>>> WILD LAND FIRES ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF RANCHING IN
ARIZONA.
>> IF YOU DON'T BURN IN THIS
COUNTRY, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE
YOUR GRASS OVER TIME.
THAT'S THE WAY THESE GRASSES
EVOLVED.
>> WILDFIRES ARE ALSO IMPORTANT
FOR THE HEALTH OF THE MOUNTAIN.
>> OTHER AREAS WHERE THE
INTENSITY WAS LESS, IT CLEANED
OUT THE SHRUBS UNDERNEATH AND
CREATED OPENINGS HERE AND THERE.
AND LIFE IS BEING RESTORED QUITE
WELL TO THE MOUNTAIN NOW.
>> MANAGING AND RECOVERING FROM
WILDFIRE.
THIS IS "ARIZONA WEEK."
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO
"ARIZONA WEEK."
I'M CHRISTOPHER CONOVER IN FORT
LORRAINE RIVERA.
>>> IT'S TIME FOR THE MONSOON IN
ARIZONA AND WHILE THAT BRINGS
PLENTY OF RELIEF, IT ALSO BRINGS
WILD FIRES.
SOME PEOPLE SAY WILDFIRES ARE
BAD, BUT THEY ARE ALSO A GOOD
THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
WHETHER YOU'RE UP HERE IN THE
MOUNTAINS OR IN THE GRASSLANDS
OF THE STATE.
AS WE BEGIN THIS WEEK'S LOOK AT
WILDFIRES AND WILDFIRE
MANAGEMENT, LET'S THINK ABOUT
THE ECONOMY, THE FIVE Cs, CATTLE
SPECIFICALLY.
IT COMES TO RAISING CATTLE IN
ARIZONA, FIRE CAN BE VERY
IMPORTANT.
ZACK ZEIGLER EXPLAINS.
>> Reporter: THE GRAZING RIGHTS
FOR SICK MORE RANCH HAS BEEN
HELD BY BILL McDONALD'S FAMILY
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
THE RANCH IS MORE THAN 20,000
ACRES, MOST OF WHICH IS IN
ARIZONA, ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH OF
THE MEXICAN BORDER.
NEARLY A TENTH OF THAT ACREAGE
BURNED IN RECENT FIRES.
>> WELL, THE HOG FIRE I THINK
WAS ABOUT 1350 ACRES.
I GOT SOME STATISTICS ON THAT.
THE OTHER ONE PROBABLY MORE LIKE
500 ACRES, ON MY ALLOTMENT.
>> Reporter: THE TWO FIRES WERE
STARTED BY LIGHTNING LAST MONTH.
THEY BURNED 14,000 ACRES TOTAL.
McDONALD WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO
LET FIRE CREWS MAN ANT FIRE THAT
BURNED ON HIS LAND.
>> IF YOU DON'T BURN IN THIS
COUNTRY, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE
YOUR GRASS OVER TIME.
>> Reporter: McDONALD'S
PHILOSOPHY ON LETTING CREWS
MANAGE THE FIRE RATHER THAN
EXTINGUISH IT IS PART OF THE
PHILOSOPHY OF THE NON-PROFIT HE
HELPED FORM IN THE EARLY 1990s.
THE GROUP IS MADE UP OF
RANCHERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS,
ACADEMICS AND OTHERS INTERESTED
IN KEEPING THE LAND IN GOOD
CONDITION.
AT THE TOP OF TOTO-DO LIST IS
WORKING WITH FIRE MANAGERS.
THE GROUP'S WORK WAS SEEN AT
THIS SITE WHERE THE HOG FIRE
BURNED A FEW WEEKS AGO.
>> WHEN WE FOUND OUT WE HAD A
FIRE IN THIS LOCATION, FIRST
THING WE DO IS TRY TO FIGURE OUT
WHO IS GOING TO BE MOST AFFECTED
BY IT AND WHO DO WE NEED TO TALK
TO?
WHO DO WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT
THEIR PREFERENCES MIGHT BE?
>> Reporter: THE PERSON THEY
CONTACTED HAPPENED TO BE BILL
McDONE.
AND IN HE SAID LET THE FIRE
BURN.
>> I GOT A CALL FROM THE
DISTRICT AND SAID WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE DOUS?
I SAID, WELL, I KIND OF LIKE IT
TO BURN, IT'S GOOD PLACE.
BECAUSE IT STARTED ON MY ALLOT..
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.
>> Reporter: FIRE MANAGERS
UNDERSTAND WHY McDONALD MADE
THAT A COUPLE.
>> THE EFFECT THE FIRE HAS
MOVING THROUGH THIS COUNTRY IS
TO OPEN UP AND REMOVE SOME OF
THE WOODY SPECIES, THE BRUSH AND
THE SHRUBS, THINGS LIKE THAT,
WHICH ALLOWS GRASS TO COME UP.
