Kinda closing lots of areas to to dryness, aren’t they? careful out there!
Walla Valley Fire Update
Fire Started: June 21, 2008 as a prescribed burn project June 25, 2008 converted to a wildfire
Location: North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Walla Valley Fire is located in the Walla Valley and Point Sublime area, approximately 9 miles west of the North Rim developed area.
Fuels: Gamble oak, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, grass Size: 425 acres Percent Contained: 25%
Resources committed: 8 engines, 3 crews, 3 fire use modules, 4 helicopters, 5 water tenders and 3 single engine airtankers. Total personnel = 136 Closures: Sections of the W4 and W1 roads remain closed at this time.
Summary: Last night, fire personnel continued to secure containment line on the W6 road south of Kanabownits Cabin. Today’s objectives are: hold the existing fire line and reinforce additional fire line to keep the fire west of the W6 road and north of the W6a road. Firefighters will check for spot fires throughout the day as they work their way from the Kanabownits Cabin to Galahad Point (a length of approximately 2 ½ miles). Helicopters and air tankers will be utilized when necessary to slow the fire’s spread. This evening, operations will include securing the containment line by igniting vegetation between the line and the leading edge of the fire creating a buffer to stop the fire’s progress. These burnout operations are implemented in the evening when the potential for active fire behavior is lessened.
Air Quality: Relatively little smoke was observed this morning.
Fire Behavior: Active group tree torching with short range spotting. Fire is burning in dense vegetation hampering suppression efforts. Weather: Similar to yesterday, the general weather forecast is mostly sunny, temperatures around 80, light southwest winds 5 to 10 miles per hour with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
For the latest information on the Walla Valley Fire, visit the park’s fire web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/fire_info.htm or call the Grand Canyon Public Affairs Office at (928)638-7958. For recorded information on the fire, you may call (928)638-7688.
Maureen Oltrogge Public Affairs Officer Grand Canyon National Park (928) 638-7779 (928) 638-7609 fax maureen_oltrogge@nps.gov