Options weighed to halt fire hazard in Pinalenos

Jim Erickson
The Arizona Daily Star

The Arizona Daily Star

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment about options to reduce the firehazardin the PinalenoMountains northeast of Tucson by salvaging dead trees and downed treetops.

Heavy snow and wind broke about 80 percent of the treetops in large areas at upper elevations in the Pinalenoslast winter. Pine bark beetles have killed more than 50 percent of the ponderosa pines near Riggs Flat Lake, with many of the remaining ponderosa pines expected to die, according to the Forest Service.

The dead trees and downed treetops pose a serious firehazard, said Safford District Ranger Rich Kvale. Optionsto reduce the hazardand salvage dead material include:

- Authorizing a commercial timber operator to take trees that can be cut into lumber.

- Issuing fuel-wood permits to remove wood too small for lumber. This could be a combination of permits issued to individuals for home use and commercial fuel-wood permits issued for sale purposes.

- Chipping and/or burning some of the remaining wood.

These actions would be concentrated in developed areas such as Riggs Flat Lake recreation area, Heliograph Peak, the Columbine administrative site and visitor center, and the Columbine summer home area.

Wood collection, chipping and burning also would be considered in and near developed campgrounds and along roadways where the potential for human-caused wildfires is highest.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is being contacted to ensure that the needs of threatened and endangered species in the upper Pinalenos- such as the Mount Graham red squirrel - are addressed. Areas with historic and prehistoric artifacts will be avoided if possible.

Submit comments in writing to the Safford Ranger District, P.O. Box 709, Safford, AZ 85548-0709. The deadline for comments is July 23.

Campfire restrictions were lifted yesterday in the Pinalenos, where 2 1/2 inches of rain fell in the past week. The restrictions had been in effect for about a month.

Trails leading to the Heliograph Peak area remain closed due to extensive damage to treetops in the area, the Forest Service reported yesterday.