|
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958
Grand Canyon, Ariz. - Today, increased activity on the lightning-ignited Woolsey Fire resulted in temporary road and trail closures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon near Point Imperial. The Point Imperial Road is temporarily closed from the Fuller Canyon "Y" to Point Imperial. The Ken Patrick Trail is also closed temporarily between the Cape Royal Road and Forest Service Road 610. A smoke column was visible today as fire activity increased on the Woolsey Fire. To date, fire activity has been below the Rim. As of today, the fire is established above the Rim as well, burning in heavy dead and down logs in an area that burned previously during the 2000 Outlet Fire. Firefighters are checking the fire's spread while park managers assess whether or not the fire should continue to be managed to achieve resource and protection objectives. The 3,650 acre, lightning-ignited Point Fire continues to be managed for resource and protection objectives. It is located approximately 10 miles west of the North Rim developed area in the vicinity of Walla Valley and Point Sublime. One fire module and one engine continue to monitor the fire. Fire behavior includes low intensity surface fire in ponderosa pine with occasional small patches of mixed conifer and areas of grass and sage. In order to assure firefighter and visitor safety, the Point Sublime Road (also known as the w4 road) remains closed until further notice from its junction with the w1 road, out to and including Point Sublime. Firefighters are suppressing the 10 acre, lightning-ignited Bright Fire. It is locatedwest of the Saddle Mountain Trailhead on the south side of the FS 610 Road; approximately 8 miles northeast of the North Rim developed area Firefighters are securing and improving firelines. Interior heat continues; however there are no immediate threats to the fireline. Protection objectives for the Bright Fire include perimeter control and protection of sensitive cultural resources and critical wildlife habitat areas. Smoke from these fires is visible from US Highway 64 as far south as Valle, South Rim viewpoints, the Rim Trail, US Highway 67, the North Rim entrance station and some North Rim viewpoints. Coordination with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is ongoing. You can follow the progress of these fires as well as view maps and pictures on InciWeb at http://www.inciweb.org. For more on Grand Canyon's Fire Management program, please visit us on the web at https://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm. -NPS-
|
Last updated: February 24, 2015