GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — National Park Service fire managers anticipate initiating a prescribed fire near Shoshone Point Thursday as weather and fuel moisture conditions allow.

The 1035-acre area that fire managers plan to treat is located east of Grand Canyon Village, between Yaki and Duck on a Rock points. The area comprises primarily ponderosa pine, pinyon pine and juniper. In support of the prescribed fire, managers will close Shoshone Point and the project area to all vehicle, bicycle, foot and mule traffic from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.

Smoke may be visible from Grand Canyon Village and Arizona Highway 64 (Desert View Drive) for several days. Visitors and residents may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. Please drive slowly, turn on headlights, follow traffic control signs and directions, and avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel are working.

Fire managers will use the park helicopter, several hand crews and engines to complete the prescribed fire. Ignitions should be finished by early afternoon, although smoke and flames will remain in the area.

If weather and fuel moisture conditions allow, fire managers may initiate additional prescribed fires over the next few weeks in adjacent areas.

Prescribed fires play an important role in decreasing risks to life, resources and property. Fire managers carefully plan prescribed fires, initiating them only under environmental conditions that are favorable to assuring firefighter and visitor safety and achieving the desired objectives. Prescribed fire objectives include reducing accumulations of hazard fuels, maintaining the natural role of fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem and protection of sensitive cultural and natural resources.

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