U.S. Forest Service - Kaibab National Forest

07/23/2026

Over the next several weeks, the Kaibab National Forest may conduct prescribed pile burns across the Williams and Tusayan ranger districts if weather and fuel conditions are favorable. Residents and visitors might see smoke from some of these operations.

Although pile burning is typically conducted during the winter, these piles require a different combination of weather and fuel conditions to burn safely and effectively. During this monsoon season, fire managers will look for short windows when fuels are dry enough and temperatures are warm enough for the piles to burn completely, while higher humidity helps moderate fire behavior and wet grasses surrounding the piles help minimize the potential for fire creeping.

Potential pile burn locations include:
• Fues Hill — 369 acres located three miles north of Williams, south of Red Lake along State Route 64.
• Welch — 203 acres approximately 10 miles west of Williams, just south of Interstate 40
• McCracken — 168 acres approximately nine miles south of the Williams, west of County Road 73 (“South Road”)
• Ten X — 46 acres located just south of Tusayan along the east side of State Route 64.
• Unit 3 — 59 acres approximately six miles east of Tusayan

The piles consist of branches and other woody debris generated during forest thinning projects and are constructed by hand or machine. Burning this material is an important part of the forest’s hazardous fuels reduction program, helping reduce excess vegetation and protect nearby communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from future wildfires.

Before any ignition begins, fire managers evaluate fuel moisture, weather and wind forecasts, ventilation and smoke dispersion, air quality, and the availability of personnel and resources to ensure conditions meet established prescription requirements.

07/17/2026

Kaibab NF fire restrictions to lift tomorrow morning at 10 AM

Due to an increase in rainfall over the last several days, the Kaibab National Forest will lift all fire restrictions at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Fire managers continually evaluate conditions across the forest to help determine when to implement and rescind fire restrictions. The forest has received enough widespread rain to increase fuel moisture and decrease the risk of severe fire.

To help prevent human-caused fires, forest visitors should always be vigilant while visiting the forest, regardless of restriction levels.

• Leaving your campfire unattended is illegal all year round. Campfires must be dead out – cold to the touch – before walking away.
• Fireworks and explosives are prohibited on National Forest lands.
• Do not drive or park on dry grass. Hot exhaust pipes or sparks can start a fire.
• When pulling a trailer, be sure safety chains and other metal parts aren’t hanging from your vehicle – loose chains can drag and cause sparks.
• Never discard cigarette butts on the ground or in vegetation. Fully extinguish cigarette butts before throwing them away.

For restriction information on state and federally managed lands in AZ, visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions

Find restriction information for Coconino County at coconino.az.gov/2595/Fire-Restriction-Information

07/08/2026

For those who can't attend in person, Nick's service will be live streamed and recorded.
Live Stream: https://vimeo.com/event/6032928
Recorded Video: https://vimeo.com/1206885655

The links are available on the Hansen Mortuary website: https://www.hansenmortuary.com/obituaries/Nicholas-Alexander-Hutcherson?obId=48924497

Live Stream: https://vimeo.com/event/6032928
Recorded Video: https://vimeo.com/1206885655

07/03/2026

Live Stream: https://vimeo.com/event/6032928
Recorded Video: https://vimeo.com/1206885655

07/03/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/01/2026

As you can imagine, we are heartbroken. Nick Hutcherson exemplified the agency’s commitment to serving the public and the courage wildland firefighters bring to some of the most difficult work we do. Before joining the Forest Service, Nick proudly served in the U.S. Navy, including a tour in Guam, and he continued that commitment to others as a wildland firefighter while pursuing his dream of becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Outside of work, Nick was a dedicated Muay Thai practitioner who trained at Southside Combat Academy in Flagstaff and was an active member of the Northern Arizona Deaf and American Sign Language community. We are incredibly proud to call him a member of the Kaibab family.

Our hearts are also with the families, friends, and crewmates of Emily Barker and Sydney Watson. Sydney’s roots on the Kaibab and Emily’s close ties to so many of our firefighters mean their loss is deeply personal for our employees as well. We grieve the loss of all three firefighters and mourn alongside everyone whose lives have been forever changed by this tragedy.

As we observe National Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance, we stand with the entire wildland fire community in honoring Nick, Sydney, and Emily, and in remembering the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of all wildland firefighters.

We are humbled by the outpouring of compassion we’ve felt from our communities, partners, fellow responders, and people across the country. Knowing so many are standing with us means more than words can express.

Right now, our focus is caring for Nick’s family, the injured firefighters and their loved ones, and our employees as they navigate the difficult days ahead. Thank you for continuing to give them the time and space they need to grieve, heal, and care for one another.

07/01/2026

SEATs (Single Engine Air Tankers) are often seen operating in pairs dropping water or retardant on fires, but today's mission is different, although still fire-related.

Residents of Kanab and Fredonia will see a SEAT flying out of the Kanab airport the next few days heading over the east side of the North Kaibab and the White Sage Fire area.

It's mission: to spread a seed mix with the goal of reducing the potential for cheatgrass moving into a 700-acre area, protecting long-term habitat viability for native species and stabilizing soils.

The post-fire recovery road is a long one, but every step like this one is a step in the right direction for the benefit of a recovering landscape.

06/29/2026

Butte Fire - evening update for Sunday, June 28, 2026.
255 acres
10% containment
91 firefighters assigned
Cause: Lightning

This will be the final update for the Butte Fire unless significant fire activity occurs.

Crews continued to hold the fire within the containment lines through today's winds with the most active portion of the fire at the head to the northeast. Firefighters will hold and improve lines as gusty winds continue into tomorrow.

The National Weather Service-issued Red Flag Warning continues into early this evening, and near-critical fire weather will continue in the area Monday and Tuesday. More information on critical fire weather and Red Flag conditions can be found at www.weather.gov/fgz. While fire activity wanes on the Butte Fire, smoke will still be visible from the interior of the fire area as larger fire fuels continue to smolder and burn out.

The Kaibab National Forest joins family members, friends, colleagues, and the entire wildland fire community in mourning the loss of three wildland firefighters who died Saturday, June 27, as part of an interagency response to the Knowles and Gore fires along the Colorado-Utah border. Two additional firefighters sustained injuries and are in our thoughts as they receive medical care.

We extend our unwavering support to the families of the fallen, the injured firefighters, and their fellow crew members during this difficult time.

We stand with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and our interagency partners in honoring the dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice of these firefighters. Their commitment to protecting the public, communities, and natural resources exemplifies the highest ideals of public service.

06/28/2026

Update on the Spring Fire near Parks and Pumpkin Center, now being managed by Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

06/28/2026

Butte Fire - morning update for Sunday, June 28, 2026.

255 acres
10% containment
91 firefighters assigned
Cause: Lightning

As reported last night, the Butte Fire's progress slowed and reduced in intensity considerably as it entered the burn area of the 2014 McRae Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire that was contained at 5,505 acres. This allowed firefighters the opportunity to continue their hard work overnight and establish dozer line around the fire despite continued windy conditions.

The cause of the Butte Fire has been determined as lightning. Fires within lightning-struck trees can sometimes go days or weeks without being detected as the fire smolders within the body or root structure of a tree, only becoming noticeable when conditions become favorable for active fire behavior, such as the case with the hot, dry, windy conditions we've been experiencing after the last storm passed through the area.

Crews will continue adding protections to wood powerline poles in the fire area today, holding and improving containment lines, and watching for spot fires outside containment lines as high winds continue through the day and into tonight.