High Meadow Fire near Mt. Trumbull causes road closures

Rachel Carnahan, BLM Arizona Strip District

Fire staffs continue today to manage the High Meadow Fire located approximately 55 miles southeast of St. George near Mt. Trumbull and Potato Valley on the BLM Arizona Strip. The lightning-caused High Meadow Fire started July 14. The fire is 820 acres in size and is in the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument portion of the BLM Arizona Strip.

The High Meadow wildfire is being managed to achieve both protection and natural resource objectives.

“Private property and improvements will be protected from the fire while we use the fire to reduce downed fuel accumulation and thin the overstocked ponderosa pine stands,” said Mark Rosenthal, Fire Management Officer for the BLM Arizona Strip District. “The positive results of this approach can be seen in the footprint of recent fires in the Mt. Trumbull area.”

Recent fire activity has increased, with smoke visible from surrounding areas. Ground crews and aviation are working to minimize impacts to private property (Potato Valley) to the north. The fire is being managed by a Color Country Type 3 Incident Command (IC) Team.

There are four BLM roads closed to public traffic around the fire area, including BLM 1768, 1775, 1802, and 1803. While the Mohave County Rd 5 remains open, the public is urged to use caution due to fire vehicle traffic, personnel and equipment activity, and occasional smoke.

Resources on the fire include 1 Type 1 crew, 3 Type 2 crews, 1 wildland fire module, 2 Type 3 helicopters, 6 engines, and 6 water tenders.

For more information on the High Meadow Fire or other fires in Arizona or throughout the United States, go to www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.

You can also follow BLM Arizona Fire activity on Twitter and Facebook @BLMAZFire and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BLMArizona.