Approximate Location
Incident Overview
On Friday, May 29, 2009, Grand Canyon fire managers received a report of smoke near the junction of Hwy 64 and FR 310 from Kaibab National Forest (KNF) lookout towers. Upon investigation, fire personnel found a small lightning-caused fire, approximately 1/10 acre in size, exhibiting minimal fire activity. With no immediate threat to life, safety or property, fire managers made the decision to place the fire in monitor status and wait to see if it went out on its own or started to grow since growth in all but a northerly direction would have the potential to create resource benefits.
On Thursday, June 4, the fire had grown to five acres; and fire managers made a decision to manage the fire with both protection and resource benefit objectives. On its north side, the fire is being held at the power lines with the objective of keeping fire south of these lines. Based on the observed behavior of the fire, current and expected weather and fuel conditions, and the resource benefits that could be achieved by managing the fire as it burns naturally, fire managers have decided to manage the rest of the Game Reserve fire for resource benefits.
The resource benefits fire managers hope to achieve with the Game Reserve Fire include reducing unnatural fuel accumulations and returning fire to its natural role in a fire-dependent ecosystem. In addition, the Game Reserve Fire is burning within the Hearst Prescribed Burn Unit which was already scheduled for treatment this fall.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Friday May 29th, 2009 approx. 01:58 PM |
| Location | about 9 miles southeast of Grand Canyon Village |
Current Situation
| Size | 280 acres |
|---|---|
| Fuels Involved | pine and oak litter |
| Fire Behavior | This fire continues to spread slowly to the south and to flank to the west, and is creating a healthy mosaic of burned and unburned areas as it moves through the forest. The east perimeter of the fire continues to exhibit little activity. |
| Significant Events | The southeastern edge of this fire has crossed the park boundary onto the Kaibab National Forest. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | On its north and east sides, the Game Reserve Fire is being managed with protection objectives. On the north side, it is being held at the power line on the south side of Hwy 64 with the objective of keeping fire south of the power line. On the east side, fire managers plan to hold the fire at park road e10. The east perimeter of the fire continues to exhibit little activity. On the south and west sides, the Game Reserve Fire is being managed for resource benefit. The benefits fire managers hope to achieve include reducing unnatural fuel accumulations |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | NPS and US Forest Service fire managers have already met several times to discuss management options as the Game Reserve and Ruby Fire (burning on the Kaibab National Forest 1.5 miles southwest of the Game Reserve Fire) move across the landscape toward each other. Fire officials are now making plans to manage the two fires under one organization. |
| Remarks | The Game Reserve Fire is located on the South Rim approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the Grandview Lookout tower (about 9 miles southeast of Grand Canyon Village.) Smoke and some fire activity from the Game Reserve Fire are visible from Hwy 64 in the general vicinity of Grandview Point. To facilitate traffic flow, park visitors are asked not to stop or pull over in the vicinity of the fire.Information posted here is current as of June 11, 2009. Updates will be provided as significant changes in size, activity, or fire management objectives occur. |
