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National Fire Plan Success Story

Fuel Treatment Effects On Wildfires, February Fire
Tonto National Forest, Arizona
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
February 2006

Fire Name: February Fire (4243 acres)
Date of Fire: February 2006
Location: Arizona - Tonto National Forest, Region 3

Fuel Treatment Type/Date of Treatment: Payson, Arizona is located below the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. Since 2001, the Payson Ranger District has closely collaborated with federal, state, and local partners to plan and implement hazardous fuels reduction projects in and around Payson.

Work to reduce hazardous fuels around historic Bray Creek Ranch has been ongoing since 2004. Fuel breaks in the ponderosa pine had been constructed on the east, south, and western edges of the historic Bray Creek Ranch in 2004. In November 2005 the District implemented a prescribed burn on the northern edge of the historic Ranch.

Effect of the treatment on fire behavior and/or how it facilitated control efforts: Fall and winter of 2005/2006 were dry in the southwest. Across the District low fuel moistures were being recorded similar to June conditions.

The February Fire was an escaped camp fire, managed by a Type II IMT. The fire burned active with spatial torching and crown runs in the ponderosa pine. 1000 hour fuels were consuming to white ash.

The February Fire burned aggressively into the 330-foot fuel break constructed on the eastern edge of the Bray Creek Ranch. The fuel break was effective. District personnel characterized the effectiveness of the fuel break by dividing it in thirds. The fire burned through the first third of the fuel break at high intensities. When the fire transitioned into the middle third of the fuel break fire behavior decreased significantly resulting in moderate intensities. When the fire burned into the final third of the fuel break, adjacent to the private property, it was characterized as low intensity ground fire and was effectively picked up by ground resources.

District personnel stated the fuel break in combination with the prescribed burn allowed for the historic Bray Creek Ranch to be saved.

Values protected by the treatment associated change in fire behavior/more rapid containment of the fire: Value at risk was the Historic Bray Creek Ranch (a part time residence).