Fredonia, Ariz., Sept. 19, 2018 — For Immediate Release. High humidity and chance of showers are forecasted for the region, possibly giving crews an opportunity to conduct burnout operations if winds and weather are conducive to safely doing so.

Cat Fire Overview:

Date reported: August 6, 2018                                  Cause: Lightning

Size: 4,491 acres                                                               Personnel: 35

Location: The Cat Fire is about 25 miles southeast of Jacob Lake in the Saddle Mountain Wilderness on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Fuel: Mixed conifer, ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper/mountain mahogany.

Weather:  A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms are forecasted for Wednesday. Moisture is expected to linger through Wednesday night with a return to warm and dry conditions Thursday and into the weekend.

Strategy: As favorable conditions exist, crews plan to conduct burnout operations, introducing fire inside the control line to consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line along Forest Road 2599. This is done to secure the fire’s western edge and stop its growth toward critical infrastructure.

Area, road and trail closure: The restricted area is depicted on the attached map, and includes the boundary roads and trails described as beginning at the junction of Forest Road (FR) 610 and the Arizona Trail #101, then north to the junction with the Arizona Trail #101 and North Canyon Trail #4, then proceeding east on the North Canyon Trail #4 to FR 631 continuing to FR 8910 Junction. Then south on the FR8910 to South Canyon #6/ Nankoweap Trail #57, then going west on the South Canyon #6/Nankoweap Trail #57 to FR610 continuing west on FR610 to the Junction of FR 610 and the Arizona Trail #101.

Smoke: Smoke will continue to be visible from a wide area around the plateau. Smoke impacts have been minimal thus far but may occasionally effect the communities to the north and the northeast. Motorists are asked to always use caution when driving near or around all fires. For more information on local air quality resources, please visit https://www.airnow.gov/

For additional information the following sources are available:

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6109/

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Twitter: twitter.com/kaibabnf 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/

Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311.