberry Crater Trailhead, at the base of Black Mountain. WFU fires are naturally-ignited (lightning) and are managed to meet resource objectives such as improving wildlife habitat, reducing the potential for high-intensity wildland fires, and restoring fire to a more natural role in the ecosystem. [News Release]

Black WFU Update Monday Aug. 18, 2008:
The Black Fire continued to treat several more acres over the weekend and is now approximately 27 acres.  The area received a considerable amount of precipitation late in the weekend that slowed activity. Behavior is still moderately to low, and fire managers from the Peaks Ranger District will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions.

Black Wildland Fire Use Fire Update
Thursday, August 21, 2008:

The dry weather from the past few days has allowed the Black Fire -- located at the base of Black Mountain, 2 miles north of Sunset Crater – to gain momentum and continue to treat the fuel in the area. At approximately 43 acres, the fire continues to burn toward the northwest at a low intensity along the forest floor.
Because of the increase in activity, smoke has been visible for the past couple days, especially during the hottest, driest parts of the day.

Forecast winds for the area are expected to help the Black Fire make more progress this afternoon, and smoke will likely be visible northeast of Flagstaff. Fire Mangers are monitoring and evaluating conditions daily.

Additional information -- including maps, photos, and the original news release -- are available on Inciweb at http://inciweb.org/incident/1479/.

Friday, August 22, 2008: update [News Release]

Thursday Aug. 29, 2008: The Black Fire is reported at 232 acres. Crews are onsite daily monitoring this lightning-ignited fire that continues to low-intensity burn, benefiting the land. Smoke continues to be visible from Highway 89 north of Flagstaff. [News Release]