National Fire Plan Success Story
Fuel Treatment Effects On Wildfires, West WFU
Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
June 2006
Fire Name: West WFU (final size approximately 2000 acres)
Date of Fire: June 2006
Location: Arizona - Kaibab National Forest, Region 3
Fuel Treatment Type/Date of Treatment: The West WFU was managed by the Kaibab NF, June 2006, prior to the monsoon season in the southwest. The Agency Administrator and Line Officer made the decision to manage this fire for resource benefits based on the factors, listed below.
- Spring 2006, the Kaibab NF implemented the Scott Prescribed Burn, and effectively treated approximately 1,000 acres north and east of the West WFU.
- Summer 2005, the Kaibab NF successfully treated approximately 1,000 acres while managing the North WFU east/southeast of the West WFU.
Effect of the treatment on fire behavior and/or how it facilitated control efforts: If the Scott Prescribed Fire and North WFU had not been implemented Forest personnel would have managed the West WFU as a suppression fire. The appropriate management response would have been an aggressive initial attack.
Previous treatments effectively checked the spread of the West WFU. When the fire reached treated areas it stopped naturally.
Previous treatments can be directly attributed to reducing firefighter exposure. A minimal number of ground and aviation resources were committed to the West WFU.
Values protected by the treatment associated change in fire behavior/more rapid containment of the fire: Several values at risk were in the general vicinity including: Grand View Lookout Tower, Hull Cabin (historic), and the Dessert View Subdivision power line.