Category Archives: Tusayan

Lockett Fire operations nearing completion

Posted on by

TUSAYAN – Crews completed planned ignitions around the entire perimeter and in the interior of the Lockett Fire planning area yesterday, bringing the total number of acres treated to 2,782.

Helicopter operations will continue today to locate areas which did not receive fire effects and determine if further isolated ignitions are required. Crews on the perimeter of the planning area will be patrolling to ensure the fire stays within containment lines, and resource advisors will work to identify areas requiring rehabilitation, such as on dozer lines, hand lines, and other areas impacted by firefighter activity to mitigate potential erosion issues in the future. Crews and equipment will be working along forest roads and smoke may cause decreased visibility – drive with caution.

The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) will remain in effect today and is expected to lift by tomorrow morning.

Although ignitions are complete, smoke and isolated flames will still be visible in the days to come as larger dead-and-down fuels, large stumps, and some snags continue to be consumed. Increasing cloud cover, humidity, and chances for rain coupled with decreasing temperatures will moderate remaining fire activity, resulting in fewer visible flames and decreased smoke production on the Lockett Fire. Winds will continue carrying smoke to the south, settling in low areas in the vicinity of the fire at night. The National Weather Service forecast calls for an increasing chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms this weekend and into next week.

Eighty personnel from the USDA Forest Service and National Park Service are currently assigned to the Lockett Fire. Crews will begin to be released from the incident in the coming days, with some crews remaining to patrol the Lockett Fire and be readily available for initial attack on any new fires in the area.

Managing naturally caused wildfires across the landscape is a very effective tool in restoring the forest to a healthier condition, and these efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

Fire managers plant to conduct firing operations this week on the Lockett Fire

Posted on by

TUSAYAN – The Lockett Fire experienced no growth over the weekend, staying within interior control lines built Friday and strengthened Saturday and Sunday. Today, crews will continue making improvements to prepare the planning area perimeter area along Forest Roads 307 and 310 and along dozer and hand lines connecting the two roads.

Fire managers are planning to conduct firing operations beginning Tuesday to remove fuels and create a buffer along the planned area, allowing fire to move slowly and naturally through the interior while mitigating opportunities for escaping beyond the control lines. To reduce risks to ground crews, fire managers on the Lockett Fire plan to use a helicopter or an Uncrewed Aerial System (or drone) to conduct reconnaissance and ignitions in areas where entry by foot or vehicle is unsafe or impossible due to high temperatures and hazardous terrain. Prior to ignitions, a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) will be put in place as a buffer zone of safety for ground and air crews.

The Lockett Fire planning area is surrounded by areas which have experienced prescribed and natural fire and is burning in the footprint of the 2014 Belknap Fire. These fires align with the Southwest ponderosa pine/grassland environment 10-year fire-return interval, the natural historic average time between wildfires in this ecosystem. The intended outcome of this fire includes encouraging the growth of native plants, increasing species diversity in the understory, and the restoration of wildlife habitat.

Once ignitions begin, smoke will be visible various forest roads in the vicinity of the fire, along State Route 64/East Rim Drive within Grand Canyon National Park, and the Town of Tusayan. A 3-mile section of the Arizona Trail south of Grandview Tower will be temporarily rerouted along Forest Road 310.

Managing naturally caused wildfires across the landscape is a very effective tool in restoring the forest to a healthier condition, and these efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

Spring prescribed fire operations to begin May 1 near Tusayan and Williams

Posted on by

WILLIAMS — Fire managers on the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest are planning to conduct prescribed fires throughout the spring as conditions allow, starting next week with the Reed Project located just east of Tusayan, Arizona.

Crews plan to begin ignitions Monday, May 1, burning up to 1,370 acres over the course of multiple days. Smoke may be visible from State Route 64, Tusayan, and the Grand Canyon and daytime winds should carry smoke northeast. Residual smoke will settle into drainages and low-lying areas around Tusayan overnight. The portion of the Arizona Trail that is nearby will remain open.

Other projects planned for this spring:

  • Marteen Project (4,200 acres): Located five miles northwest of Spring Valley, east of Red Hill. Smoke possible in the areas of Spring Valley Cabin and Forest Road 141.
  • Russell Project (509 acres) and Blue Stem Project (3,885 acres): Located on the eastern side of the Tusayan Ranger District, 15-20 miles northeast of State Route 64 and Red Butte near Russell Tank; Minimal smoke impacts are expected.

Exact ignition dates are unknown as burning is dependent upon daily agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in each prescribed fire plan. However, we are committed to providing the public with ongoing updates and as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. These efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

Information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations.