>> Reporter: BY THE FALL THIS
BURNED LAND WILL BE MORE
HOSPITABLE TO McDONALD'S
LIVESTOCK.
YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE GREEN,
VERY BRIGHT GREEN AND THEN THE
BROWN IN BETWEEN WHERE IT DIDN'T
ACTUALLY BURN.
>> Reporter: THE SIGHT OF FRESH
GRASS COULD ENCOURAGE MORE
RAMPORS TO ALLOW FIRE TO BURN ON
THEIR LAND.
>> WHEN FOLKS SEE THE EFFECTS AS
A POSITIVE THING RATHER THAN A
NEGATIVE THING THEN THEY ARE
GOING TO BE MORE LIKELY TO WANT
TO WORK WITH US IN HOW WE MANAGE
THESE THINGS IN THE FUTURE.
>> Reporter: IT'S NOT JUST THE
PATCHES BURNED BY THIS SUMMER'S
FIRES THAT STAND AS EVIDENCE FOR
LETTING MANAGED FIREWORK ITS WAY
ACROSS GRAZING LANDS.
THE WORK DONE BY THE GROUP HAS
RESULTED IN SWATHS OF THE AREA
BEING BURNED OVER THE PAST 20
YEARS.
>> FRANKLY, I WAS PROBABLY THE
MOST POSITIVE PERSON AROUND AND
THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LUCKY IF WE
GET A FEW OF THE FIRES OFF.
WE ACTUALLY BURPED SEVERAL
HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES, BOTH
NATURAL STARTS AND PRESCRIBED
BURNS, SINCE OUR GROUP STARTED.
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY McGONE
NALD THINKS WON'T BE LONG UNTIL
OTHERS NOTICE, BECAUSE FIRE IS
ALLOWED TO PLAY A ROLL, THE
GRASS IS TRULY GREENER ON HIS
SIDE OF THE FENCE.
JOINING US NOW, MY COLLEAGUE,
ZACK ZEIGLER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS STORY WE
JUST SAW OF YOURS.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT WE
GET GRASS LAND FIRE IF THEY WANT
TO MANAGE THEM?
>> THE BIG THING IS IT BASICALLY
FIGHTS BACK SOME OF THE VENLG
TAILINGS, THE WOODIER SPECIES,
STUFF LIKE SHRUBS AND BUSHES.
THEY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO
GROW A FEW YEARS TO EXPAND.
FIRE KIND OF NAUSEOUS BACK AND
GRASS IS SO QUICK GROWING, MAYBE
A MONTH OR TWO BEFORE IT STARTS
TO SHOW UP.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S THIS REAL
BENEFIT TO RANCHERS OUT ON THE
MAN AND PUBLIC LANDS TO BURN,
GET RID OF THE BRUSH AND THE
GRASS COME UP BECAUSE THAT'S
BASICALLY WHAT THEY NEED TO KEEP
THEIR COWS GOING.
>> BACK EAST, PRAIRIE FIRES ARE
NATURAL FOR THE SAME REASON.
ARE THEY NATURAL HERE IN
ARIZONA, THE GRASSLAND FIRES?
>> YEAH, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING
WITH BILL McDONALD, HE TOLD ME
THAT THE STUDIES THEY HAVE SEEN,
FIRES HISTORICALLY MOVE THROUGH
THE AREA EVERY SEVEN TO TEN
YEARS, REALLY OPENING UP THAT
LAND.
THE LANDSCAPE HAS REALLY COME TO
RELY ON THEM AS KIND OF NATURE'S
CLEANING SERVICE.
>> FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE GOOD EARS,
MAY EAR THUNDER IN THE
BACKGROUND HERE.
THOSE GRASS GRASS LAND FIRES
CAUSE THE SAME WAY NATURALLY
LIGHTNING, CORRECT?
>> YEAH, YEAH, EXACTLY, LIKE
WHAT'S MOVING IN AROUND US RIGHT
NOW, A LIGHTNING STRIKE, YOU
KNOW, THE AREA AROUND COCHISE
COUNTY, A LITTLE HIGHER IN
ELEVATION, SO, NO PROBLEM FOR IT
TO GET SOME OF THESE STORMS THAT
ROLL THROUGH THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> YOU SAID EVERY SEVEN TO TEN
YEARS.
ARE WE SEEING MORE MANAGEMENT TO
REMIMIC THAT TIMEFRAME OR IS
THIS STILL TOO NEW A PROJECT?
>> THAT IS A LITTLE MORE
MANAGEMENT AND THEY ARE COMING
UP FREQUENTLY, YOU KNOW, AS
McDONALD TALKS ABOUT, BORDER
LANDS GROUP BEEN AROUND 20 YEARS
NOW.
SOME OF THE EARLY AREAS THAT
THEY DID PRESCRIBED BURNS ON,
THEY ARE NOW SEEING WILD FIRES
MOVE THROUGH THAT AREA AND IT IS
KEEPING IT MUCH MORE LOW
PROFILE.
