Large forest fires, drought conditions, record temperatures lead to forest closures and represent a further challenge for companies in mountain towns.
Billy Cordasco and Ryan Butler sat on the hill behind the Cedar Ranch and watched the shale fire work its way east through the juniper, pinyon, and ponderosa pine forest from Highway 180 towards the historic ranch house, barn, well and paved the pipeline north of the San Francisco Peaks. Cordasco, President and General Manager of Babbitt Ranches, is a fourth-generation descendant of the original Babbitt brothers who started the ranch empire here in the late 19th century. Butler is a Forest Service fire supervisor called from Montana.
A small helicopter was used to throw water onto the fire front. But when the two men watched the blazing patch in front of the fire lines, areas that had been cleared of fuel like bushes and trees, the plan changed. “I’ve never seen juniper burn like this,” said Butler. “The masticator was chewing trees and they would burn. In Montana, it would take years for them to dry up and become flammable. Usually the fire goes out in juniper during the day, but not in this case. Even with heavy equipment we could not go around the fire. “
Butler called the helicopter and gave orders to fight the fire – essentially with fire – away from the ranch house to create a buffer around the historic site and nothing to burn between him and the flames. And it worked. The only structural damage was part of a power line that melted.
Historic stagecoach stop
In addition to being an important cowboy headquarters, the Cedar Ranch was also a stagecoach station in the late 19th century. Tourists would spend $ 20 to drive from the McMillan Hotel in Leroux and Santa Fe Avenue to Grandview Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The trip included three stops at which the team of horses was changed. One of them was at Cedar Ranch.
“So that the horses could drink from the spring, they took big old pine trees, carved them out, and lined them up in a row that came from the spring. And that’s how they moved the water, ”said historian Jim Babbitt.
Today, Cedar Ranch is still important to running the ranch. Recreational athletes from all over the world also cross this part of the Babbitt Ranches on the Arizona Trail, which runs parallel to the old stagecoach route. Sections of the trail like this are currently closed, as are the Coconino, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves, Prescott, and Tonto National Forests.
“Although we have received some rain in parts of the forest recently, we are still experiencing very arid conditions that have kept our fire hazard at extremes,” said Brady Smith, public affairs officer for Coconino National Forest. “The complete closure of the forest is necessary to reduce the risk of forest fires and remove the human component from that risk while we are currently fighting large forest fires in the forest. Our law enforcement, firefighters, and forest protection officers will be patrolling to ensure compliance with the closure order, and we ask people to adhere to the closure – even if it looks okay to enter. “
The shale fire, which charred more than 11,000 acres about 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff, began on June 7th and is still burning. It is one of at least 15 major fires in the Arizona countryside, making this the worst wildfire season since 2006.
Forest, company closings
Years of drought have made ranching a challenge here. Jack Rodgers, the Babbitt Ranches water haulier, has been distributing truckloads of water and filling dirt tanks for cattle and wildlife almost daily across northern Arizona for more than a year. He personally delivered 1.6 million gallons between May 1 and the second week of October 2020. (See related story on page 13.)
The drought and the dangerous fire situation also affect other companies that operate in forest areas. Gondola cabins hang motionless over the treetops of the Arizona Snowbowl. Ski resort managers had planned for a busy summer with the new Scenic Gondola, which will take tourists to 11,500 feet for views from the top of the peaks.
“The forest closure is definitely having a pretty big impact on us,” said Snowbowl Marketing Manager Li Cui. “We will be closed for summer operation at short notice until the forest can reopen. While this is unfortunate, we understand that this is a necessary measure to protect our forests and our community in times of increased fire risk and limited fire-fighting resources. “
Seasonal workers won’t be working until Snowbowl can reopen, but Cui says the year-round full-time workers will continue to work during this time, as well as the staff at the Ski Lift Lodge and restaurant. “When we reopen, we look forward to welcoming guests again for scenic Arizona Gondola rides, summer activities in the base area, and mountain dining at Agassiz Restaurant.”
In the nearby Arizona Nordic Village, which was a haven for outdoor enthusiasts during the pandemic, employees had to pack campers. “We had become more popular in recent months than before the pandemic, but the forest closure is not exactly good for business,” said Nordic Village Manager Theo Callan. “We had to cancel so many reservations and lay off three people before that was over.”
Events such as a music camp and a bike race have been canceled. Callan hopes weddings scheduled later this summer won’t be compromised.
During the closure, some on-site staff will still be allowed to make improvements to the property. “We see this as a little break for us to focus on other projects so that when we reopen we will be even better than we were.”
Fire restrictions in Flagstaff
In the city, Flagstaff introduced level 4 fire restrictions. This means that all outdoor barbecues are prohibited, including propane, charcoal, pellets, and all open flame barbecues. Sections of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) that provide access to the Coconino National Forest are closed. And the grounds of Observatory Mesa and Picture Canyon City Open Space are closed to the public.
Dangerously dry conditions also made it necessary to cancel the July 4th fireworks in Flagstaff.
“Flagstaff’s forests are beautiful, but very dry,” said Heidi Hansen, City of Flagstaff’s director of economic vitality. “Therefore, there was a need to go to level 4 fire restrictions and close all forests and paths for the time being.”
The Lowell Observatory on Mars Hill, which borders Coconino National Forest and the city, is following suit. “This means that hikers and cyclists cannot currently use Lowell’s land. The bigger impact is that both our Anderson Mesa and Lowell Discovery Telescope sites are on National Forest land. Without access to the sites, scientists cannot observe through telescopes at night and engineers cannot take care of the instruments and facilities, ”said Lowell Historian and Public Information Officer Kevin Schindler.
In the meantime, the closings, which may affect the number of tourists coming to the mountain town, could pose further challenges for local small businesses that have adapted during the pandemic and current labor shortage.
“We hope that travelers continue to visit Flagstaff through the forest closure as we have many other things to offer during their stay – cool temperatures, starry skies, great beers and food, and more,” said Hansen. “We ask visitors to stay and play responsibly.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
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