Grand Canyon

Yesterday crews neared completion of suppression repair.  Another lightning ignition was discovered outside the Mangum Fire containment lines. The fire was cooled off by helicopter bucket drops, and lined by firefighters on the ground. Today firefighters will be patrolling the Mangum Fire perimeter, looking for “sleeper” fires started by Friday’s lightning storms.  Crews will also be removing hazard trees, and taking a second look at suppression damages, to ensure no needed repairs have been missed.  Warm and dry conditions are forecasted again today.

Yesterday crews continued with suppression repair, and constructed fire line around pockets of smoking fuel adjacent to Highway 89A.   During the afternoon a very small lightning ignition was discovered outside the Mangum Fire containment lines.  Firefighters quickly extinguished this fire.  Today firefighters will be patrolling the fire perimeter, looking for new fires started by yesterday afternoon’s lightning storms.  Crews will continue suppression repair, grading and repairing damaged roads, filling and re-contouring hand lines and chipping woody debris.

Yesterday crews continued with suppression repair, while monitoring areas where fuel is still burning. Fire crews will continue suppression repair today, grading and repairing damaged roads, filling and re-contouring hand lines and dozer lines, chipping woody debris, and felling and removing standing dead trees that pose a risk to public and firefighter safety.  Fire activity is expected to be minimal, but there is an increased potential for widely scattered thunder storms, and a 40% chance of wetting rain this afternoon.

Evacuations in the Jacob Lake area continued throughout the weekend and are continuing today in areas threatened by the Mangum Fire Burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Risk remains for the Jacob Lake community but has diminished. Previous fuel treatments conducted by the local Ranger District Office have aided in moderating fire behavior allowing firefighters time to continue improving defensible space around the community. A night shift continued their work.

A second day of red flag conditions, strong winds, and extremely active fire behavior Saturday pushed the Mangum Fire toward Jacob Lake. The fire crossed highway 89A and continued to move northeast as the sun warmed.

The Mangum Fire was pushed north yesterday by strong gusting south winds. Blowing embers created spot fires up to one half mile ahead of the main fire, breaching control lines. Ten additional linear miles were added to the fire’s length yesterday.  At 4 p.m. the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation notice for the Jacob Lake area. Structure protection crews immediately began preparing structures around Jacob Lake for the fire’s arrival by creating additional defensible space around structures.  

On June 12th, 2020 at 4:40 p.m., evacuations in the Jacob Lake area began due to the Mangum Fire burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office along with U.S. Forest Service personnel began evacuations of the Jacob Lake area, to include the Jacob Lake Inn and Campgrounds to the north and south of the Inn at the Junction of Hwy 89a and Hwy 67, after Forest Service officials deemed the Mangum Fire had reached a point where it became a threat to residents and visitor safety. 

The National Park Service is asking visitors to take caution and not to approach wildlife, especially wild rabbits. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV2) was recently detected in a dead jackrabbit found within Grand Canyon National Park, making it the first detected case in the park.

Grand Canyon National Park implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions for the South Rim May 25, which will be effective until further notice.

Due to increased fire danger, all wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques, will be prohibited on the South Rim of the park. This includes all campgrounds and residential areas. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters are allowed.