IT IS KEEPING THE FUELS DOWN AND
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
ANY SORT OF CANOPY JUMPING.
DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
FIRE GETTING OUT OF HAND.
IT'S REALLY PROVING TO BE A MUCH
MORE MANAGEABLE FIRE.
>> YOU HAVE COVERED FIRES FOR
YEARS IN ARIZONA, UP IN NORTHERN
ARIZONA, HERE IN SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
EXPLAIN IF YOU CAN TO PEOPLE AS
WE GET MORE AND MORE THUNDER
REQUEST A LOW FIRE VERSUS A
CANOPY FIRE AND HOW THESE FIRES
BEHAVE, THESE LOW FIRES.
>> THE LOW FIRES TEND TO BE MUCH
MORE LOWER IN INTENSITY, JUST
BURNING UP DEAD GRASS, FALLEN
PINE NEEDLES, BUT THINGS THAT
ARE DOWN, YOU KNOW, KNEE HIGH.
AND THEY CAN GET A FAIR AMOUNT
OF HEIGHT, BUT YOU REALLY GET
THE DANGER AND DAMAGE IS WHEN
YOU GET A CANOPY FIRE, WHEN
THESE TREES LIKE YOU SEE BEHIND
ME, WHEN THE FIRE LEAPS UP AND
STARTS GETTING TO THEIR TOPS,
THAT BECOMES THE ISSUE.
THESE TREES TAKE YEARS AND
YEARS, DECADES REALLY TO GROW TO
THIS SIZE U AND THAT'S WHAT YOU
KIND OF SEE IS THE BIG ISSUE IS
IF THE TOP OF A TREE BURNS, IT'S
JUST GONNA DIE AND YOU CAN
ACTUALLY SEE THAT IN SOME AREAS
LIKE AROUND HERE, UP ON MOUNT
LEAVENWORTH, WHERE THE ASPEN
FIRE BURNED YEARS AGO.
THOSE TREES ARE STILL STANDING
BUT THEY ARE STILL DEAD.
>> THANKS FOR TAKING A COUPLE OF
MINUTES TO TALK WITH US ABOUT
GRASSLAND FIRES.
AS ZACK MENTIONED, WE ARE UP
HERE ON MOUNT LEMON, THE SITE OF
THE ASPEN FIRE MORE THAN A
DECADE AGO.
TO HELP THE FOREST RECOVER FROM
THAT FIRE THE NATIONAL FOREST
SERVICE SENT IN A TEAM WHITE
FIRE WAS BURNING, A RECOVERY
TEAM THAT HELPS THE FOREST OUT.
WE SPOKE WITH HEIDI FROM THE
CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST ABOUT
THE TEAM.
WE ARE WHERE THE ASPEN FIRE
BEGAN OVER A DECADE AGO.
LET'S TALK ABOUT AFTER A FIRE
WHAT HAPPENS TO START THE
REHABILITATION PROCESS.
>> WELL, IN THIS CASE, AS IN
MANY, WE CALLED IN A BURNED AREA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, THAT'S
THE BARE TEAM, WHAT THEY ARE
CONCERNED WITH IS CONTROLLING
MOVEMENT OF WATER, SEDIMENT AND
DEBRIS BECAUSE AFTER A FIRE LIKE
THIS GOES THROUGH, IN SOME
AREAS, IT'S BURNED DOWN TO BARE
MINERAL SOIL, SO, THERE ARE A
LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO
DO THEY WILL LOOK AT THE AREA
AND IT'S NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
TREATMENT BY ANY MEANS.
BUT UP AT THESE ELEVATIONS,
LOWER AS WELL, WE CAME IN AND
DID SOME AREA FEEDING.
THE SOIL IS EXPOSED A GREAT
LIKELIHOOD THE RAINS COME, IT IS
GOING TO WASH AWAY.
SO WE TOOK SOME SEED MIX AND
APPLIED THEM WITH FIXED WING
AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS, A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES WITH
THE INTENT OF LET'S GET SOME
RICHNESS IN THE SOIL TO HOLD
THAT SOIL IN PLAY, LET'S GET
SOME PLANT COVER TO SHIELD AND
PROTECT THAT SOIL.
AND THEN WE MULCHED IT WITH
STRAW AFTER THAT TO PROTECT IT
AND THAT WAS FAIRLY EFFECTIVE.
WE ALSO DID THINGS LIKE
PROTECTED DRAINAGEWAYS, WHERE WE
KNEW DEBRIS WOULD BE COMING
DOWN.
WE REMOVED DEBRIS FROM
DRAINABLES AND WATER COURSES,
PUT UP A LOT OF SIGNING, SO
THERE WAS A MAJOR EFFORT TO DO A
LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO
CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF THE
WATER AND SEDIMENT AND DEB
BRADEN TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT
HAZARDS MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT.
>> HOW QUICKLY AFTER A FIRE AND
IN THIS CASE AFTER ASPEN, BUT
JUST IN GENERAL, DOES THAT
PROCESS START?
