Attached are today’s update and map for the Ikes Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.
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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 21, 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 Expands, Crews Continue To Meet Objectives
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Grand Canyon, AZ-A news release for the Ikes Fire will be issued every other day starting today, Wednesday
August 21, 2019. Additional information will be released as it becomes available or conditions change. Contact information for the Ikes Fire will remain in place at this time.
Yesterday, firefighters did minimal hand ignitions along the National Park Service W4 Road as the fire progressed slowly to the west. Crews did not conduct firing operations along Forest
Road 223 as more prep work is needed before putting additional fire on the ground. A helicopter was utilized for reconnaissance flights during the day to assess fire behavior within the interior of the fire perimeter. Fire is currently backing down ridges
and spreading within drainages at a low to moderate rate of spread.
Today, firefighters will prep Forest Road 223 in anticipation of firing operations along the road to reduce vegetation and create a buffer for the advancing fire. Firing operations will
occur once prep work is complete and weather conditions are appropriate. Crews will patrol and hold the fire planning area perimeter and make improvements as needed. As the fire moves west, crews will conduct hand ignitions along the National Park Service
W4 Road to strengthen the southern boundary of the fire planning area. As objectives continue to be met, resources will be released from the Ikes Fire and made available to assist on other wildfires. There are currently 93 resources assigned to the Ikes Fire
and it has spread across approximately 5,112 acres.
A strong, healthy forest ecosystem is born of fire. The forest floor becomes sanitized as dead, downed material burns and nutrients are returned to the soil. These nutrients help vegetation
grow in a stronger, more resilient ecosystem. Utilizing the lightning-caused fire for resource benefit will improve wildlife habitat and restore more open forest understory with grasses and forbs. The fire will be allowed to fulfill its natural role while
providing for point protection of cultural and natural resources. The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.
Predicted forecast for the next two days is very warm temperatures between 80-90 degrees. The weather will be generally dry and breezy as a weather trough moves into the area starting
Thursday. Winds out of the southwest are expected to be 10-15 mph with no rain in sight.
Smoke from the Ikes Fire, along with other fires in the area, will be visible throughout the area and may cause smoke impacts. Visitors traveling to the area should be aware of possible
smoke 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 21 2019.pdf
Description: Ikes Fire Joint News Release August 21 2019.pdf
Attachment:
Ikes PIO Map 8_21_19-sm.pdf
Description: Ikes PIO Map 8_21_19-sm.pdf
