Grand Canyon National Park Foundation and National Park Service Launch Effort to Save Canyon's River Running Legacy

July 22, 2003 (NPS): This news is a special in our Photogallery.

Swamp Ridge Road and the North Bass Trail Reopen

July 10, 2003 (NPS): The Powell Fire burning on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, has burned only about five acres over the past 24 hours, according to Fire Use Specialist Ed Hiatt, and now totals approximately 3,611 acres. The fire continues burn in pinyon and juniper trees at the southern end of the fire on the Powell Plateau. Some smoke is still visible.

The Swamp Ridge Road and the North Bass Trail are now open for visitor use; however, the Powell Plateau Trail remains closed for visitor safety. Please contact the Park's Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875 for more information on this closure. For general park information, please call (928) 638-7888.

Please visit the following websites for more information and photos of the fire: http://www.nps.gov/grca/fire/index.htm and http://www.fireuse.org/

The Powell Fire Wildland Fire Use

July 8, 2003 (NPS): Powell Fire Winds Down

The Powell Fire, which has burned 3,606 acres on the North Rim of Grand Canyon, is winding down fast, according to Fire Use Specialist Ed Hiatt. The fire is on the Powell Plateau and was started by lightning on June 15th. It has been a low intensity ground fire since it started. The fire has progressed down the plateau, where it is expected to burn out in the near future.

After a thorough review conducted by National Park Service and Forest Service officials on Sunday, July 6th, a decision was made to release the last of the monitoring team. The fire will be checked daily by National Park Service crews until it is out. Hiatt said "during the ground inspection Sunday, much of the area was already sprouting new growth." Unlike many wildfires in the Southwest, this fire was allowed to burn in a natural manner under a "wildland fire use strategy." The conditions that permitted this included fuel condition at the high elevation of Powell Plateau, location of the fire start and weather. These factors combined to permit a low-intensity burn that did not destroy the organic soil. This has resulted in resource benefits including nutrient recycling, vegetation regeneration, and reduction of fuels. Other such fires have burned on this plateau five, six and seven years ago.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon remains open to visitors. To ensure public safety, the North Bass Trail and Powell Plateau Trail remain closed. The Swamp Ridge Road is expected to reopen in the next day or two. Please contact the Park's Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875 for more information on these closures. For general park information, please call (928) 638-7888.

Please visit the following websites for more information and photos of the fire: http://www.nps.gov/grca/fire/index.htm and http://www.fireuse.org/

The Powell Fire Wildland Fire Use

July 3, 2003 (NPS): Activity on the 3,060 acre Powell Fire is decreasing both on the spread of the fire and in the management of the incident. Fire managers anticipate that the growth will continue to decline as it moves to the south and west eventually making its way to the rock rim on the Powell Plateau. The fire is being managed under a wildland fire use strategy on the Grand Canyon, 15 air miles northwest of the North Rim developed area.

Wayne Cook's Interagency Fire Use Management Team will transfer the management of the fire back to Grand Canyon National Park on Friday, July 4. Demobilization of resources is already underway on the incident.

Ed Hiatt, Grand Canyon National Park Wildland Fire Use Specialist, will lead the local effort in the ongoing management of the fire with help from the Zion National Park Fire Use Module. The module will remain assigned to the fire and continue working from Swamp Point, one mile east of the fire perimeter.

Hiatt comments about the fire, "This fire is doing what we anticipated from the beginning. We are pleased with the accomplishments that Cook's Team made on this fire. The local unit can handle the long-term management of the fire and allow it to continue its natural progression."

Please be aware of the following closures that are still in effect: North Bass Trail, Powell Plateau Trail and Swamp Ridge Road.

Please contact the Park's Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875 if your plans include a trip in close proximity to the area of the fire on the Powell Plateau. For general park information, please call (928) 638-7888.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon remains open to visitors.

Please visit the following websites for more information and photos of the fire: http://www.nps.gov/grca/fire/index.htm and http://www.fireuse.org/

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