OBVIOUSLY, TOUGH WAIT UNTIL IT
STOPS BURPING BUT HOW QUICKLY
BEHIND ARE THE CREWS?
>> IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON
SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS.
IN THIS CASE, THE FIRE STARTED
UP HIGH.
THEN IT BURNED GOWN TO LOWER
ELEVATION AND THEN BURNED BACK
UP AGAIN AND SO WE KNEW, THE
CANYON, THE WATERSHEDS, HAD
SUSTAINED A LOT OF DAMAGE AND IN
THE CANYON, THERE IS A FISH THAT
WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE
BLACK ASH COMING DOWN THROUGH
THE CANYON, SO THE FIRE WAS
STILL BURNING UP HERE AND WE
WERE DOWN IN THE CANYON REMOVING
FISH FROM THE CREEK,
TRANSPLANTING THEM TEMPORARILY
ELSEWHERE SO WE COULD PUT THEM
BACK IN THE CREEK WHEN THE WATER
AGAIN RAN THROUGH.
IN THAT CASE, THE WORK ACTUALLY
STARTED WHILE THE FIRE WAS STILL
GOING.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T
THINK ABOUT IS THEY HEAR ABOUT
THE CREWS PUTTING OUT THE FIRE
AND THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY DO
AMOUNT HARD WORK THAT THEY DO,
BUT THERE'S SO MUCH WORK
AFTERWARDS THAT WE JUST DON'T
HEAR ABOUT, REMOVING FISH, NEVER
EVEN WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS YOU SAID?
AERIAL SEEDING VIA FIXED WING
AND IS THAT A ONE-TIME DEAL OR
DO YOU DO IT MULTIPLE SMILES TO
>> WE DID IT OVER A PERIOD OF
DAYS.
IT WAS ONE APPLICATION.
WE DIDN'T DROP MULTIPLE LAYERS
OF SEEDS.
ONE LAY OF SEED ON THE SOIL AND
THEN WE IDENTIFIED THE AREAS WE
WANTED TO COVER AND WE COVERED
THOSE.
>> YOU SAID YOU DROPPED TWO
DIFFERENT KINDS OVER A PERIOD OF
TIME.
WAS IT JUST ALL AT ONCE YOU
DROPPED THEM OR DID YOU DROP THE
FIRST STUFF TO HOLD THE SOIL AND
THEN COME BACK FEW MONTHS LATER
AND DROP THE SECOND STUFF?
>> THEY WERE DROPPED AT THE SAME
TIME, TWO DIFFERENT SEED MIX
WERE USED, ONE HIGH ELEVATION,
ONE LOW ELEVATION.
EACH ONE OF THE SEED MIX A
NON-NATIVE PLANT THAT WAS
ESSENTIALLY OFFICER THAT WILL
WOULD GERMINATE QUICKLY, GET
THOSE ROOTS DOWN IN THE SOIL,
GET THOSE LEAVES UP AND DO WHAT
WE NEEDED TO DO REALLY QUICKLY
WHILE ALLOWING THE NATIVE PLANTS
TO THEN GERM NATE AND BECOME
ESTABLISHED.
THOSE NON-NATIVES ARE NOW GONE.
THE NATIVES DID THEIR JOB AND
SOME PLACE, THEY REMAIN.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PART OF
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRE OR
THE POSTFIRE, IS THIS DONE ON
EVERY FIRE OR IS IT JUST DONE ON
THE TRUE WILD FIRES AND THE
MANAGED FIRES, THE PRESCRIBED
BURNS, AS WE ALL CALL THEM?
A LITTLE DIFFERENT, OR DO YOU GO
BACK AND DO THIS TYPE OF THING
AFTER THOSE ALSO?
>> EVERY FIRE IS DIFFERENT AND
THE BURNED AREA WILL BE EVAL AND
THE APPROPRIATE DREAMS WILL BE
ASCERTAINED AT THAT POINT.
>> THE CREWS THAT DO THIS, IS IT
THE SAME CREWS THAT ARE OFF
FIGHTING THE FIRES SO AS SOON AS
THEY ARE DONE, YOU HAND THEM --
YOU CHANGE EQUIPMENT OR IS IT
DIFFERENT CREWS?
>> NO THE WORLD OF WILDFIRE, WE
ARE ALL QUALIFIED FOR DIFFERENT
THINGS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE
QUALIFIED AS FIREFIGHTERS THERE
ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE
SPECIALLY TRAINED FOR WORK ON
THE BEAR TEAM, A NUMBER OF
SPECIALIST.
