The National Weather Service has issued a high wind advisory from 11 a.m. today through 7 p.m. tonight from Ash Fork to Flagstaff. The high wind advisory extends to Tusayan and Prescott.
Winds will be from the southwest from 20 to 30 mph gusting up to 50 mph. Travelers should take caution driving from Ash Fork to Flagstaff.
TUSAYAN — The lightning-caused Coco Fire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has grown to 731 acres in size achieving resource objectives by reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and restoring overall forest health.
Fire crews worked late the previous shift completing management ignitions along Forest Road 2719 in order to keep the fire within planning area boundaries and protect fire sensitive archaeological sites. Smoke from the management ignitions was transported west along Coconino Wash into the town of Tusayan resulting in moderate impacts in the early morning but will disperse throughout the day.
“We are very pleased with the fire progression and allowing fire to resume its role in the ecosystem. The natural mosaic of fire effects resulting from the fire growth enhances the heterogeneity and resilience of the forest” stated Incident Commander Dan Pearson.
The Arizona Trail remains open to hikers. As this lightning-caused fire continues to grow naturally, it is likely that smoke will remain visible from Highway 64, Grand Canyon National Park’s Desert View Drive, and other populated areas. The current forecast predicts light and variable winds over the Coco Fire for the next several days which may result in more variable smoke dispersion until moisture moves into Northern Arizona this weekend.
TUSAYAN — The Coco fire grew to 35-acres and forest crews are burning for suppression. Crews finished burning along Forest Road 2719 yesterday to prevent the fire from spreading.
Today, firefighters will continue by burning along approximately 2 miles of the Arizona Trail from Watson Trick Tank to Forest Road 303. This work will reduce any potential for high intensity fire and improve safety to users of the trail.
The Arizona Trail will be open to hikers, however, it is advised to use caution as there will be some smoke in the area. The winds today will be out of the northeast and smoke is expected to be visible from Highway 64 and the Grand Canyon East Rim Drive as well as from the town of Valle.
TUSAYAN — On July 22, the Coco Fire ignited due to lightning 6 miles southeast of Tusayan near the junction of Forest Road 302 and 2719. The initial start of the fire covered 15 acres and has now grown to 25 acres as of today by moving through the grass and pine litter. There was very minimal smoke production yesterday and no reported impacts to the east rim drive or the town of Tusayan overnight.
Today crews will be finishing up with preparation work along the planning area boundary. Later in the day when conditions are favorable, firefighters will be using management ignitions to create a black line along the Arizona Trail and FR 2719. This buffer will be in the Northeast corner of the planning area. Dave Barringer, Coco Fire Incident Commander-T, states “that slight delays may be expected for hikers in this small portion along the Arizona Trail due to the burn out operations if the assessment is made to start those ignitions today.” When those ignitions begin some smoke impacts to the east rim drive may occur during the evening hours.
TUSAYAN — With no growth over several days and mop up activities nearing completion, fire managers on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are now entering the rehabilitation stage on the Scott fire. Crews are working to improve upon the landscape with intent to preserve the integrity of the environment and maintain a desirable healthy condition in the forest after the fire occurrence.
Kaibab National Forest photo.
A “BAER” team (Burned Area Emergency Response) has arrived and a risk assessment of the fire vicinity is currently underway. The purpose of the BAER program is to identify hazards caused by the fire and then implement emergency actions to reduce threats to life and property. Rehabilitation actions will inevitably stabilize and prevent unacceptable resource degradation resulting from the fire. This includes activities such as restoring fire lines installed by hand crews and dozers to a more natural condition which in turn will deter the public from using them as roads and trails. It will also minimize erosion and sediment delivery to water bodies and sensitive drainages.
“This work is critical to avert cascading negative effects and long duration damage to the affected land” said Kaibab National Forest Soil Scientist Kit MacDonald. “This process will not only help provide for public safety, but will also shorten the overall recovery time of the impacted areas.”
Road stabilization maintenance will begin on a short section of forest road 307 near the fire perimeter. Short-term closures may occur and visitors are urged to avoid travelling through the area until work is completed.
A nine mile section of the Arizona Trail will remain closed to the public, however an alternate detour route has been provided adjacent to the closed portion on forest road 310. Forest officials will re-open the trail once it is deemed safe for public access.
TUSAYAN — The two lightning-caused wildfires that are being managed to improve forest health on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are now being actively suppressed to ensure public and firefighter safety. Drier conditions combined with higher wind speeds prompted managers to adjust plans, however the fires continue to accomplish land management objectives that were originally identified.
The 679-acre Airstrip Fire is 50% contained. It has shown no growth over night and is still holding within the designated planning area. Engine crews will continue to patrol and mop up along containment lines working toward full containment. Smoke will continue to be noticeable but will be light with minimal impacts to Tusayan.
The Scott Fire continues to be active growing approximately 110 acres yesterday bringing the total burned area to 2485 acres. Crews are assessing the terrain to establish a safe approach in order to begin constructing control lines as close as possible to the active fire edge. Additional resources have been brought in to hasten the direct attack approach. With higher winds predicted in the short term forecast, managers are striving to have control lines in place before the expected winds arrive.
A temporary flight restriction has been implemented over the area of the fire in order to allow fire aircraft to work safely without conflicts from touring aircraft in the high traffic corridor near Grand Canyon.
