Update: North Rim Fires, September 4, 2011

Date: September 4, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, Ariz. - Warm dry weather has led to increased activity and growth on the Point and Woolsey Fires. The Bright Fire has been contained.

Woolsey Fire:The lightning-caused Woolsey Fire was discovered below the rim between Point Imperial and the Saddle Mountain Road on August 27. The fire is now burning on the rim in stands of young aspen with heavy dead and down logs. The fire is approximately 315 acres in size and is being managed to achieve multiple objectives. Resource objectives include maintainingfirein a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducinghazardousaccumulations of forest fuelsand recyclingforest nutrients. Protection objectives include protection of sensitive cultural resources and critical wildlife habitat.

Bright Fire:The five acre, lightning-caused Bright Fire, located west of the Saddle Mountain Trailhead on the south side of the FS 610 road, has been contained and firefighters are working on mopping up and securing containment lines. This updated acreage is due to better mapping.

Point Fire:The 3,650 acre, lightning-caused Point Fire continues to be managed for resource and protection objectives. It is located approximately ten 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.

Closures:

• The Point Imperial Road has been closed until further notice from the Fuller Canyon "Y", out to and including Point Imperial.
• The Ken Patrick Trail is closed until further notice between the Cape Royal Road and the FS 610 road.
• The Point Sublime Road (also known as the w4 road), which is closed from its junction with the w1 road, out to and including Point Sublime, is being assessed for possible re-opening in the near future.

Smoke:Smoke from the Point and Woolsey 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.  

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