AGAIN, JUST GET TO GET BACK TO
WHAT WE WERE SAYING THERE
TREATMENT AFTER EVERY FIRE, YOU
HAVE GOT TO EVALUATE WHAT'S THE
PHONES FOR MOVEMENT OF WATER AND
SOIL AND DEB BRAINED THEN YOU
HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT
>> OBVIOUSLY, WITH BIG SLOPES UP
HERE ON MOUNT LEMON, THERE'S A
LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR MOVEMENT,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS RIGHT
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONSOON
SEASON, SO THE RAINS WERE THEN
COMING RIGHT BEHIND IT
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
EXPERIENCE IN A LOT OF OUR SKY
ISLAND MOUNTAIN RANGES, REALLY
STEEP TERRAIN, THE POTENTIAL FOR
LARGE MOVEMENTS AND VAST
QUANTITIES OF SOIL QUICKLY.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO DECIDE
WINNING A BEAR TEAM OR IF A BEAR
TEAM COMES IN, WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT
DECISIONMAKING PROCESS?
>> OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT
WHERE THE FIRE BURNED, HOW IT
BURPED, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL
FOR SOIL LOSS, AND WHAT ARE THE
VALUES THAT ARE DOWNSTREAM?
IF THERE ARE COMMUNITIES,
HOUSING, THAT KIND OF THING,
THAT'S GONNA TAKE PRIORITY OVER
MAYBE AN AREA THAT JUST DRAINS
INTO UNPOPULATED LAND.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, THE MONUMENT
FIRE, YOU HAD DECISIONS TO MAKE.
>> RIGHT, THE MONUMENT FIRE, A
LOT OF HIGH-SEVERITY BURNING,
THE VEGETATION WAS COMPLETELY
BURNED AWAY AND THERE WAS A
POTENTIAL FOR A LOT OF SOIL TO
MOVE DOWNSLOPE WHERE THERE WERE
A LOT OF HOMES SO WE DID A LOT
OF THE SIMILAR WORK ON THAT WITH
THE SEEDING AND SO FORTH.
>> WHEN THE ASPEN FIRE BURNED
NEARLY A DECADE AGO, HUNDREDS OF
HOMES IN THE TOWN OF SUMMER
HAVEN WERE DESTROYED.
THOSE HOMES HAVE NOW RECOVERED,
AS HAS THE TOWN AND THAT'S WHAT
A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHEN
THEY TALK ABOUT THE RECOVERY
FOLLOWING THE ASPEN FIRE.
BUT THE RECOVERY OF THE NATURAL
AREA WAS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
JOSH, LET'S TALK ABOUT RECOVERY
WHEN IT COMES TO FIRES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK FIRES ARE
BAD FOR THE FOREST.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
>> NOT EXACTLY.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE STANDING HERE
IN WHERE -- IN WHAT WAS THE
ASPEN FIRE AND, OF COURSE, IT
HAD ITS HUMAN-RELATED TRAGEDY
WITH THE LOSS OF HOMES IN SUMMER
HAVEN, BUT IT ALSO HAD SOME GOOD
BENEFITS TO THE ECOSYSTEM WHICH
IS OUT HERE, WHICH IS ITSELF
ADAPTED TO HAVING FIRE RUN
THROUGH IT.
AND FOR TIME IMMEMORIAL, THIS
FOREST WAS MAINTAINED PRIMARILY
THROUGH FIRE AS THE DISTURBANCE
REGIME.
THE TREES YOU SEEKER THE PLANTS
THAT ARE UP HERE ARE ADAPTED TO
THE FREQUENT FIRE REGIME THAT
COMES THROUGH, CLEANS UP THE
FUELS, CREATE OPENINGS, ALLOWS
LIGHTS TO THE FOREST FLOOR,
RECYCLES NUTRIENTS.
SO, LIFE BRINGS BACK FROM A FIRE
RATHER RAPIDLY.
AND WE SAW THAT HERE, WE SAW A
LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE SENSITIVE
TO FIRE IN THE -- AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE FIRE, WE HAD TO
TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR
THAT.
BUT OVER TIME, WE HAVE SEEN
AMAZING RECOVERY AND WE HAVE HAD
OPPORTUNITIES TO RESTORE
SPECIES.
>> BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME
SPECIFICS ON THE RECOULD HAVE
RAY LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY LOOK AT
A BIG, THICK, LUSH FOREST AND
SAY, BOY, THAT'S HEALTHY, THAT'S
GREAT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE EXAMPLES OF
THAT HERE RIGHT BY US.
THAT'S NOT GREAT, AT LEAST FOR
FORESTS HERE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
SO AS I SAID BEFORE, THE FIRE
WAS A NATURAL DISDISTURBANCE
REGIME IN HERE, WHICH KEPT THE
FOREST MORE OPEN AND THINNED
THINGS OUT.
OVER THE COURSE OF 100 YEARS, WE
HAVE GOTTEN VERY GOOD AT PUTTING
FIRES OUT AND THE FOREST, AS A
RESULT, GREW UP IN CROWDED
COMPANIES WITH HIGH FUEL LOADS
AND YOU CAN SEE ACROSS VERY
THICK FOREST THAT STILL HASN'T
BEEN TREATED YET.
