Highway 180

The Ridge and Hull fires, burning in the ponderosa pine forests near Tusayan and the Grand Canyon, are not behaving the way people have come to expect of wildfires in the middle of June. Yet, both lightning-caused fires are burning as they naturally should in this fire-adapted ecosystem: moving slowly but steadily across the forest floor at lower intensity, removing hazardous fuels and promoting healthy vegetation.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is currently working to begin prescribed fire operations beginning May 30 through June 10, 2023. The following prescribed fires will be initiated if conditions and approvals allow:

Lakeside Ranger District:
•    Lakeside East-Doyle and Ecks Units – May 30 through June 10, 2023, depending on weather. Location: three miles southwest of Vernon, AZ. Project boundary is along and within Forest Road 44, Forest Road 3D and Forest Road 5. The public should expect to see smoke from Highway 60 and possibly 260.

Fire crews successfully burned 1657 acres Monday and Tuesday on the Marteen Rx project and will now hold and patrol over the next few days securing the active perimeter. Operations will move north to the Russell and Blue Stem Rx projects on Thursday and Friday, located approximate 15 miles southeast of Tusayan.

Fire crews from the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest have completed prescribed fire operations on the 1340 acre Reed Rx project near Tusayan. Work will begin on the 4200 acre Marteen Rx project starting Monday May 8th. The Marteen project is located five miles northwest of Spring Valley, east of Red Hill.