Where there’s smoke …

Posted by Krista Allen | Jul 21, 2016 | News |

Fuller Fire blowing billows over Navajo

KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz.

A lightning-caused fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon increased to 14,131 acres on July 20, which has been impacting at least seven Western Navajo communities, according to an update from fire officials.

The Fuller Fire started on June 29 and was allowed to burn for a week before suppression efforts started. As of Wednesday, the fire was 5 percent contained. More than 550 firefighters, including the Navajo Hotshots and the Navajo Scouts, are battling the massive fire near Point Imperial here (Nát’oh Dziil in Diné bizaad), said Alan Sinclair, incident commander for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3.

“It grew a lot bigger than we expected,” Sinclair said. “In recorded history, (we) have never seen a fire like this in the North Rim.” Crews on Tuesday continued to hold and strengthen containment lines to the north and to the south of the fire. Firefighters also began cleanup operations such as removing trees near roads along the fire perimeter.

Internal smoldering also continued to reduce the buildup of dead, woody material on the forest ground. But rains and cloud cover are expected in the time ahead to limit new fire growth, according to fire officials.

However, with drier conditions predicted for today (Thursday, July 21), crews are continuing to prepare existing roads to the north ahead of any potential fire growth. Firefighters will continue clearing hot spots near existing fire perimeter control lines. And the fire will continue to smolder and move toward the west, within the interior of the fire.

“There is still active fire on the landscape,” stated Stewart Turner, fire behavior analyst for the Southwest Incident Management Team 3. “Our firefighters will remain vigilant as we hold the fire in some areas and allow healthy spread in others.”