Category Archives: Tusayan

ADOT kicks off master plan study for Grand Canyon airport

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, owner and operator of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, is starting a two-year process to update the airport’s master plan, a document that guides its development.

Arizonans are welcome to be part of this process by providing questions, concerns and other comments to ADOT’s study team.

Airport master plans, required by the Federal Aviation Administration, set the short-, intermediate- and long-term development goals. The update for Grand Canyon National Park Airport will evaluate the facility’s capabilities and role, forecast future aviation demand and plan facility improvements to meet that demand over the next 20 years.

“Our plan will focus specifically on maintaining safety and security for the airport and planning for incremental development that meets future aviation demand and helps the airport be self-sufficient while remaining flexible as things change,” Grand Canyon Airport Manager Michael Thomas said.

The master plan will also evaluate environmental requirements and ways to remain environmentally sustainable.

Those wishing to provide questions, concerns and other comments for the study team to address can do so in three ways:

  • Online at azdot.gov/gcnairportmasterplan
  • Mail to Grand Canyon Airport Master Plan Study, c/o Coffman Associates, 4835 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 235, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
  • Over the phone at 1-800-574-6334

Public workshops will also be held throughout the study period. Those begin next year.

South Zone fire managers to conduct pile burns after wet weather

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers on both the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts will be completing pile burns across the two southern districts of the Kaibab National Forest. Recent weather conditions have not proven to be conducive for larger-scale prescribed fire treatments, but are appropriate for piles located across the forest. The pile burns remove fuel sources from the forest, to reduce the impact and intensity of future wildfires.

Tusayan Ranger District: Fire crews will treat 226 acres throughout the week just to the west of the Grand Canyon Airport, south of Forest Road 2617, and on both the east and west sides of Forest Road 2607. Smoke impact to Tusayan are expected to be minimal.

Williams Ranger District: Fire crews will be treating small groups of piles across the district over the week. Due to the limited number of piles that are expected to be treated, there are no predicted smoke impacts to Williams.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional information, photos and maps are available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/ and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Tusayan Ranger District fire managers announce locations scheduled for prescribed burning starting this fall

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TUSAYAN — Fire managers for the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are announcing locations where they plan to complete prescribed fire projects starting this month and continuing through much of next year. Up to about 6,000 acres could be treated across the district during that time as long as weather and fuel conditions allow.

Areas that could be treated are as follows:

Tusayan East Prescribed Fire: East of Tusayan, approximately 260 acres
Russell Prescribed Fire: Two burn units southeast of Tusayan, approximately 1,700 acres
Flying J Prescribed Fire: Two burn units west of Tusayan, approximately 300 acres
Reed Prescribed Fire: Four burn units east of Tusayan, approximately 3,700 acres

During prescribed fires, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. Smoke may also be present and may result in short-duration impacts to populated areas.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Prior to any given prescribed fire, additional information will be released regarding location, timing and anticipated smoke impacts. Kaibab National Forest fire information is also available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Rock Fire on Tusayan Ranger District growing due to dry conditions

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Overview of fire looking southeast. Photo taken Aug. 7, 2015, by Brandon Oberhardt. U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Overview of fire looking southeast. Photo taken Aug. 7, 2015, by Brandon Oberhardt. U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

TUSAYAN — Dry conditions over the last few days have led to increasing activity on a lightning-caused wildfire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. The 1,581-acre Rock Fire is growing within boundaries established for it and is being managed for multiple objectives including allowing natural fire to play its role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhancing wildlife habitat, improving forest health, and reducing the potential for future high-intensity wildfires. There are no closures associated with the Rock Fire.

The Rock Fire, which was started by lightning July 31, is located south of the Coconino Rim about 15 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan and is burning at a low-to-moderate level of intensity through an area dominated by ponderosa pine trees.

Fire managers plan to allow the wildfire to take its natural course within predefined boundaries in order to help restore ecological balance across the landscape. Over the last few days, firefighters completed burn out operations along Forest Road 316 in anticipation of the wildfire’s growth in that direction. FR 316 serves as the eastern boundary of the planning area within which the Rock Fire will be held.

Today firefighters conducted burn out operations along FR 2762, which serves as the western boundary of the planning area, in advance of the fire’s natural spread. This will ensure fire managers are able to keep the Rock Fire within pre-determined perimeters over the next several days as dry conditions in the forecast indicate that the wildfire will be active. Firefighters also continue to prepare for the fire’s likely spread by lining archaeological sites, range fences, trick tanks, and any other potentially fire-sensitive resources near the fire area. This important work ensures that as the Rock Fire grows, it won’t negatively impact other values in the area.

Given dry conditions in the forecast for the next few days, the Rock Fire is expected to burn actively and produce smoke that is visible from Cameron, Tuba City, Valle and Highway 64.

New wildfire on Tusayan Ranger District growing due to dry conditions

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TUSYAN — A lightning-caused wildfire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National is burning actively and growing in size due to dry weather conditions.