An area surrounding a 9 mile section of the Arizona Trail and has been closed by special order (Order Number: 07-16-07-F) for the purpose of ensuring public safety. Trail users are directed to follow an alternate detour route along forest road 310 adjacent to the closed section of trail. Members of the public are asked to avoid driving into areas where fire personnel are working to ensure firefighter and public safety.
Both fires will continue to produce some visible smoke that may be seen from the communities of Tusayan, Valle, Cameron, Tuba City, and from both rims of the Grand Canyon.
TUSAYAN — Due to changing weather conditions in the forest that are now causing higher risks and exposure to firefighters, Officials have decided to implement a suppression strategy for the wildfires being managed on the Tusayan Ranger district on the Kaibab National Forest.
The Airstrip Fire has currently reached the perimeters within the planning area that were pre-set to stop forward progression and is no longer expected to grow. Crews successfully completed final ignitions along the south east boundary of the fire yesterday evening and will now begin mop up and patrolling to hold containment lines in place. Approximately 679 acres were burned and managers are pleased with the results which met the desired objectives that were identified for this fire. Although smoke will continue to be visible, volume is expected to decrease dramatically over the next few days as the fire settles.
The Scott Fire experienced much higher winds over the last two days which influenced a significant increase in fire behavior causing an acceleration in growth bringing the total burned area to 1730 acres. Officials continue to observe positive effects that correlate with land management objectives however strategies have been changed to ensure the protection of fire personnel and the public.
“With warmer temperatures and higher winds predicted over the next several days, we have decided that suppression is the best course of action at this time” said Tusayan District Ranger Christina Pearson. “Firefighter and public safety is our number one objective and we will only engage this fire when there is a high probability of success without putting people at risk.”
Both fires will continue to produce some visible smoke that will be seen from the communities of Tusayan, Valle, Cameron, Tuba City, and from both rims of the Grand Canyon. Smoke is expected to decline significantly from the Airstrip Fire but will remain more noticeable from the Scott Fire over the next few days.
TUSAYAN — Fire officials on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are managing two new fire starts called the “Scott” and “Airstrip” fires. The Scott fire was discovered June 28, and has grown to approximately 5 acres in size. It is located in a remote area on the Coconino rim near forest road 310 eleven miles east of Tusayan. The Airstrip Fire was discovered on June 29, and is currently 6 acres in size. The Airstrip fire is located just south of the town of Tusayan on the east side of highway 64.
The Scott Fire is burning in a pinyon juniper and ponderosa pine fuel type on the northeast slope of the Coconino rim in the Upper Basin. A temporary detour has been put in place on a section of the Arizona Trail between the Grand View lookout tower and forest road 311 north of Russell tank. Trail users are asked to follow directions posted along the trail and avoid areas where active fire is present.
The Airstrip fire is burning in a predominant ponderosa pine stand adjacent to the Grand Canyon airport and will be visible from the community of Tusayan and from highway 64. Both fires will be allowed to move within a predetermined planning area for the purpose of reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and restoring overall forest health.
“With the recent arrival of monsoon rains, conditions in the forest have become favorable for us to utilize both of these fires to significantly improve the landscape” said Josh Miller Assistant Fire Management Officer on the Tusayan Ranger District. “We recognize the concern people have about the Airstrip fire being managed relatively close to the community. By allowing moderate ground fire to clean up this critical piece of forest south of the developed areas, fuels loads will decrease creating a safeguard in front of the community. The end result will reduce a future threat of a potentially devastating wildfire running straight toward the town from the south.”
Weather conditions are expected to vary on a daily basis which will influence changes in fire behavior and growth patterns as both these fires begin to progress.
Smoke may be visible from the Grand Canyon village, the communities of Tusayan, Cameron, Valle, and from Highways 64 and 180. Fire managers will monitor smoke impacts closely and will employ extra measures as necessary to minimize smoke impacts to the surrounding residential areas.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is performing a shoulder widening project along State Route 64 (SR 64) near the town of Tusayan in Coconino County beginning at the Grand Canyon National Airport access road (milepost 234 to 235), skipping the town of Tusayan, and ending just south of the southern boundary of the Grand Canyon National Park (milepost 237).
This project is part of ADOT’s Statewide Shoulder Widening Program and will improve lane departures for motorists on SR 64.
What to expect:
During construction lane closures can be expected to accommodate crews and equipment. Traffic control will be primarily lane shifts that will allow for north- and southbound travel with minimal delays. Delays can be anticipated; please allow for extra time for travel in the construction zone.
For more information please visit the project website at:
www.azdot.gov/sr64shoulderwidening.
ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.
TUSAYAN — Due to above normal precipitation and cooler temperatures over the last month, conditions on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are within prescriptive levels and are suitable for fire managers to continue treatment of the 8,000-acre Russell Prescribed Fire project southeast of Tusayan.
Crews plan to begin ignitions near the area of Russell Tank and the Arizona Trail beginning Friday and expect to complete a 429-acre unit by the end of the following day. Smoke may be visible from Highways 64 and 180, and from the communities of Valle and Tusayan, but is not expected to impact residential areas.
Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts and will only conduct ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to ventilate away from sensitive areas. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast during the day. Residual smoke may settle into drainages and low lying areas overnight but will dissipate rapidly throughout the morning hours. The Arizona Trail will remain open during operations, but hikers are advised to use caution and observe signs and directions posted along the trail.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online or through the recorded hotline. Contact your local Kaibab National Forest office for additional information.