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Prescribed burning to treat 75 acres in Tusayan's District

Fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest treated about 75 acres with prescribed fire earlier this week just south of the park on the Tusayan Ranger District.

Firefighters ignited the Scott prescribed burn on Monday and were done by early afternoon.

Last week's rain dampened the ground, making conditions appropriate for the burn.

The entire area east of the burn has already been treated with prescribed fire.

The 75 acres are located just south of Grand Canyon National Park along the Tusayan Bike Trail about one mile west of Grandview Lookout.

While smoke isn't expected to reach Tusayan, it could be visible along East Rim Drive and near Grandview Point on Grand Canyon National Park.

Fire managers said that following the burn, they do not plan to continue burning in the area unless more precipitation is received.

If more precipitation is received, they would consider continuing to burn in the Scott project area south of the burn location.

About 1,200 acres in the Scott area are scheduled for burning sometime this year.

Fire managers said that treating the area is important given the risk of an active fire season this summer.

"We are trying to be as proactive as possible," said Tusayan Ranger District firefighter Cary Stock. "We want to treat as much as possible before the heat of the fire season arrives."

The purpose of burning within the Scott project area is to reduce the amount of fuels on the forest floor, reduce the risk of future high-intensity wildland fires, and reintroduce fire as a natural process within the ecosystem.

For more information, contact Jackie Denk at 928-635-5607.


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