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U.S. Forest Service
News Release
Media Contact: Bob Blasi
Scott and Airstrip fires remain active with steady growth Tusayan, Ariz., July 07, 2016—For Immediate Release.
The two fires being managed on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest showed significant growth yesterday but are still within the planning areas. The Scott Fire expanded to approximately 949 acres in size yesterday after winds drove the fire down drainages on the northeast side of the Coconino rim. A large plume of smoke was clearly visible from communities on the Navajo Reservation
and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Crews were in place and prepared for the increase in activity and adjusted actions to safely hold the fire as it reached a section of containment lines in the basin below.
The Airport Fire grew approximately 200 acres yesterday bringing the total acres burned to 437. Smoke impacts been evaluated consistently throughout operational periods due to the proximity of this fire being situated adjacent to the urban
area of the town of Tusayan. Fire officials have acknowledged that smoke has impacted businesses within the community and are now taking direct actions to create a cutoff point to stop the forward progression of the active perimeter. This tactic will significantly
shorten the duration that smoke will be produced and ultimately improve overall air quality within the neighboring developed areas. Officials expect to see a noticeable reduction in smoke as crews begin to contain the fires movement. Both fires will continue to produce some visible smoke that will be seen from the communities of Tusayan, Valle, Cameron, and from both rims of the Grand Canyon. However ventilation is predicted to be excellent in both fire areas with improved
dispersion over the next few days. Cooler night time air will continue to push smoke down settling into low lying drainages in the evening but will lift rapidly in the early morning hours as surfaces warm.
Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4840/
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4839/ ; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404. ###
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Attachment:
1650_Scott _Airstrip Wildfires_2016_07-07-16.pdf
Description: 1650_Scott _Airstrip Wildfires_2016_07-07-16.pdf
