The National Park Service has partnered once again with the Summit Fire District in the management of wildland fire in and near Sunset Crater Volcano, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon National Monuments. This year Summit Fire has used the funding to purchase wildland fire shelters and portable radios.
The Summit Fire District has received Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) funding since the inception of the program. Previous allocations have provided Summit Fire District personnel with protective wildland fire gear, equipment and tools to assist with hazardous fuels reduction projects in the community and wildland fire suppression in the rugged landscape surrounding the Flagstaff Area Monuments.
The community of Flagstaff has grown from a rural to a suburban/rural area. As this growth has developed, there are more homes and people at risk in the widland-urban interface. The Summit Fire District (SFD) is a combination department utilizing 38 paid staff supported by 10 volunteers. The fire district is 68.5 square miles in size and bounded primarily by U.S. Forest Service lands, Arizona State lands, and the three national monuments. The parks regularly respond to these areas for wildland fires, accidents with injuries, rescues, and structural fire calls. The relationship with the employees and volunteers between the two agencies is excellent.
Contact: Charles Strickfaden, Chief Ranger
Phone: (928) 526-1157 x 228
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
