Fire Managers at Grand Canyon National Park Suspen
Incident: Walla Valley Fire Prescribed Fire
Released: 6/23/2008
Ignition operations on the Walla Valley Prescribed Burn began at approximately, 6:20 p.m., on the evening of Saturday, June 21. After assessing the behavior of a small test fire and finding it to be within acceptable parameters, fire crews began the burn by blacklining along the eastern flank of the burn unit in order to fully secure the perimeter of the fire. Once that perimeter was secure, a point source ignition technique would then be used within the burn unit in an effort to mimic the effects of summer lightning strikes. During this blacklining operation, spot fires began to occur and at greater distances than anticipated from the blackline and were immediately suppressed.
Although predictive models and the behavior of the initial test fire indicated that conditions were appropriate to burn, fire managers determined that the fire behavior they were now experiencing was not within acceptable parameters for ignition operations to continue and suspended further ignition activity. Additionally this morning, fire crews initiated activities to halt the spread of the fire beyond its current size of 10 - 20 acres. As a precautionary measure, additional resources including a hot shot crew and an additional wildland fire engine and water tender have been called in to assist with these activities.
Currently, approximately 45 personnel from Grand Canyon National Park, Kaibab National Forest, Summit Fire District, Flagstaff Fire Department, Zion National Park, Carson National Forest and Saguaro National Park are assigned to the fire with additional resources arriving from Holbrook and Kaibab National Forest. Six wildland fire engines, a water tender and a Type 3 helicopter are already assigned to the fire with 2 additional helicopters and another engine and water tender being made available.
For more information on the Walla Valley Prescribed Burn, visit the fire's web site at http://inciweb.org/incident/1330/ or call the Grand Canyon Public Affairs Office at (928)638-7958. For recorded information on the fire, you may call (928)638-7688.
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