Arizona forest proposes using fire as tool for restoration

FREDONIA, Ariz. (AP) — Forest officials in northern Arizona have plans to use prescribed fire to help with restoration efforts in an area north of Grand Canyon National Park.

The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public comments on a proposed vegetation management project that would span more than 43 square miles (111.4 square kilometers).

Managers are calling for using prescribed fire and managed wildfires in combination with mechanical thinning to treat the area.

Officials say the goal is to make the forest more resilient by creating conditions better able to withstand the effects of climate change and other threats such as unnaturally severe wildfire. Once the work is done, they envision stands made up of diverse tree sizes and ages as well as larger openings between groups of trees.

This is the second time the project has been put up for public comment. Since initial scoping in 2015, officials say there have been only minor changes related to acreage adjustments based on field surveys and other data.