Thick gray smoke that leaves an acrid taste in the back of the throat ebbs and flows across the Verde Valley as firefighters continue to monitor the Cross Fire near Williams, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
USFS announced it would allow the fire to continue to burn “under appropriate conditions” within prescribed boundaries encompassing 12,000 to 15,000 acres.
Burning 18 miles southeast of Williams in the Kaibab National Forest, the fire grew to nearly 2,300 acres as of Tuesday, July 14, USFS reported.
Firefighting activity slowed Sunday, July 12, due to cloud cover and higher humidity. The fire continues to move in a westerly direction.
When the Cross Fire was first detected July 1, officials decided it could be managed to achieve several objectives: providing for firefighter and public safety, monitoring and managing smoke production, reducing hazardous fuel accumulation, protecting wildlife habitat and returning fire to a fire-dependent ecosystem.
“Within the planned boundary, fire officials identified management action points where specific actions will be taken to slow, redirect or enhance fire spread if necessary,” USFS reported.
To date, several action points have been reached and the appropriate measures have been taken to maintain fire growth within the planned management area, according to USFS.
USFS was working to reinforce the northern boundary of the management area as of Monday, July 13.
“Because of prevailing southwest winds and steep rugged terrain, it is crucial to take measures now under favorable conditions to create a backing fire away from the northern boundary to prevent fire from making rapid upslope runs toward the boundary,” USFS stated. In the days ahead, fire managers are considering igniting fires from the air along small segments of the northern boundary to reduce the risk to firefighters in this steep country with limited safety zones.
The actions will create a buffer from Forest Road 147 to the 2008 Oak Fire perimeter. The actions will also produce more smoke than the past few days, USFS reported.
Smoke will be more noticeable along Interstate 40 and in the Verde Valley throughout the week as planned management actions on the northern boundary are implemented.
Managers are working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the National Weather Service to determine when it will be most appropriate to conduct these management ignitions. The forecast is for current conditions to persist with good smoke dispersal for the next few days.
There are no closures associated with the Cross Fire. However, forest visitors need to use caution when traveling in the area and watch for equipment and personnel. For additional information on the Cross Fire, call (928) 635-5653.
