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GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (ABC4) — A prescribed fire is set to burn approximately 2,000 acres near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon starting Tuesday, Dec. 10, leading to smoke settling in nearby areas.
The National Park Service announced the prescribed burn on Monday, saying the operation will likely last from Tuesday to Thursday. There will also be prescribed burns in the nearby North Kaibab Ranger District north of the Grand Canyon.
While the North Rim is closed to visitors, authorities say smoke could be visible on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as from State Route 89A, Jacob Lake, and surrounding forest areas.
NPS said it expects the smoke to “settle into low-lying drainages overnight,” leading to air quality that could be unhealthy to those with respiratory sensitivities. It said it is working with Arizona state officials to “reduce and mitigate potential smoke impacts.”
In addition to the smoke, Grand Canyon visitors may also see and hear helicopters as they drop devices or materials to start the fires.
The prescribed burns are meant to improve forest health and reduce fuels that could be hazardous in an uncontrolled burn. According to the U.S. Forest Service, prescribed fires are planned using wind, precipitation, and fuel moisture forecasts to “determine the best conditions to burn.”