Grand Canyon National Park Implements Temporary Road and Trail Closures on the North Rim

Grand Canyon, AZ - Grand Canyon National Park has temporarily instituted closures for the portion of the Ikes Fire Planning Area that is within Grand Canyon National Park. The following areas are closed:

• The Powell Plateau Trail on the North Rim of Grand Canyon.
• The North Bass Trail on the North Rim of Grand Canyon.
• Fire Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon.
• Swamp Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon.
• The W4 road north of Kanabownits Lookout on the North Rim of Grand Canyon.

This closure will remain in effect until further notice. Other roads and trails in the planning area may be temporarily blocked off due to hazards and fire personnel working in the area.

The Ikes Fire remains mildly active even after receiving some precipitation over the past several days. The fire has grown to approximately 55 acres, nearly doubling in size in the past two days. Fire crews continue to improve control lines around the planning area in anticipation of the fire's continued growth. The crews are clearing brush and felling hazardous snags along the planning area perimeter. Grand Canyon National Park is receiving interagency support from two Type Two Initial Attack handcrews and local resources from the Kaibab National Forest and the Grand Canyon National Park. Other resources assigned to the fire are four engines, a medic team, a water tender, safety officer, fire effects monitors, and a resource advisor. 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 +1 928 638-7819 for recorded fire information. For additional information about the Ikes fire, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6475/.

Fire perimeter map of the Ikes Fire, current Aug.2, 2019

Grand Canyon, AZ - The Ikes Fire, which started on July 25th, is approximately 28 acres. Rain on Wednesday significantly reduced fire behavior, resulting in almost no new fire growth. However, even with precipitation, the fire can remain active, especially in areas of heavy or dense fuel loads. The fire received no rain on Thursday and the forecast calls for less chances of rain over the next several days. Fire behavior and acreage will likely increase as conditions get dry.

The Ikes Fire is located 3 miles east of Swamp Point and is burning in mixed conifer. Grand Canyon National Park is using the lightning-caused fire to achieve a variety of resource objectives including reducing hazardous fuels, promoting forest regeneration, improving wildlife habitat, and restoring more open forest understory with grasses and forbs. Individuals driving towards Swamp Point and Fire Point may have limited access. Roads may be temporarily blocked off to allow fire crews to remove hazards. Motorists should watch out for snags across the roadway and slow down for emergency response vehicles.

Grand Canyon National Park is receiving interagency support from two Type Two Initial Attack handcrews and local resources from the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Organization. Other resources assigned to the fire are four engines, a medic team, a water tender, safety officer, fire effects monitors, and a resource advisor. 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/.