National Fire Plan Success Story

Fuels Reduction Projects Aided Firefighting Effort on X Fire
Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
2008

The X Fire started April 29, 2008, and burned 2,048 acres near Tusayan, Arizona, before being fully contained May 3. The X Fire is the largest wildland suppression fire on record for the Tusayan Ranger District, but it could have been even larger and burned at a much higher intensity had different conditions been present.

When the fire started it was quickly driven by strong, gusty winds, and fire managers knew it had great potential to expand into Grand Canyon National Park. However, the fire slowed when it entered an area north of Forest Road 302 that has been treated to reduce the amount of burnable material that can feed destructive wildland fire. Second, the decrease in fire behavior due to lighter fuels and the more open forest allowed firefighters the opportunity to safely construct fireline around the fire’s perimeter. Third, fire personnel successfully reinforced and secured the fireline during the next day even though extreme winds continued to blow.

Within the Kaibab National Forest land management plan, fire managers have identified areas where fuels reduction projects such as burning and thinning will be implemented to protect communities and help prevent future large fires. The program takes advantage of seasonal weather opportunities to utilize fire safely and effectively.

The goals of the fire management program include reducing hazardous buildup of burnable vegetation, creating future fire breaks and improving forest health. On the Tusayan Ranger District in the general vicinity of the X Fire, areas that have been treated by prescribed burning and thinning include: Ten-X Campground (2007), Ten-X Ranch, and Upper Ten-X Tank (1995). Another area in the X Fire vicinity was managed as a wildland fire use fire for resource benefits in 2004 and serves as an effective fire break for future fires.

The planning and implementation of fuels reduction projects east of Tusayan were important factors in the successful containment of the X Fire. Fire managers plan to continue conducting prescribed burns and managing wildland fire use fires near Tusayan and in other areas on the Kaibab National Forest in order to protect communities and improve forest health. The patience and willingness of local residents and businesses to endure minor smoke impacts during planned burning is vital to ensuring that forests are eventually less prone to destructive and dangerous wildfires that result in serious smoke impacts and threats to communities.

Contact: Punky Moore, 928-635-5653.