News Release

Grand Canyon National Park Fire Crews Respond to Two Fires

Bradley Castle/ Kaibab National Forest

News Release Date: July 17, 2020

Contact: Rachel Grabenstein, 928-638-7895

Grand Canyon, AZ - Recent monsoon activity in the region resulted in two new lightning ignited fires. Fire crews are actively working to suppress and monitor the two fires.

The Thumb Fire was detected on Thursday, July 16^th, 2020 and is located along the western rim of the Great Thumb Mesa. Grand Canyon National Park is providing interagency support to the Truxton Canon Agency and Havasupai Tribe. Approximately 285 acres in size, current fire behavior is creeping and smoldering within pinon-juniper forest. Fire managers plan to monitor the Thumb Fire.

The Tipover Fire was also detected on July 16^th and is located north of Tiyo Point on the North Rim of the park. Currently the fire is estimated to be one acre in size. Fire crews are actively working to suppress the lightning ignited Tipover Fire. It is burning in ponderosa pine forest.

Smoke from the Thumb Fire is visible from the South Rim of the park. At this time there are no closures. Grand Canyon National Park is receiving interagency support from local resources from the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Organization.

Grand Canyon National Park is seeing an increase in wildfire starts due to recent monsoon  activity. Each fire start is evaluated by fire management officials for the most appropriate management strategy. Firefighter safety, resources at risk, location of the fire, available resources, regional and national preparedness levels, and weather forecast are taken into consideration when responding to a wildfire ignition.

Please visit https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm for additional information about wildland fire at Grand Canyon National Park. To learn more about current fires in the region and across the country, visit www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.

-NPS-