Single Publication

Tusayan, Ariz., June 24, 2023 — Sustained winds of 20 miles-per-hour and humidity levels dropping into the single digits have brought near-Red Flag conditions to the Tusayan area. Crews are improving protections, monitoring the fire for increased activity, and ensuring the fire stays within the designated area.

Fire managers are taking advantage of the unseasonably mild weather conditions to use the fires in a manner that benefits forest health. Crew are applying fire along selected and prepared forest roads on either side of and ahead of the fires. This removes fuels and creates a buffer along the planned area, allowing fire to move slowly and naturally through the interior while mitigating opportunities for escaping beyond the control lines. Both fires are in and surrounded by areas which have experienced prescribed and natural fire.

The forecast through the weekend and into next week calls for steadily increasing temperatures, low humidity levels, and light and variable winds. Weather will continue to play a vital role in how these fires are managed, with tactical firing operations continuing only when conditions exist to safely do so.

The Hull Fire, located near Lower Hull Tank along the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park boundary just northeast of the Grand View Lookout and east of Grandview Point, is currently at 1358 acres burning in ponderosa pine forest, slowly spreading southwest, and is being co-managed with Grand Canyon National Park. 64 personnel are currently assigned to this fire.

The Ridge Fire, located approximately 7 miles southeast of Tusayan along forest road 302 near Skinner Tank, is currently 1963 acres burning in ponderosa pine forest, and is slowly moving south of Skinner Ridge. 47 personnel are assigned to this fire.

Using naturally-caused wildfires to help improve forest health aligns 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. Visit InciWeb pages to learn how fire crews are managing the Hull and Ridge fires to serve their natural role in the ecosystem.

Additional information can be found on InciWeb, the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the Fire Information Hotline (recording) at 928-635-8311 or local ranger stations.