The 50-acre Rock Fire is located near Rock Lake Pothole just south of the Coconino Rim about 15 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan. The wildfire, which was started by lightning July 31 and discovered by fire managers Aug. 1, is burning at a low-to-moderate level of intensity through an area dominated by ponderosa pine trees. Fire managers plan to allow the wildfire to take its natural course within predefined boundaries in order to help restore ecological balance across the landscape so that the area is more resilient to threats, such as future high-intensity wildfires.

Today firefighters will prepare for the wildfire’s anticipated future growth by lining archaeological sites, range fences, trick tanks, and any other potentially fire-sensitive resources near the fire area. This important work ensures that as the Rock Fire grows, fire managers will be able to allow it to take its natural course without the risk of negatively impacting other values in the area.

Given dry conditions in the forecast for the next few days, the Rock Fire is expected to burn actively, grow significantly in size, and produce smoke that is visible from Cameron, Tuba City, Valle and Highway 64. Smoke may sink overnight into Tappan Wash and potentially move toward Cameron and then rise and dissipate in the morning hours as temperatures increase.

Mason Fire reaches final size of 4,370 acres

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mason004aTUSYAN — The Mason Fire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has been contained after growing to 4,370 acres and providing multiple resource benefits since it started a few weeks ago.

The Mason Fire, located 7 miles southeast of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower, was one of four lightning-caused wildfires being managed as part of the Jar Complex to achieve ecological and other resource and community protection objectives. The Old Fire eventually merged with the larger Mason Fire, while the Lost and Shale fires that were located just east of Highway 64 several miles south of Tusayan never grew larger than about an acre in size each due to persistent rain showers over their locations.

“The Lost and Shale fires were in an ideal location, and we hoped they would eventually pick up in activity so that fire could move across the landscape,” said Quentin Johnson, fire management officer for the Tusayan Ranger District and incident commander for the Jar Complex. “But it was the Mason Fire that ended up having the most growth potential, and we are pleased that it reached the size it did.”

The Mason Fire burned at low-to-moderate levels of intensity over the course of its existence and had effects fire managers said were important in enhancing wildlife habitat, reducing the potential for future high-intensity fires, and improving forest health conditions.

As noted by Bruce Hill, fire lookout at Red Butte and a valued member of the Tusayan Ranger District fire organization, the Mason Fire not only met resource objectives but did so without impacting visibility at Grand Canyon National Park, an accomplishment that is not always easy to achieve given the district’s location just south of the iconic canyon.

While smoke was visible at times from Desert View, Cameron, Tusayan and highways 64 and 180, impacts were short-lived and mostly isolated to light smoke sinking into low-lying areas south of Tusayan along Highway 64 in the early morning hours on a few days.

Johnson added that he was proud that fire was able to play its natural role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem and, that during its 22 days of spread, there were no injuries to fire fighters involved in its management.

The Mason and Old fires were both managed within a predefined 16,100-acre planning area. However, as the fires merged and then spread into sparser fuels, they naturally started dying out on their own. Then, significant precipitation associated with Hurricane Delores reached the Mason Fire over the weekend, putting it out almost entirely.

“For us, a planning area represents where we would be comfortable with and think the fire could eventually spread given the right conditions,” said Johnson. “It doesn’t mean it’s always going to get there, and that’s okay. We are allowing the fire to do what it would have naturally done historically. It would have been started by lightning during monsoon season, moved around for days or weeks, and then been put out by rain or by reaching natural landscape features. That’s exactly what happened with the Mason Fire. To me, that’s a success story.”

Tusayan Ranger District announces office hours for remainder of July

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TUSAYAN — Due to recent changes in staffing, the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will be offering reduced office hours for the remainder of July. The office is located at 176 Lincoln Log Loop in Tusayan, just south of the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park.

“I apologize for any inconvenience these reduced hours might have on visitors to our office,” said Tusayan District Ranger James Simino. “We are working to remedy this situation as soon as possible, but we ask for the public’s patience with us in the interim.

The Tusayan Ranger District office, (928) 638-2443, will only be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following days for the remainder of July:

Friday, July 17
Monday, July 20
Tuesday, July 21
Wednesday, July 22
Thursday, July 23
Tuesday, July 28
Wednesday, July 29
Thursday, July 30

For passes, maps, permits, information, or any other needs on days when the Tusayan Ranger District office is closed, please call or visit one of the other Kaibab National Forest offices.

Kaibab Supervisor’s Office
Williams Ranger District
800 S. 6th St.
Williams, AZ 86046
(928) 635-8200

Williams Ranger District
742 S. Clover Rd.
Williams, AZ 86046
(928) 635-5600

Cameron Field Office
S. of Cameron Chapter House
Cameron, AZ 86020
(928) 679-2037

Williams and Tusayan Ranger District fire reports.

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WILLIAMS — Managers of the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest have decided to manage the 98-acre Springs Fire to meet resource objectives but suppress the 17-acre Key Hole Fire.

