Firefighters during ignition operations on the North Rim Atoko Point Fire, October 2023
(NPS Photo/Fire Effects)
GRAND CANYON, AZ.— Fire managers at Grand Canyon National Park are preparing to conduct a prescribed burn operation on the North Rim this week, which will begin on Tuesday, December 10. These operations will help reduce hazardous fuel loads, improve forest health, and restore natural fire regimes. The burns are expected to occur over several days and will coincide with prescribed burns planned on the North Kaibab Ranger District.
Burn Operations Schedule:
- Tuesday, December 10: Aerial ignitions will begin on the Slopes Unit, affecting approximately 1,000-1,500 acres.
- Wednesday, December 11: Operations will shift to the Walhalla Plateau for the ignition of the Cape Final Unit, affecting approximately 950 acres.
- Thursday, December 12: Operations may include additional units around the North Rim Developed Area, ranging from 40 to 80 acres, depending on conditions.
The North Rim and Highway 67 are currently closed to visitors, and vehicles will not be able to access the area. However, smoke from the prescribed burn may be visible from the South Rim, and visitors in the region should be prepared for potential smoke drifting into the area. The public can also expect to hear and see helicopter activity during the aerial ignitions.
While the prescribed burns are conducted, smoke may be visible from surrounding areas including the Jacob Lake area, State Route 89A, and forest areas near the burn units. Smoke is expected to settle into low-lying drainages overnight, so those with respiratory sensitivities should take precautions. Fire managers are working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality- Smoke Management Division to reduce and mitigate potential smoke impacts.
— Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.