Fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest are planning to conduct a number of prescribed burns during the fall and winter seasons. Crews plan to begin burning the first week of October, with a potential of up to 25,413 acres on the Williams Ranger District, up to 13,313 acres on the Tusayan Ranger District and 16,579 acres on the North Kaibab Ranger District during this time. Exact ignition dates are not yet known, as burning is dependent upon daily agency administrator approval and conditions within ranges outlined in each prescribed fire plan. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. For more information on prescribed burns, log onto the Kaibab National Forest’s website.