Ikes Fire Holding After Tested By Winds

Grand Canyon, AZ - Recent monsoonal activity in the region resulted in several new lightning ignited fires on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park over the past several days. Fire crews are actively working to suppress three fires within Grand Canyon National Park.

The Lindbergh Fire near Lindbergh Hill is being directly suppressed. Approximately 2 acres in size, current fire behavior is creeping and smoldering within mixed conifer. Fire crews are working to contain the fire at the smallest possible size by digging handline around the fire's perimeter.

Fire crews have contained the Lancelot Fire, near Lancelot Point. It is currently estimated to be .25 acres and smoldering and creeping in ponderosa pine forest.

The Shinumo Fire, located north of the Shinumo Amphitheater, has also been contained at .10 acres.

The Ikes Fire was detected on July 25th and is located 3 miles east of Swamp Point. It is approximately 1.5 acres in size and burning in mixed conifer with a grass understory. Fire managers plan to confine and contain the Ikes Fire to a defined planning area while providing for point protection of identified sensitive natural and cultural resources.

The Dutton Fire was also detected on July 25th and is located on the northeastern edge of the Powell Plateau. It is burning in ponderosa pine and brush. Fire managers plan to monitor the Dutton Fire.

At this time there are no road closures. However individuals driving out to Swamp or Fire Point should be aware of fire crews working in the vicinity. Motorists should turn on their headlights and slow down for emergency response vehicles.

Grand Canyon National Park is receiving interagency support from local resources from the North one Interagency Fire Management Organization. Each fire start is evaluated by fire management officials for the most appropriate management strategy. Firefighter safety, resources at risk, location of the fire, available resources, regional and national preparedness levels, and weather forecast are taken into consideration when responding to a wildfire ignition.

Grand Canyon, AZ - The Ikes Fire, which started on July 25th, is approximately 25 acres. Fire behavior was active with surface fire of three to five foot flames where the fire was consuming dead logs. The fire is backing and flanking towards the east. Located 3 miles east of Swamp Point, the Ikes Fire is burning in mixed conifer. Fire managers plan to continue the strategy of confinement and containment in the planning area while providing for point protection of identified sensitive natural and cultural resources. Fire crews have contained the 2 acre Lindbergh Fire, detected on July 26nd, near Lindbergh Hill. Crews worked on securing the perimeter and used aviation assets to support suppression efforts with bucket work. This afternoon the area received light precipitation which aided in the mop-up.

The Shinumo and Lancelot Fires have been contained and controlled.

At this time there are no road closures. However individuals driving towards Swamp Point should be aware of fire crews working in the vicinity. 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, a resource advisor, and a fire ecologist. Each fire start is evaluated by fire management officials for the most appropriate management strategy. Firefighter safety, resources at risk, location of the fire, available resources, regional and national preparedness levels, and weather forecast are taken into consideration when responding to a wildfire ignition.

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.

Grand Canyon, AZ - The Ikes Fire continues to grow despite the minimal amount of moisture received from recent storms. The fire is approximately 58 acres. Over the past two decades, there has been minimal to no fire activity in the northeast section of the current planning area. The lack of fire activity has lead to build up of vegetation which creates a higher fuel load for future fires moving through the area. Yesterday the fire moved into this area and fire managers anticipate fire activity will increase depending on the amount of precipitation received.

Crews may begin firing operations in the upcoming days. Crews will introduce fire along the planning area perimeter to secure control lines using low intensity heat. This fire activity may produce smoke visible on both the North Rim and South Rim.

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 closed due to hazards and fire personnel working in the area.

Monsoon moisture is forecasted for the next several days. This is expected to bring isolated thunderstorms over the fire area and potentially impact the fire's growth.

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 five engines, a medic team, a water tender, safety officer, and fire effects monitors. Approximately 77 personnel are assigned to the Ikes Fire. 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 crews are burning piles of heavy fuels

Grand Canyon, AZ -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.

Map showing the Ikes Fire road and trail closures and containment area in relation to the north side of Grand Canyon National Park in its boundary with Kaibab National Forest

Grand Canyon, AZ – Over the years, fire managers from the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service have developed and used effective tactics, technology, and policy to enhance public and firefighter safety, and preserve natural and cultural landscapes. Fire managers are meeting the objectives of allowing fire to play its natural role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhance wildlife habitat, improve forest health, and reduce potential for uncharacteristic high severity wildfires in future years.

Yesterday, the Ikes Fire grew to approximately 4,297 acres and has 87 resources assigned. Despite gusty winds and dry conditions, the fire spread across the planning area with low to moderate fire behavior. At this time, the weather has not provided for any challenges due to firefighters completing firing operations across the east end of the fire planning area.

Today firefighters will move along Swamp Ridge Road to utilize hand ignitions to remove vegetation and secure the perimeter line ahead of the advancing fire. Removing this excess vegetation from the forest floor reduces the amount of fuel available to the advancing fire which helps to keep fire behavior at low to moderate intensity. Depending on weather conditions, aerial ignitions may be utilized along ridge tops to create a backing fire and fill in areas that crews cannot safely access. Crews will patrol the fire perimeter, improve line, and mitigate hazard trees.

The weather will continue to be drier than normal with no chance of precipitation in the forecast. Light winds are expected out of the southwest at 8-10 mph with gusts up to 18 mph. Smoke from the Ikes Fire, along with other fires in the area, will be visible throughout the surrounding area. 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.

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

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/.

Grand Canyon, AZ –Over the past two days, firefighters made progress with firing operations along Forest Road 223. This tactic is conducted to strengthen and improve the northern boundary of the planning area. Crews continue to move along the southern boundary, using hand ignitions to create a buffer as the main fire advances to the west. Yesterday the fire was tested by gusty, erratic winds but continued to spread as expected at a low to moderate rate.

Over the next few days, the Ikes Fire will begin to right-size resources. Crews will be released from the fire as objectives are met and made available to assist with other wildfires in the country. Remaining resources will patrol and hold the fire perimeter to ensure the fire remains within the planning area. The fire has spread across approximately 5,932 acres within the 7,785-acre planning area, and has 61 resources assigned.

One objective of the Incident Management Team is to allow fire to move through the 7,785-acre planning area for resource benefit. Naturally-ignited wildland fires play an important role in fire-adapted ecosystems by reducing dead wood accumulations to ash and releasing nutrients that stimulate new plant growth, and helping to regulate insect and disease levels. These fires also create a mosaic of burned and unburned vegetation, which increases habitat diversity and breaks up continuous fuels on the forest floor (branches, fallen trees, etc.) which can help limit or slow the intensity and spread of large wildfires in the future. The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.

Predicted forecast for Friday and Saturday is generally dry with slightly cooler temperatures and breezy conditions. Temperatures will begin to warm back up as we move into next week. There is no rain predicted in the near future.

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. It is recommended that anyone with sensitivity to smoke limit their time outdoors when smoke is present. 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.

The North Rim Village and businesses are open. However, road and trail closures are in effect for the Ikes Fire planning area for Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest. The following roads and trails are closed on the North Rim: Powell Plateau Trail, The North Bass Trail, Fire Point, Swamp Point, and the W4 road north of the intersection of the W4 and W1 Roads. The Ikes Fire poses no danger to structures or local infrastructure.

Please visit https://www.nps.gov/g rca/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/i ncident/6475/.