Update: North Rim Fires, August 15, 2011

Date: August 15, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, Arizona - Over the weekend, sporadic rain showers and overcast skies raised humidity levels and kept fire activity on the Point Fire at a minimal level. The fire grew by approximately 400 acres between Friday and Sunday, bringing the total fire size to about 2,000 acres. Light smoke was visible from the North Rim developed area and other points around the park during the late afternoons and early evenings. Crews remain on site to monitor and patrol the Point Fire.

Two smaller, lightning-caused fires, the Tipover and the Over Fires, were contained this weekend. . The combined size of the two fires, located just south of the park boundary, was less than 30 acres. By Sunday evening, both fires were contained and crews were continuing mop-up operations.

This week, crews will continue to prepare management area boundaries for the Point Fire using mechanical thinning treatments. Fire managers also plan to burn piles of wood debris located adjacent to US Highway 67. The pile burning will cause some increased smoke during ignition operations.

Point Fire Facts:

Start Date: July 4, 2011

Location: Approximately 10 miles west of the North Rim developed area in the vicinity of Walla Valley and Point Sublime. The North Rim sits an elevation of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level.

Size: 2,000 acres

Fuels: Ponderosa Pine with occasional patches of mixed conifer

Management Objectives: The Point Fire is being managed to achieve multiple objectives.
 
• Resource objectives for the fire include maintaining fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing hazardous accumulations of forest fuels and recycling of forest nutrients.
• Protection objectives for the fire include protection of sensitive cultural resources and critical wildlife habitat areas.

Closures: In order to assure firefighter and visitor safety, the Point Sublime Road
(also known as the W4 Road) is closed until further notice from its junction with the W1
Road, out to and including Point Sublime.

Smoke Impacts: During periods of increased fire activity, smoke from the Point Fire 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.

For additional information on the Point Fire, please contact Point Fire Information at
928-638-4033. For more on fire management in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park’s web site at https://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm.

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