Control line improvements continue around the Lockett Fire
The Lockett Fire experienced moderate growth Thursday evening as winds pushed the fire to 69 acres within the containment perimeter. Fire crews took advantage of calm winds in the area on Friday, constructing line close around the Lockett Fire to moderate spread potential as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.
Light winds today will allow firefighters to continue making improvements to strengthen interior containment lines and patrol and evaluate needs in the Lockett Fire area. Crews will also continue working with archaeologists to provide protection to sensitive sites of cultural significance within the planning area.
Hot and dry conditions with light winds will continue through the weekend with no precipitation expected into next week. The fire is expected to experience slow-to-moderate growth. When conditions are safe to do so, fire managers plan to manage the Lockett Fire in a confine and contain strategy within a predetermined area. Fire will be applied to the landscape through hand ignitions along the forest road and dozer containment lines and aerial ignitions within the perimeter. The intended outcome of this fire includes encouraging the growth of native plants, increasing species diversity in the understory, and the restoration of wildlife habitat.
When ignitions begin, a 3-mile section of the Arizona Trail south of Grandview Tower will be temporarily rerouted along Forest Road 310.
Smoke may be visible from various forest roads in and around the vicinity, as well as along State Route 64/East Rim Drive within Grand Canyon National Park.
Managing naturally caused wildfires across the landscape is a very effective tool in restoring the forest to a healthier condition, and these efforts align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.
Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, X, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations.
