NEWS RELEASE

September 11, 2004
Rick Hartigan 928-638-7944 - for media use; 928-638-7819 - for public use

Walhalla Prescribed Fire to be Re-ignited

Grand Canyon, AZ - Taking advantage of the warmer, dryer weather, Fire Management personnel of the National Park Service at Grand Canyon National Park will re-ignite the 3200 acre Walhalla Prescribed Fire tomorrow. Black-lining operations, the action of burning the perimeter of the burn area before the main fire is ignited, are planned for the morning. Aerial ignition is expected to begin shortly thereafter. This ignition could produce a large amount of smoke. Every effort will be made to minimize the smoke impacts: however, some impacts may occur in adjacent communities or along the Colorado River.

The remaining three fires on the North Rim, the Outlet Prescribed Fire and the Quartz and the Bright Fire-Use Fires, are greatly reduced in activity. Firefighters are involved in the confinement and patrol of those fires.

Learn more about Grand Canyon's Fire Management Program at http://www.nps.gov/grca/fire. For additional information, please call 928-638-7819.