Kaibab National Forest firewood permit sales begin May 2

Posted on by

WILLIAMS – On Monday, May 2, the Kaibab National Forest will begin selling personal-use firewood permits for the 2022 season. Permit holders will be able to collect firewood from May 2 through November 30 on the North Kaibab Ranger District and through December 31 on the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts.

Permits are $20 for 10 cords of wood. Permit holders will receive maps, detailed cutting regulations, and load tags which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The load tagging system helps maintain accountability and provides data for planning future firewood programs.

The 2022 load tags are not reusable. In 2020 and 2021, the forest issued reusable load tags to continue providing access to firewood while minimizing exposure during the pandemic. This season the Kaibab NF is returning to the single-use, quarter-cord tags.

Permits will be valid for firewood collection only within the ranger district from which the permit was purchased.

Permits for the Williams and Tusayan Districts will be issued only in person.

  • Williams Ranger District Office, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 928-635-5600
  • Tusayan Ranger District Office, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 928-638-2443
  • Forest Supervisor’s Office (Williams and Tusayan permits only), 600 S. 6th St., Williams; 928-635-8200

Until the North Kaibab Ranger District Office reopens its doors, permits for this district may only be purchased by phone and will be issued by mail. Once the office is open, permits will be issued in person.

North Kaibab Ranger District Office, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 928-660-3913

The Kaibab NF firewood permits webpage will be updated with additional details throughout the season.

Winter Pile Burning Resumes on Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts

Posted on by

WILLIAMS – Fire managers on the south zone on the Kaibab National Forest will be continuing burning slash piles on both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts beginning Tuesday January 26.

Tusayan Ranger District: On Wednesday a total of about 20 piles at various locations across the district will be burned, with most of them being located west of the Grand Canyon Airport. Smoke may be visible from Highway 64 and the airport at times, however little to no smoke impacts are expected, and this burn will be short in duration.

Williams Ranger District: The Moonset Pit green waste disposal site west of Parks will be ignited on Wednesday of this week. The site is currently at capacity. Removing the debris now will open more space for residents to dispose of woody material in the upcoming year. Residents can expect to see and experience some smoke early on, but officials anticipate quick and thorough consumption limiting the time and volume of smoke that will be produced. Forecasted breezy conditions will also help move lingering smoke out of the area rapidly.

A 2271-acre unit of machine piles about 2 miles south of Bill Williams Mountain near Cougar Park will also begin this week. The unit is broken into 5 blocks and ignitions will occur along forest road 122 along the northern portion of the unit Tuesday morning. Removing piles from this location will widen the fuel break along the 122 road that will create a safer defendable line offering better protection around the southwest side of Bill Williams Mountain in the event of an uncontrolled wildfire. Smoke is not expected to impact any residential areas and is forecasted to ventilate quickly.Snowy weather conditions throughout the winter provide ideal conditions to burn slash piles on the forest. Pile burns will be ongoing whenever opportunities arise after snowstorms when woody debris can be burned safely with no potential for spread on the snow-covered surfaces. Additional units scheduled to be burned this winter include piles near Marteen Tank, Government Hill, and Round Mountain. This fuels reduction work is part of the ongoing forest restoration initiative that will be continuing in and around forested landscapes across northern Arizona.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed fires at smoke.azdeq.gov/

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

Halfway Fire at 97 Acres, Forward Progress Halted

Posted on by

TUSAYAN – The Halfway Fire which was ignited by a lightning strike on the Tusayan Ranger District over the weekend grew to 97 acres on Monday, however a combination of initial attack resources including aircraft, hand crews, engines and a dozer working steadily throughout the day and were able to stop forward progress of the fire by early that evening.

Additional resources arrived on Tuesday which reinforced efforts as crews worked to fortify lines and knock down hot spots preventing any further spread. Approximately 80 personnel have been assigned to the incident at this time. The fire is 3 miles east of Tusayan and is now 20% contained. Crews will continue working the next several days improving and securing constructed fire lines, holding the perimeters, and begin mopping up.

Smoke may continue to be visible from the town of Tusayan, Grand Canyon Airport, highway 64, and from areas inside the Grand Canyon National Park. Overnight inversion may cause haze and smoke to drift into the town on Tusayan in the early morning hours over the next few days but is expected to lift and ventilate out rapidly as surfaces warm.

A small portion of the Arizona Trail was affected by the fire, however it remains open. Hikers are asked to follow temporary detour signs encountered on the trail near the burned area. Motorists and visitors are asked to be aware of apparatus and fire personnel when travelling through the area and to avoid driving in the immediate vicinity of the fire where active operations are occurring.

