Tag Archives: Ikes Fire

Officials to lift Ikes Fire closure on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Effective Sunday October 27, the Kaibab National Forest will lift the area closure around the Ikes Fire, including the popular Rainbow Rim Trail, that has been in place since the lightning caused wildfire started in late July.

The public will be able to access Kaibab National Forest lands in and around the fire area, which had been closed to ensure public and firefighter safety during ongoing fire operations. Areas affected by the fire in Grand Canyon National Park will continue to remain closed to protect the public as well as natural and cultural resources. For information on closures within Grand Canyon National Park please visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm

“We want to thank the public for their compliance while the closure has been in effect,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “That area of the forest is extremely popular, and we appreciate their patience and cooperation while we completed operations restoring fire to the ecosystem, which will improve overall forest health and greatly reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfire.”

Due to the lack of significant moisture over the fire area, isolated pockets of heat and smoke may still be found within the fire area. The public is advised to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased caution regarding personal safety while in the area.

“We urge visitors to understand the potential hazards and to prepare accordingly,” said Peter Goetzinger North Zone Fire Management Officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “We want them to enjoy the forest but we also want them to do it safely, recognizing that any area recently impacted by wildfire will likely have some greater risk than other areas.”

Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:

· Burned out stump holes that could cause injury if stepped in;
· Unstable terrain with potential for rolling debris (boulders, logs, rocks, etc.);
· Fire weakened trees and snags that could fall or drop large limbs;
· Blowing dust and ash on roads and hillsides.

Fire crews make progress on completion of Ikes Fire control lines

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GRAND CANYON – Since the wind event that occurred last weekend, fire managers have been implementing a plan to stop the growth of the 11,000-acre Ikes Fire, which is located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Fire crews have been completing burnout operations over the last week along Forest Road 271 from the Grand Canyon rim to the junction of Forest Road 206. On Monday, crews began extending these operations along forest roads 206 and 4008, which connected the burnout preparation work to a point on the main portion of the Ikes Fire that burned earlier in the summer. This additional work involved about 2 miles of fire line burnout, which crews successfully completed yesterday.

In addition to the work along forest roads, the Flaming Gorge Fire Use Module began treating the area along the rim of the Grand Canyon with a burnout process that will prevent any further movement of the wildfire from the plateau area into the canyon. It will also make the area on the plateau resistant to any fire movement up and out of the canyon. Firing operations may continue into the weekend, which could result in smoke impacts similar to those that have occurred over the last two days. Smoke impacts will moderate as soon as burnout operations are completed.

The Ikes Fire remains at about 11,000 acres in size. Acreage totals may increase as burnout operations are completed over the next few days. In addition to hand ignitions, fire managers may use a helicopter to conduct aerial ignitions.

An expanded area closure is in effect on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest in order to ensure public and firefighter safety during ongoing fire operations. The closure includes the Rainbow Rim Trail area and the viewpoints from Parissawampitts Point to Stina Point. Crazy Jug Point north of Parissawampitts is open. The Kaibab National Forest will reopen the area as soon as conditions are safe for public entry.

For hikers and mountain bikers, the Arizona National Scenic Trail is an alternative recreational opportunity while the Rainbow Rim Trail is closed. The Arizona National Scenic Trail is accessible from many points along Highway 67 and offers a variety of scenery, including views into the Grand Canyon.

Highway 67 and the North Rim Village, North Rim Lodge and businesses are open. However, some road and trail closures are in effect for the Ikes Fire area within Grand Canyon National Park. The following roads and trails are closed on the North Rim:

  • Powell Plateau Trail
  • North Bass Trail
  • Fire Point
  • Swamp Point
  • W4 road north of the intersection of the W4 and W1 roads

Smoke from the Ikes Fire has been more visible over the last few days due to the burnout operations. Visitors traveling to the area should be aware of possible smoke along Highway 67. Visitors are asked to drive carefully and turn headlights on for safety. For local air quality and related information, please visit the following websites: www.airnow.gov or the Smoke Management Division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at https://azdeq.gov/SmokeManagemet.

More information can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6475/. Visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm for additional information about wildland fire at Grand Canyon National Park.

For information about the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab or @KaibabNF on Facebook and Twitter.

Crews Busy with Two New Fire Starts on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Two new wildfires started yesterday on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Multiple interagency resources, including aircraft, responded to the incidents and took immediate suppression actions to stop the fires’ spread.

The Le Fevre Fire, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Fredonia off Highway 89A near the Le Fevre Overlook, was caused by a motor vehicle accident. Due to hot, dry and windy conditions the fire grew to approximately 20 acres in the pinyon, juniper and brush. Although the fire’s spread has been stopped, fire managers only list the containment at 80 percent due to the potential for spot fires with another day of gusty southwest winds predicted. Today, crews will continue to hold, secure and mop up the fire.

Highway 89A remains open to motorists but may be restricted to one lane to allow fire crews to utilize equipment and personnel to secure the fire. Visitors traveling in the area should use caution and be aware that fire crews and equipment may be working near the road.