AND THAT'S IN SORT OF AN
UNNATURAL CONDITION.
AT LEAST UNNATURAL WHEN IT IS
SPREAD OVER EVERY ACRE.
BUT IN THESE CONDITIONS, WE LIKE
TO SEE FIRE RUN THROUGH IN A
MORE FREQUENT PERIOD TO BE ABLE
TO THIN THOSE FORESTS OUT, TO BE
ABLE TO REDUCE THOSE FUELS,
PROVIDE THOSE OPENINGS, AND THAT
BECOMES THE CHALLENGE OF
MANAGEMENT OF OUR NATIONAL
FORESTS.
>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO THINNING
THINGS OUT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
FORESTS, BUT SOMETHING RECENT
LIKE THE HOG FIRE, WHICH AS WE
SAW, TURN INTO A MANAGEMENT,
THAT'S GRASSLANDS THAT'S ALSO
POSITIVE, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S VERY POSITIVE THING.
PRIOR CYCLES NUTRIENTS AND THE
HOG FIRE IS IN -- OCCURRED IN
ECOSYSTEMS THAT NEED THAT
FREQUENT NEWT TRY YES.
RECYCLING.
SO THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY
THERE TO ALLOW FIRE TO PLAY ITS
NATURAL ROLE.
YOU WILL SEE VERY RAPID RESPONSE
TO THAT ALMOST AS SOON AS THE
RAINS GET ON THAT, IT WILL BE
COMING BACK IN LUSH GREEN, WITH
ALL OF THOSE NUTRIENTS RELEASED
BACK INTO THE SOIL, THE PLANTS
IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA ARE
ADAPTED TO TO RESPONDING VERY
QUICKLY TO FIRE.
THEY WILL COME BACK.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE
ASPEN FIRE IN THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS BUT HERE WE ARE UP IN
THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS, SO YOU
SEE RATHER LARGE CHANGES IN
CERTAIN AREAS WHERE ALL OF THE
OVERSTORY WAS LOST IN THE AREAS
OF HIGHER INTENSITY AND IT WILL
TAKE SOME TIME, MANY HUNDREDS OF
YEARS FOR THAT TO RESTORE BACK
TO A -- BACK TO A FORESTED
CONDITION.
RIGHT NOW IT'S COMING BACK IN
SHRUBS AND GRASSES.
BUT THE OTHER AREAS WHERE THE
INTENSITY WAS LESS, IT CLEANED
OUT THE SHRUBS UNDERNEATH AND
CREATED OPENINGS HERE AND THERE
AND LIFE IS BEING RESTORED QUITE
WELL WELL TO THE MOUNTAIN RIGHT
NOW.
>> BEN IT COMES TO REGROWTH,
ESPECIALLY OF TREES, WE ARE
GONNA SEE, AS SOME PEOPLE CALL
THEM, THE TOOTH PICKS THE PINE
TREES, THE CONIFERS, THEY ARE
NOT GOING AWAY, BUT THE OAKS ARE
COMING BACK.
>> THE DEAD STANDING TREES WILL
STAY THERE UNTIL THEY FALL DOWN,
THEY WILL ROT AND THEIR
NUTRIENTS GO BACK INTO THE SOIL.
THE SEED BANK THAT IS THERE WILL
RESPROUT AND YOU WILL SEE
CONIFERS COMING IN.
BUT IN THIS -- IN THIS HABITAT
WHERE WE ARE STANDING, YOU SEE
IT'S A PINE OAK WOODLAND AND THE
OAKS BURN DOWN TO THE GROUND
DURING THAT FIRE.
BUT THEY ARE ABLE TO COME BACK
FROM THE ROOT CROWN AND REGROW.
YOU WILL SEE THEM NOW 12 YEARS
HENCE, THEY ARE OVER OUR HEADS,
THERE ARE SHRUBS OVER OUR HEADS
ALREADY AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE,
YOU KNOW, NUTRIENT CYCLING IN
THERE.
YOU CAN STILL SEE THE BLACK
STUMPS UNDERNEATH IN THOSE
SHRUBS, THE BLACK MARKS ON THE
CONNIFFERS AROUND THEM.
IT'S ALL PART OF THE NATURAL
PROCESS THAT OCCURS.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
FOREST AND PLANT, BUT PART OF
THE FOREST WERE AN MAPS AND
POSITIVES PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW
ABOUT WITH THE ASPEN FIRE AND
PROBABLY FIRE IN GENERAL BUT WE
CAN USE THE ASPEN FIRE AS OUR
EXAMPLE.
>> CERTAINLY, A GREAT DIVERSITY
OF YOU LIFE ON THE SANTA
CATALINA RANGER DISTRICT AND THE
ASPEN FIRE POSED SOME CHALLENGES
AND SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE FIRST CHALLENGE WAS EARLY ON
IN THE FIRE, THIS HIGH IN THE
WATERSHED OF THE CREEK, WE LOST
A LOT OF TREES, A LOT OF ASH WAS
ON THE GROUND, THE RAINS WERE
COMING AND WE RECOGNIZED THAT A
FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED FISH
SPECIES, THE GILA CHUB, AT RISK
WHEN THE RAPES CAME AND PUT ALL
THAT ASH IN THE WATER.
