Tumacácori National Historical Park burned approximately 50 piles of dead and down woody material including velvet mesquite, catclaw and whitethorn acacia on October 2, 2007. The project was conducted along a ¾ mile stretch of the Park’s western boundary fence line, in a recently acquired area of the park. This project will help provide survivable space and reduce the threat of wildfire spread by reducing fuel loads between the park and neighboring properties.
“We took every precaution to ensure that the burn was conducted in a safe manner, and to minimize impacts on our neighbors,” said Lisa Carrico, Superintendent of Tumacácori National Historical Park. The burn was conducted by firefighters from Saguaro National Park, Coronado National Forest and Northwest Fire, a local fire department.
In 2006, mechanical tools (chainsaws, pruners, hand-saws, etc.) were used to remove small trees and to prune branches off of larger trees in the project area, which were later piled in preparation for the burn. No trees greater than six inches in diameter were removed during these activities.
Tumacácori National Historical Park in the upper Santa Cruz River Valley of southern Arizona is comprised of the abandoned ruins of three ancient Spanish colonial missions. The park is located on 359 acres in three separate units. San José de Tumacácori and Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi, established in 1691, are the two oldest missions in Arizona. The third unit, San Cayetano de Calabazas, was established in 1756.
Contact: Lisa Carrico, Superintendent
Phone: (505) 398-2341
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
