TUSYAN — The Mason Fire and Old Fire, both lightning caused, are expected to grow together today to form one wildfire. The 1,915-acre Mason Fire is one of four lightning-caused wildfires being managed on the district as part of the Jar Complex to provide ecological and other resource and community protection benefits in the area.

The Mason Fire and Old Fire are both being managed within a predefined 16,100-acre planning area, located about 7 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower.

The other two managed fires, Lost and Shale, located east of Highway 64 are showing little to no activity despite the warmer temperatures. Firefighters will continue to monitor these locations, but fire managers expect no growth on these two fires today.

However, the Mason Fire is also expected to grow to the south and east along Forest Road 684 today and more smoke is expected to impact the area. There are no road closures expected in the area of the fire. Road crews are continuing to haul gravel, blade, and make other improvements to the heavily-used roads located north of the active fire area along Forest Roads 301, 301A, 302 and 320. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when traveling in and around this vicinity due to smoke and firefighters working along the roads.

Smoke from the Mason Fire during the day continues to blow northeast towards Desert View in the Grand Canyon and Cameron, Ariz. In the early mornings, cooler temperatures and a shift in wind direction brings the smoke closer to the ground making it visible in the Town of Tusayan and as far south as Red Butte. However, it will lift and change direction as temperatures increase. Please use caution driving along Highway 64 and Highway 180 during the cooler early morning hours.