WE COORDINATED WITH OUR PARTNER
AGENCY, ARIZONA GAME AND FISH
WHO IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED AND
SCRAMBLED, WENT DOWN INTO SABINO
CREEK AND SALVAGED 900 GILA
CHUBS OUT OF THERE, PUT THEM
INTO HATCHERIES AND THE MUSEUMS,
OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT, TO KEEP
THEM UNTIL AFTER RAIN, WHICH
BROUGHT DOWN THE ASH AND KILLED
THE REMAINING CHUB IN THE CREEK.
BUT A COUPLE YEARS LATER, HAD
WASHED OUT THE SYSTEM, WE WERE
ABLE TO PUT THEM BACK.
AND NOT ONLY HAD THAT BEEN AN
EX-HELP OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE
THEM BUT THE ASH HAD CLEANED OUT
THE NON-NATIVE FISH, WRITE A
THREAT TO THE SPECIES ITSELF.
SUBSEQUENTLY, CRAYFISH, WHICH
WERE ALSO A THREAT TO THE
SPECIES, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE
NO NATIVE FISH THERE ALSO
PUTTING PRESSURE ON GILA CHUB,
THE GILA CHUB APPEARED TO
ERADICATE THE CRAYFISH.
SABINO CREEK HAS BEEN FREE OF
NON-NATIVES SINCE ABOUT 2005.
IT'S A GREAT SUCCESS STORY.
NOW, OTHER SUCCESS STORIES UP
HERE INCLUDE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT
WITH THE BEAR TEAM, COMING IN
AND DOING BAIL BOMBING AND
RECEDING, IT CREATED CONDITIONS
OUT THERE WHERE SMALL MAMMAL
POPULATIONS WERE ABLE TO
EXPLODE.
THERE WAS A GREAT MANY FORTS,
THERE WAS A LOT OF SEEDS
AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
AND SO THEIR POPULATIONS DREW
AND ON TOP OF THEM, THEIR
PREDATORS WERE ABLE TO DO VERY
WELL.
ONE OF THOSE PREDATORS IS THE
MEXICAN SPOTTED OWL.
AGAIN, FEDERALLY LISTED AS
THREATENED.
AND THAT SPECIES UP HERE HAD
SOME OF ITS BEST REPRODUCTIVE
YEARS ON RECORD IN YEARS
SUBSEQUENT TO THE ASPEN FIRE.
THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THAT WE
GOT WONDERFUL RAINFALL FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS THEREAFTER.
SO THE COMBINATION OF EVENT.
THE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES AND
VERY FORTUNATE RAINFALL MEANT
THAT THE SPOTTED OWL DID FAIRLY
WELL THEREAFTER.
THAT ALSO IS THE SAME CASE FOR
THE NORTHERN GOT HAWK.
TO THIS DAY, WE STILL SEE
IMPROVEMENTS IN THINGS LIKE
WHITE TAILED DEER.
THEIR POPULATIONS HAVE GROWN
AND, AGAIN, ARIZONA GAME AND
FISH MONITORS THEM EVERY YEAR
AND THEY HAVE HAD VERY POSITIVE
RESULTS, A GREAT DEAL OF FAWN,
THE FAWN-TO-DOE RATIO IS VERY
HIGH ON THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE.
IT SAYS IT POSITIVE AS A RESULT
OF THE ECOLOGICAL CHANGES WHICH
HAVE OCCURRED MORE OPENINGS,
MORE AVAILABLE SPECIES, MORE
FOOD FOR THEM.
IT ALSO OPENED UP THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE A SPECIES
OF TURKEY THAT HAD NOT BEEN HERE
FOR 50 YEARS.
AND GAME AND FISH AND FOREST
SERVICE HELPED TO RESTORE THOSE
TO THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE AND THEY
ARE THRIVING BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE
A MORE DIVERSE HABITAT AND
GREATER RESOURCES FOR THEM TO
LIVE WITH.
OF COURSE, ON TOP OF THOSE KIND
OF SPECIES THEN, JUST LIKE WITH
THE SMALL MAMMALS AND THEIR
PREDATORS, THE GOT HAWKS AND THE
SPOTTED OWLS WERE ABLE TO
THRIVE, WE HAVE THE LARGER
TURKEYS HERE, SO OTHER PREDATORS
ARE ABLE TO THRIVE, ALSO A VERY
HEALTHY MOUNTAIN LION, BOBCALITY
AND COYOTE POPULATION ON THIS
MOUNTAIN AS A RESULT.
