The Coconino National Forest has announced that fire managers are pivoting to a full suppression strategy on both the Scott Fire and the Luke Fire, a pair of lightning-caused wildfires located south of Flagstaff, after both fires resulted in the successful treatment of several hundred acres of Coconino National Forest land for forest health.

The Scott Fire is currently 180 acres and the Luke Fire is currently 9 acres.

Fire managers made the decision late last week to strategically manage both naturally-ignited fires for the long-term benefit of the fire-adapted ecosystem of the Coconino NF.

Prior to the fire management process, forestry and fire experts create a strategy that identifies resource objectives while relying on a risk management process. Objectives often include the reduction of fuels – such as dry pine needles and dead leaves – that contribute to unhealthy forest conditions that can lead to a greater risk of high-intensity wildfire. The risk management process determines the point at which the risks of suppressing a fire outweigh the benefits produced by the fire.

Fire managers have decided to fully suppress the Scott and Luke fires for several reasons, including predicted wind and weather conditions. A full suppression strategy will also free up firefighters and other resources for use on other emerging incidents in the area.

Scott Fire crews spent Sunday using a bulldozer to build a line along the east edge of the fire and are still working to secure already constructed line along the north edge of the fire. All firing operations have ceased.

Firefighters currently assigned to both the Scott and Like fires will remain on the fires. Scott Fire lines will be staffed late into tonight.

The fire is currently being managed by the Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team, which assumed control of the fire earlier this weekend.

“We’re glad we were able to put low-intensity fire on the ground in wildland-urban interface areas where fuels treatment will benefit vulnerable communities,” said Incident Commander Matt Brown. “Safety remains our No. 1 priority and the flexibility of our fire response reflects that.”

In addition to the forest health-boosting benefits of these strategically-managed lightning fires, several prescribed fire projects planned for this fall and next spring will continue work to increase the use of fire on the Coconino National Forest’s landscape to improve forest resiliency, as detailed in the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

“Two hundred acres is better than zero acres,” said Georgie Beck, acting Flagstaff Deputy District Ranger. “Putting fire on the ground to protect our communities remains one of our highest priorities here on the Coconino and we’re looking forward to resuming our use of beneficial fire once conditions are better suited to this crucial work.”

A closure order remains in effect for the Scott Fire.