Contributed article
TUCSON — The Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, has completed ignitions on the Rockhouse 2 prescribed broadcast burn, having successfully treated approximately 3,200 acres this season.
The project was designed to meet the objectives of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy by reducing the accumulation of hazardous fuels, improving range and watershed conditions, improving wildlife habitat, returning the ecosystem to a more fire-resilient state, and reducing the likelihood of future high-intensity wildfires within the project area.
By reducing the probability of extreme fire behavior in future wildland fires, the intent is to reduce threats to firefighters, increase public safety, as well as reduce costs and resource damage due to fires.
In March 2023, the Safford Ranger District firefighters completed burning operations on two units, with initial preparations taking place on an additional two units. Preparations involved burning the perimeter and forming a blackline that helps to aid in holding the fire within the containment lines when ignitions begin.
On May 30, reviewed weather forecasts for June 1-2 deemed conditions unsuitable due to the forecast being too cool and moist. In addition, high winds were predicted. By June 5, conditions were within the prescription and were deemed acceptable.
By choosing the right time and ideal conditions to burn, our firefighters were able to create a mosaic burn pattern in the Galiuro Mountains, which includes the Coronado’s Guliuro FireScape Project.
This mosaic burn pattern creates varying fire severity levels which facilitates in developing a robust ecosystem more adapted to fire. Wildlife is able to utilize the burned area within hours after the fire has crept through the landscape. They return as opportunists to dig up insects or easily access fallen acorns. Large trees remain in the drainages allowing for wildlife cover while small trees and brush burn facilitate in returning nutrients to the soil.
For the next week, or as weather conditions permit, the Safford Ranger District firefighters will remain in the area monitoring and repairing infrastructure damage that may have occurred. In this case, the repair is replacing a pipe that was preplanned for replacement following the treatment.