The Springs Fire is located about 9 miles south of the City of Williams east of Davenport Knoll and 2 miles south of Summit Mountain on the east side of County Road 73. The lightning-caused wildfire has been growing over the last few days due to drier weather conditions and is burning in an area managers consider to be in need of treatment with fire.

Based on the location of the Springs Fire and its continued growth despite intermittent monsoonal activity, fire managers have decided to manage it over the coming days and possibly weeks in order to improve forest health, allow fire to play its natural role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce the potential for future high-intensity fires.

Smoke from the Springs Fire has been visible at various times from County Road 73 and from Interstate 40 in the Parks area west to Williams. This morning, light smoke from the Springs Fire was noticeable in Williams for a brief period before lifting as temperatures increased. Light smoke may also be present from as far east as Garland Prairie west to Williams. There are no closures in effect related to the Springs Fire.

Fire crews are conducting work in preparation for the Springs Fire’s likely growth. Prep work includes lining range fences, aspen enclosures, and other potentially fire-sensitive resources in the area. This important work ensures that as the fire spreads naturally, fire managers will be able to allow it to grow without the risk of negatively impacting these other values in the area.

While the Springs Fire has proven to be a good candidate for management to achieve resource objectives, the Key Hole Fire, which is located just north of Key Hole Sink near Duck Lake north of Interstate 40, has not. Fire crews are suppressing the Key Hole Fire because it has remained relatively inactive due to receiving significant precipitation over the last week or more. When deciding whether to manage or suppress a wildfire, forest managers not only consider the location of the fire but also its current and anticipated level of activity and growth, as well as the effects it is having on forest resources.

Mason Fire

On the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, the Mason Fire grew to 3,056 acres yesterday as it backed out of an area dominated by ponderosa pine into pinyon-juniper woodlands. The fire, which has been managed as part of the Jar Complex to benefit forest resources over the last couple of weeks, is expected to continue slowly backing into these sparser fuels and eventually go out on its own. Fire managers anticipate relatively light smoke production over the coming days and reduced fire activity due to sparser fuels and predicted monsoons in the area later this week.

Mason Fire produces less smoke, continues to slowly increase in size

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TUSAYAN — The Mason Fire, a resources benefit fire on the Kaibab National Forest, is transitioning out of an area dominated by ponderosa pine into a portion of the forest that is mainly a pinyon and juniper ecotone, which, according to incident commander Quentin Johnson, will not burn at as rapid a rate or produce as much smoke.

Therefore, fire managers have decided to reduce the amount of firefighters needed to manage the fire, which will be allowed to burn until it reaches the edge of the management area. “The crews will continue with the same tasks, but there are fewer of them needed to manage the fire at this point,” said Johnson.

The 2,570-acre Mason Fire, located 7 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower, is the most active of the four lightning-caused wildfires that were included in the Jar Complex to provide ecological and other resource and community protection benefits in the area. The Mason Fire merged with the Old Fire yesterday and will be managed as one fire.

Motorists should continue to practice extra caution on the forest roads in the area of the Mason Fire and when driving highways 64 and 180 during the early morning. Smoke production from the Jar Complex is expected to be lighter over the next few days due to increasing cloud cover and monsoonal activity. However, it may still be visible from Desert View, Cameron, Tusayan, and highways 64 and 180. Overnight and during the early morning hours, smoke has settled closer to Tusayan and south toward Red Butte. However, as the sun warms up the morning air, that smoke has been lifting and dissipating quickly.

Mason and Old fires merge, treating 2,200 acres southeast of Tusayan

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mason004TUSAYAN — As anticipated by fire managers, two lightning-caused wildfires being managed to improve forest health on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest merged yesterday, bringing the total number of acres treated to 2,200. The Mason and Old fires, which are part of the Jar Complex, are located about 7 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower.

The two fires are being managed to achieve resource objectives such as enhancing wildlife habitat and reducing the potential for future high-intensity wildland fires within a predetermined 16,100-acre planning area. Today, fire managers expect the combined Mason and Old fires to continue backing through ponderosa pine forest toward the south southwest between forest roads 2733 and 684A/684.

“We expected that the Mason and Old fires would eventually merge,” said Josh Miller, assistant fire management officer for the Tusayan Ranger District. “This is not only good for treating accumulated fuels such as pine needles, brush and small trees in the forest, but it’s also good for ensuring the safety of our fire crews. Managing one fire in an area is safer so that we never have unburned fuels between an active fire and our firefighters. All of our management actions to date have been planned and implemented in anticipation of these fires eventually merging.”

Smoke production from the Jar Complex is expected to be lighter over the next few days due to increasing cloud cover and monsoonal activity. However, it may still be visible from Desert View, Cameron, Tusayan, and highways 64 and 180. Overnight and during the early morning hours, smoke has settled closer to Tusayan and south toward Red Butte. However, as the sun warms up the morning air, that smoke has been lifting and dissipating quickly. Motorists should watch for smoke and use extra caution when driving highways 64 and 180 in the early morning hours.