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National Fire Plan Success Story

Payson Ranger District Fuels Reduction and Robust Forest Strategy,
Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, Arizona
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction

Picture of forest conditions before fuels reduction treatment, showing closed, dense forest.
Before treatment.

Picture of forest conditions after fuels reduction treatment, showing sparse, more open forest.
After treatment.

In 2001, the Payson Ranger District began implementation of a landscape-scale fuels reduction strategy. The project goals were to: reduce catastrophic wildfire danger in the Mogollon Rim wildland urban interface; initiate the restoration of natural ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper and oak forest; and to foster sustainable forest conditions.

A key component of the fuels reduction strategy was a public education campaign that focused on raising public awareness about hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface and developing long-term collaborative relationships to assist in implementing hazardous fuels reduction projects.

Since the plan's inception in 2001, 7500 acres have been thinned in critical, high-priority areas surrounding communities throughout the district, and 18,200 acres have been treated with prescribed fire. The district has also used partnerships to open five brush disposal pits for area residents and property owners, created a 330-foot wide fuel break around the communities of Pine and Strawberry, and used goats to reduce fuel loading. The district also has approximately 150,000 acres of projects that are ready for implementation.

Local residents and property owners have been actively involved in the effort's success, and have donated substantial funding to accomplish the objectives of the fuels reduction strategy. In 2006 alone, nearly $335,000 have been donated toward project implementation.

In February 2006, the district's fuel reduction efforts were put to the test when a wildfire burned 4300 acres in the area.  Treated areas and other existing fuel breaks were instrumental in saving the historic Bray Creek Ranch, and provided a layer of defense for several communities.

Contact: Gary Roberts
Phone: (928) 474-7992
E-mail: garyroberts@fs.fed.us