Limited new fire growth, mop-up continues on North Rim Fuller Fire

Mop up continues for the Fuller Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon after high humidity and rain helped firefighting efforts July 21. Photo/USFS,

Williams-Grand Canyon News

Originally Published: July 21, 2016 9:48 a.m.

GRAND CANYON - NORTH RIM, Ariz. - Firefighters took advantage of scattered rain and reduced fire behavior to strengthen fire control lines ahead of potential future fire spread to the west and north July 21.

The fire has currently burned 14,348 acres and is seven percent contained. There are 540 personnel working the fire.

Mop up operations have successfully cooled hots spots and removed hazard trees along the Point Imperial and Cape Royal Roads. Fire has continued to consume heavy dead and down timber inside control lines, effectively cleaning the forest floor and improving overall forest health.

"Much of the Fuller Fire is smoldering in rugged and remote country to the north and west," said Incident Commander, Alan Sinclair. "These areas may continue to burn naturally for some time as monsoonal rains ebb and flow across the landscape."

A 40 percent chance of rain will aid firefighters in continued mop-up operations along Cape Royal and Point Imperials Roads with in the Park. Crews are also working to rehabilitate fire lines when it is safe to do so. The fire will continue to smolder internally as the area dries out with arriving hotter and drier weather this weekend.

South winds will push any smoke produced to the north over the House Rock Valley area. More information on smoke and your health is available at Wildland Fire..

Highway 67, the North Rim Visitor Center, Lodge and Campground, FSR 22 and Rainbow Rim Trail on Kaibab National Forest are open. However, all U.S. Forest Service areas east of Highway 67 and south of Tater Ridge Rd (FSR 213) and east of House Rock Valley Rd (FSR 8910) remain closed. The Arizona Trail: Lindberg Hill north to the Park boundary, Ken Patrick Trail starting at the Uncle Jim Trail junction, Point Imperial Trail, Nankoweap Trail, Saddle Mountain Trail and South Canyon Trail are closed. Road closures include the Fuller Canyon Road, Cape Royal Road, Point Imperial Road, FSR 610 and FSR 611. Closures will be in place until further notice.