Attached is today’s update on the 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. The attached map shows the current fire perimeter, planning
area and associated closures.
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National Park Service
Grand Canyon National Park
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U.S. Forest Service
Kaibab National Forest
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
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For Immediate Release: August 20, 2019
NPS Contact: Brandalyn Vonk, 602-730-6144
USFS Contact: Jacqueline Banks, 928-635-8314
Ikes Fire Public Information Office: 928-638-7071
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Ikes Fire Behavior Aligns With Land Managers' Objectives
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Grand Canyon, AZ- Yesterday, firefighters moved west along the W4 road and improved the boundary line
with hand ignitions. Crews also created debris piles to clean up vegetation along the forest floor and hazard trees. Fire managers completed a reconnaissance flight to assess fire behavior within the interior of the fire perimeter. Fire effects are consistent
with land managers' objectives and are expected to remain as such based on current conditions.
Today firefighters will patrol and hold lines along the northern and eastern boundaries of the fire perimeter. Crews will begin firing operations along Forest Road 223, starting at the
edge of the fire perimeter, and move west towards Fire Point. Once line improvements are in place, firefighters will patrol and hold this line. Currently 92 resources are assigned and the Ikes Fire has spread across approximately 4,994 acres.
The fire is gradually spreading west within the identified boundaries of the planning area. As it burns naturally through the area, it can be beneficial to the fire-adapted ecosystem
by removing fuels that could feed future forest fires. Fire managers are utilizing the naturally ignited fire within a pre-defined area to achieve positive restorative benefits to the land. Low intensity wildfire can be advantageous by providing an efficient
and safe way to remove the dead and decaying plant material under desired conditions that could act as fuel for future forest fires. Future fires occurring under hotter and drier conditions, which typically occur during this time of year with current fuel
levels, could create uncharacteristic and undesirable fire effects.
Predicted forecast for today remains hot and dry with zero chance of precipitation. Light, southwest winds will be around 10 mph moving into the afternoon. Unchanging warm temperatures
and low relative humidity will allow fire to carry through the available fuels inside the planning area. Weather forecasts indicate the fire will continue to spread west at an easy pace.
Smoke from the Ikes Fire, along with other fires in the area, will be visible throughout the surrounding area. Visitors traveling to the area should be aware of possible smoke impacts
along State 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.
Visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6475/ for
a list of road and trails closures currently in effect for Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest.
The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.
Please visit
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm for additional information about wildland fire at Grand Canyon National Park or call 928-638-7819 for recorded fire information. For additional information about the Ikes fire, visit
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6475/.
For fire information on the Kaibab National Forest, visit
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab or @KaibabNF on Facebook and Twitter or call (928) 635-8311 for recorded fire information.
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 The
year, Grand Canyon National Park celebrates 100 years since its designation as a national park. To prepare for the next century of stewardship, we hope to inspire future generations to experience, connect with, and protect Grand Canyon's unique resources.
Join the celebration at go.nps.gov/grandcanyoncentennial or on social media with #GrandCanyon100.
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To manage your subscription visit http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml
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Attachment:
Ikes Fire Joint News Release August 20 2019.pdf
Description: Ikes Fire Joint News Release August 20 2019.pdf
Attachment:
PIO Map 082019-sm.pdf
Description: PIO Map 082019-sm.pdf