AND ALL OF THESE BENEFITS HAVE
ACCRUED BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THAT
FIRE PLAYS IN MANAGING FORESTS
NATURALLY.
AGAIN, IN AN ECOSYSTEM LIKE
THIS, FIRE IS NATURAL.
AND WHILE IT SCARCE PEOPLE,
THREATENS HOMES AND BUSINESSES,
AS IT DID HERE AND IT HAS IN
MANY OTHER PLACES, IT'S PART OF
THE SYSTEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE
MANAGED.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
WE TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN
TO ALLOW FIRE TO PLAY ITS
NATURAL ROLE.
NOW, IF THERE IS A HUMAN-CAUSED
FIRE, WE SUPPRESS THOSE.
BUT IN THE CASE WHERE WE HAVE
NATURAL IGNITIONS, PERHAPS FROM
LIGHTNING, WE HAVE HAD SOME
OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN ON THIS
DISTRICT, TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW
THINGS TO GO.
THE GUTHRIE FIRE OF 2012, I
BELIEVE, WENT TO ABOUT 5,000
ACRES OF TREATMENT.
YOU HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT THE
HOG FIRE, THAT'S GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW FAIR TO
PLAY ITS NATURAL ROLE IN THE
ECOSYSTEM.
THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES WE
LOOK FOR.
WE HAVE TO WEIGH A LOT OF
THINGS, WHAT VALUES ARE AT RISK
IS IT IN A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO
MANAGE IT?
ARE CONDITIONS RIGHT FOR US TO
MANAGE IT?
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO
BE ABLE TO MANAGE IT?
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT PLAY
INTO OUR DECISIONS TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO ALLOW FIRE TO PLAY A
NATURAL ROLE FOR ANY GIVEN
START.
>> BATTLING WILD FIRES AND
CONTROLLING THEM IS COMPLICATED
WORK.
LORRAINE RIVERA HAS OUR NEXT
SEGMENT.
>> Reporter: WHITE THING SPARKED
THE BUSTER MOUNTAIN FIRE IN
CATALINA STATE PARK THIS WEEK
AND THE FOREST SERVICE IS
LETTING IT BURN.
>> I'M NOT CONCERNED BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT A PART OF THE
ECOSYSTEM IS REGROWTH FROM
FIRES.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST TO LET THE
NATURE DO ITS OWN THING.
>> Reporter: JUST MORE THAN 200
ACRES HAVE BURNED IN WHAT'S
CONSIDERED ARDUOUS TERRAIN.
>> IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HIKE.
IT'S NOT ON ANY TRAIL.
IT CAME CLOSE TO THE ROMERO
TRAIL BUT DIDN'T REACH IT.
>> Reporter: JOE FUSS SKOAL A
REGULAR HIKER.
>> I WAS UP RIGHT AROUND THE
CORNER AND I GOT MY BINOCULARS
OUT AND WATCHED IT CLIMB IN THE
HILL AND IT WAS DEVASTATING THE
TREES AS IT WENT UP.
IT REALLY WAS PRETTY SAD.
>> Reporter: THE FOREST SERVICE
SAYS THAT FIRE ACTUALLY BENEFITS
ECOSYSTEM AND FOR THAT REASON,
CREWS ARE NOT BATTLING THE
FLAMES, THOUGH THE FOREST
SERVICE IS ACTIVELY MONITORING
ITS PROGRESS THE HEAVY RAINFALL
HAS HELPED CONTAIN THE FIRES.
>> THAT WAS A CONVERSATION MY
WIFE AND I HAD, HOW COME THEY
ARE NOT PUTTING IT OUT BECAUSE
OF THE BIG FIRE BACK IN
2000/2001, OUR THOUGHTS WERE WHY
DON'T DO YOU SOMETHING RIGHT
AWAY?
WOULDN'T THEY JUMP AND PUT IT
OUT RIGHT AWAY?
THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION WE HAD
AMONGST OURSELVES.
THE NEXT DAY WITH HE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS AND
WE GOT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE,
WHY NOT LET IT BURN?
>>.
>> Reporter: THE FOREST SERVICE
SAYS NO STRUCTURES OR VALUE ARE
AT RISK, SO THIS IS ABOUT
LETTING NATURE RUN ITS COURSE
WHILE CLEARING FIRE FUEL IN THE
PROCESS.
>> I LIKE TO -- I LIKE TO
BELIEVE THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL OR
WHOEVER IS -- THE RANGERS ARE
PAYING ATTENTION, ARE WATCHING
IT, IT IS NOT JUST -- THEY ARE
SITTING BACK SAYING, GEE, LOOK
AT THAT, TOO, I'M EXPECTING THEM
TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS
OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE.
IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED BIG TO US,
BUT TO THEM, IT WAS A SMALL,
CONTAINED FIRE.
SO IT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT
PERSPECTIVE.
>> AND THAT'S ALL FOR THIS
EDITION OF "ARIZONA WEEK."
I'M CHRISTOPHER CONOVER.