Crews Respond to 50 Acre Wildfire 3 Miles Southeast of Tusayan

Posted on by

TUSAYAN — Fire crews from the Kaibab National Forest, Tusayan Fire Department, and Grand Canyon National Park responded to a wildfire Monday morning about 3 miles southeast of the town of Tusayan. The 50 acre lightning caused Halfway Fire was discovered by local aircraft and most likely started the day before from a passing thunderstorm.

Multiple resources have been working on the fire Monday including a helicopter, a dozer, 3 engines and miscellaneous overhead. Additional resources have been ordered to assist from neighboring forests and are expected to arrive later today.

The fire is moving in an easterly direction and is not posing a threat to any developed areas or Infrastructure at this time.

Smoke may be visible at times from the town of Tusayan, Grand Canyon Airport, highway 64, and from the east rim drive in Grand Canyon National Park. Motorists are asked to be aware of fire personnel and vehicles and use caution if driving near the vicinity of the fire.

Grand Canyon School receives approval for ‘game-changing’ fiber project

Posted on by

GRAND CANYON VILLAGE – A three-year effort by the Grand Canyon School District and the Town of Tusayan to bring high-speed Internet to the region has finally paid off.

A new 60-mile fiber line from near the City of Williams to the School will deliver bandwidth to students whose access to high-speed Internet lags badly behind other Arizona schools.

The $5.6 million project will be funded by the federal E-rate grant program that provides high-speed Internet to schools and libraries, along with a State of Arizona broadband initiative grant contained in Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s fiscal year 2019 budget. Commnet Wireless, a telecommunications company with other projects and assets in Coconino County and the Navajo Nation, won the contract to build the fiber system.

Since its approval in late 2018, the project faced several hurdles, requiring appeals and a federal waiver to extend the project’s time frame. Representatives from the Grand Canyon School District and members of the Tusayan Town Council successfully worked with Arizona’s Congressional Delegation and federal agencies to secure the final approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

“I am beyond thrilled that this game-changing project was approved,” said Grand Canyon School District Superintendent Dr. Shonny Bria. “Our students will finally have the broadband access they desperately need to excel in school and into their future careers and lives. I am thankful for the Town of Tusayan’s teamwork and support in getting this across the finish line.”

Tusayan Mayor Craig Sanderson echoed Bria’s comments. “Since I’ve been Mayor, one of the top needs of local residents, businesses and tourists has consistently been high-speed Internet. This is a great start.” Sanderson said. “I’m proud that the Town of Tusayan could play a role in getting this project going for local students. In the long run, this will benefit us all.”

According to Commnet Wireless, the project is expected to commence in the coming weeks and will take 18 months to complete.

Seeking Information on Hunting Incident in Tusayan Area

Posted on by

TUSAYAN – On September 17, 2019 at approximately 8:30 PM deputies were called to the area of Forest Road 328 for a report of a conflict. Upon investigating it was found that a bowhunter was returning to his vehicle in this area when he was approached by a dark colored truck with three white males. The occupants of the truck confronted the bowhunter and asked what his problem was. The conversation escalated and the bowhunter walked away from the truck. The truck began to follow the bowhunter down a sideroad so the bowhunter ran away from the truck and hid down an embankment. The bowhunter then reported that he heard 6-8 gunshots come from the direction of the truck. After hearing the gunshots, the bowhunter continued to run from the area.

Upon arriving in the area, responding deputies were unable to locate the vehicle or the suspects. The vehicle description is as follows:

  • Black or dark colored full-sized truck (possibly a Chevrolet)
  • 4 door or extended cab
  • A matching in color camper shell with a rack on top of the shell
  • Diesel engine
  • An LED light bar on the cab of the truck
  • Possibly a fog light burnt out on the front of the truck
  • Occupied by three white males

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that any additional witnesses or anyone with information on the truck or its occupants contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523, option 1 or Coconino County Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Skydiving Accident Results in a Death at the Grand Canyon

Posted on by

TUSAYAN – On September 8, 2019 at approximately 9:55 am, Deputies were called to the area of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport for a report of a skydiving accident in which two males had been injured.

Upon arrival, Deputies confirmed two males who had been skydiving in tandem had been injured. One person appeared to have suffered a broken leg and was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center. The other person was unconscious, and CPR lifesaving efforts were being performed by paramedics on scene. The second person was later pronounced deceased by doctors from Flagstaff Medical Center. The deceased has been identified as Christopher Swales, a 55-year-old male from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Swales had purchased a skydiving package from Paragon Skydive, a company at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The skydiving package included a tandem jump with a Paragon Skydiver. The skydive reportedly had been going as planned until they encountered difficulties when approaching the landing area. These difficulties caused the pair to free-fall for an unknown distance and hit the ground in what was described as a “hard landing.”

Investigators are still looking into the details surrounding the accident. Currently, there are no indications that the incident is criminal in nature. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and also is investigating the incident.

Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details are available at this time.