Officials at Grand Canyon National Park are planning a series of prescribed fires on the Canyon's remote North Rim this fall and winter, saying prescribed burns help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.
One of the burn units, an area of more than 22,000 acres, is located on south-facing slopes directly west of State Route 67, the main road into the park from the north. The other is a smaller, 426-acre area within the North Rim's developed areas. Crews will also be burning piles of woody debris on the North Rim as conditions allow.
The exact timing for the burns has not been determined and will depend on weather and fuel conditions, park officials said in a statement, adding that smoke may be visible from SR 67 and U.S. Route 89A and various locations within the park.
"Fire managers are working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's Smoke Management Division to reduce and mitigate potential smoke impacts," the statement said.
You can stay up to date on the prescribed burns by visiting the park's Fire Management website.
(Photo: Thomas Barnwell | Grand Canyon North Rim)