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National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Success Story

Fuels Reduction Work Conducted at Flagstaff Area Monuments
Flagstaff Area Monuments, Arizona
Cohesive Strategy - Fire-Adapted Human Communities
2011

Area around a structure at the Walnut Canyon National Monument.
Defensible space at Walnut Canyon National Monument (NPS photo).

Two firefighters raking pine needles.
Saguaro Wildland Fire Module raking pine needles at Sunset Crater National Monument (NPS photo).

On February 14, 2011, 108 acres of Firewise and Wildland Urban Interface thinning was completed at Walnut Canyon National Monument. It was conducted around the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) / Mission 66 historic Walnut Canyon Visitor Center complex, picnic area, front country trails, maintenance shop, employee housing, water/wastewater facilities, and utility corridors. The project area is dominated by relatively open mixed ponderosa-pinyon-juniper stands with mixed age trees and includes trees in the 24+ inch diameter range, which are habitat to various birds of prey, including Mexican Spotted Owl.

The project was a collaborative effort between Grand Canyon National Park fire management staff, led by Dan Pearson, and Flagstaff Monument fire management staff, led by Charlie Strickfaden. This project was complicated by extensive above and below ground archeological resources which required mitigation and protection during the project. The contractor, Firestorm, Inc. dramatically reduced fuels loading, while cooperating heavily to retain minimal disturbance and fuels load on cultural areas, achieving cost effectiveness and efficiencies. Due to the number and size of sensitive archaeological sites within the project area, extensive coordination and communication was required to between the project archaeologists, the contractor, project inspectors, and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to improve cost effectiveness and efficiency. Though it occurred in the middle of northern Arizona winter conditions, limited snowfall allowed this partnership project to be completed on time and within the budget allocated.

In July 2011, the Saguaro Wildland Fire Module also assisted Walnut Canyon National Monument in thinning the area directly adjacent to the Visitor Center. The crew also worked at Sunset Crater National Monument, raking pine needles and moving dead and down brush away from NPS facilities.

Contact

Charles Strickfaden, Fire Program Coordinator, Flagstaff Area Monuments
Email: Charles_Strickfaden@nps.gov
Phone: 928-526-1157

Keywords: Cost Effectiveness and Efficiencies, Partnership