Outlet Prescribed Fire Completed But Smoke Impacts Grand Canyon; Another Burn Planned If Smoke Impacts Are Reduced

Grand Canyon, AZ - Fire managers successfully completed ignition on the North Rim's 1,100-acre Outlet prescribed fire on Monday. Smoke impacted the canyon on Monday night and throughout most of Tuesday. Unhealthy Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 levels for sensitive groups have or are expected to occur again today. Sensitive groups at increased risk to PM 2.5 effects include active children, people who regularly engage in outdoor activities and people with pre-existing respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease). This sensitive group should limit their exposure by reducing the duration or intensity of physical exertion or by rescheduling activities until levels have dropped below unhealthy levels.

The National Park Service preserves and protects park resources and the processes that sustain them. If weather conditions become favorable to include ventilation that would minimize smoke impacts and keep the PM 2.5 levels well below unhealthy levels, fire managers may begin ignition of the 3,200-acre Walhalla prescribed fire later this week. The Walhalla burn unit is located approximately 3 miles southeast of the North Rim developed area. A very large smoke column will be visible for a few days as crews execute the prescribed fire. Smoke impacts, especially in the inner canyon, are likely to occur at night and in the early morning hours.

In addition to the prescribed fire activity, an Incident Management Team, Van Bateman, Incident Commander, is assisting in managing five Wildland Fire Use fires on the park's North Rim, in the Jim Complex and the Marble Complex. Currently, only two fires are active for a total of 175 acres. These lightning-caused fires are allowed to burn, under specific conditions and within a predetermined area, for resource benefits.

The park remains open and all visitor services are operational. For general fire information, please call 928-638-7819. For information about the Marble Complex fires, please call 928-638-1043. For information about the Outlet or Walhalla prescribed fires, please call 928-638-7944. You may also visit Grand Canyon's web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/.