The Cougar Fire was also discovered yesterday near Cougar Lake just south of the recent Castle Fire area approximately 6 miles northwest of Demotte Campground. The fire was contained at approximately one acre and was caused by lightning from a recent thunderstorm. Today fire personnel will continue to hold, secure and mop up the fire.

In addition to the two new fires, fire personnel are still closely monitoring the progress of the Ikes wildfire. This fire has been managed jointly between the Kaibab National Forest and the National Park Service since its discovery on July 25 near Swamp Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. It is currently 7,630 acres within its 7,785 acre planning area and is being utilized in order to fulfill its natural role of reducing dense forest fuels and improving overall ecosystem health. For more information regarding the Ikes Fire please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6475/

Ikes Fire Moves Across Landscape As Containment Increases

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GRAND CANYON – The Ikes Fire is approximately 3,289 acres, 42% contained, and has 89 resources assigned. The natural caused lightning fire is being utilized to fulfill its natural role within a fire-dependent ecosystem. Due to the absence of fire for nearly two decades in the northeast corner of the planning area, there is a heavy accumulation of dead and down forest debris and pine litter. Fire will help to reduce forest litter and burn off excess vegetation, promoting new plant growth and strengthening wildlife habitat. The lightning-caused wildfire is actively burning within a 7,785-acre planning area.

Yesterday crews made progress with firing operations as weather conditions remained favorable. Work on the northeast corner and eastern boundary of the planning area has been completed. Today firefighters will continue to strengthen and improve containment lines along the northern border heading west towards Fire Point. Firing operations are weather dependent and may not occur as strong winds are expected. The Type 3 Incident Management Team will continue to evaluate weather conditions and monitor fire behavior to meet incident objectives while providing for firefighter and public safety.

The predicted weather is mostly sunny with clouds in the afternoon. Expect very dry and breezy conditions with wind gusts up to 22 mph. Precipitation is not forecasted as we move into the weekend. Expect to see smoke from multiple fires within the area surrounding the Grand Canyon from both the North and South Rims. Smoke has settled into the canyon overnight due to cooler temperatures but is expected to lift out as the day temperatures become warmer.

Closures remain in effect for Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest. More information on closures can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6475/.

The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.

Ikes Fire Grows Due To Warmer, Drier Weather

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GRAND CANYON – The Ikes Fire has grown to 85 acres due to warmer, drier weather over the past few days. An increase in fire activity is occurring on south facing slopes due to more direct sunlight allowing vegetation to dry out from recent monsoonal activity. Fire continues to spread along the forest floor through the understory and duff layer.

Approximately 40 personnel are assigned to the Ikes Fire. Firefighters are working to improve control lines along the National Park Service W4 Road and Forest Road 223. These roads serve as the southern and northern boundaries of the fire’s planning area. Over the coming days firefighters may conduct firing operations in order to keep fire activity at a low to moderate intensity. This method is used to strengthen control lines by decreasing the amount of vegetation available to the Ikes Fire as it naturally spreads toward the designated planning area boundaries. Firing operations are weather dependent and may produce smoke visible to the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon.

The Ikes Fire, which started on July 25th due to lightning strike, is located 3 miles east of

Swamp Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The fire is less than 1 mile south of the boundary with the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Closures remain in effect for the Ikes Fire and more information can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6475/.

Fire managers will continue the strategy of confinement and containment for the Ikes Fire planning area while providing for point protection of identified sensitive natural and cultural resources. The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.

Over the weekend, Grand Canyon identified 3 lightning caused fires. The Royal Fire, Sinkhole Fire, and Outlet Fire located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park are 100% contained due to full suppression tactics. Suppression tactics include firefighters building containment line around the perimeter and receiving aerial support from helicopter bucket drops. The Outlet Fire may produce visible smoke to the west of the North Rim Lodge.

Ikes Fire Remains Active Despite Regular Rain Showers

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GRAND CANYON — The Ikes Fire has seen minimal growth over the past 2 days due to multiple rain showers over the fire area. “Due to moisture, fire activity has been limited,” stated Paul Lemmon, Ikes Fire Incident Commander. “But the fire continues to burn within the duff layer of needles, leaf litter, and downed logs along the forest floor.”

The weather forecast for the next several days predicts higher temperatures, lower humidity, and a low chance of rain. “With predicted hotter and drier weather the next 6 to 10 days, there could be potential for increased fire behavior” stated Lemmon.

Firefighters continue to improve control lines along the National Park Service W4 road and Forest Road 223. These roads serve as the southern and northern boundaries of the fire’s planning area. 59 personnel are currently assigned to the Ikes Fire.

The Ikes Fire, which started on July 25th due to lighting strike, is located 3 miles east of Swamp Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The fire is less than 1 mile south of the boundary with the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Closure Orders remain in effect for both the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park for the Ikes Fire. Learn more about the official closure orders by visiting https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6475/.

Fire managers will continue the strategy of confinement and containment in the planning area while providing for point protection of identified sensitive natural and cultural resources. The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.