The Powell Fire

Grand Canyon, AZ - The Powell Fire, which began June 15, on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, has grown to approximately 511 acres as of 7:00 p.m. June 20, and is being managed under a Wildland Fire Use Strategy. The fire management staff is working in close cooperation with the Kaibab National Forest staff on this event since the fire is located near the boundary between the forest and the park.

Resource specialists continue to monitor the impacts and benefits of this natural fire.

For more than a century, fire was considered a destructive force and aggressive actions were taken to suppress wildland fires. Fire is now recognized as an essential part of many ecosystems. Numerous plants and animals evolved with fire and adapted to fire. Fire stimulates nutrient recycling and allows dormant seed to germinate. A variety of plants, including ponderosa pine, thrive on nutrients that are present in a burned area. These plants in turn, provide food for wildlife.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is open to the public, however, the temporary closure of the North Bass, Powell Plateau Trail, and Swamp Ridge Road remains in effect to ensure public safety.

For more information about these closures, please contact the Park's Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875 or for general park information, please call (928) 638-7888.