Crews to begin winter pile burning on the Kaibab National Forest

Fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest will be conducting prescribed pile burns throughout the 2025 winter season as conditions safely allow. Winter is often the ideal time for crews to burn piles of slash and woody debris left over from forest thinning projects because colder temperatures and snow help moderate fire behavior and keep it from spreading beyond the piles. Approximately 2,190 acres of piles on the Tusayan Ranger District, 5,500 acres on the Williams Ranger District, with additional acres of piles on the North Kaibab Ranger District are slated for burning this season.

With winter precipitation in the forecast for this weekend, crews on the Tusayan Ranger District anticipate conducting pile burns Monday, January 27, 2025, with up to 1,420 acres of hand piles located along Forest Road 302 and State Route 64 south of the Town of Tusayan near the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The piles can be seen from the town and highway and smoke will be visible during ignitions. The piles are relatively small-in-size and will consume quickly. Little to no smoke impacts are expected. Cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying drainages surrounding these burn locations. Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

Prescribed fire activity will be posted as Alerts on the Kaibab NF homepage.

Forest visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when in the vicinity of any prescribed fire project.

All prescribed fires on the forest are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Daily approved prescribed fires and other information about their Smoke Management Program can be found on the ADEQ Air Quality Division website.

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