In 2007, the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest’s North Kaibab Ranger District combined fire resources to form the interagency North Rim Fire Management Organization.
While the process of combining forces presented some challenges, the organization is now fully operational. It took approximately a year for the necessary interagency agreements to be established. As with any organization, recruiting and filling positions was a challenge. However the combination of organizations increased interest. The new organization is now managed by a Zone Fire Management Officer, Zone Assistant Fire Management Officer, and a Zone Fuels Specialist.
The new organization means there is a larger pool of qualified individuals on all types of operations. Another big advantage is there is only one Fire Management Officer needed to make a decision, and only one duty officer is needed for the zone.
In their first year of operation, the new organization treated 10,000 acres with prescribed fire, managed 6,000 acres as wildland fire use, and suppressed one 5,000 acre Type 2 wildfire.
Contact: Ed Hiatt, North Zone Fire Management Officer
Phone: (928) 643-8101
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
