Temporary North Rim Road Closures Due to Galahad Fire Begin May 29

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – National Park Service fire managers on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon are managing the Galahad Fire for both resource and protection objectives. Resource objectives for the fire include returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem in order to maintain forest health. Protection objectives for the fire include protection of sensitive cultural resources and wildlife habitat.

The fire grew to approximately 711 acres today. Today firefighters initiated structure protection at the historic Kanabownits Cabin in advance of the fire’s potential spread. They wrapped the cabin with a fire resistant aluminum material that reflects heat to help protect the structure in the event fire burns around it. Firefighters also worked on prepping line to keep the fire south and west of the W4 road. Fire managers continue to monitor the natural progress of the fire where it is benefiting the landscape.

Beginning Thursday May 29, two road closures are in effect for public and firefighter safety; the W4 road is closed from the junction of the FS268B road south to Pont Sublime and the W1 road, also known as the Point Sublime Road, is closed from the W4 junction, east to the western end of the Basin.

The lightning-caused Galahad Fire was discovered on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Friday, May 23, 2014. The fire is burning in an area that has burned previously within the last 15 years. The fire is located approximately ¾ of a mile southwest of the historic Kanabownits Cabin on the Walla Valley Peninsula.

Current resources assigned to the fire include a wildland fire module, one hotshot crew, six engine crews, a water tender and miscellaneous overhead. An additional hotshot crew is expected to arrive this evening.

You can follow the progress of this fire as well as view maps and pictures on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov. For additional fire information, please call 928-638-7819 (recorded message) or Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski, Acting Public Affairs Officer, at 928-638-7958 or follow @GrandCanyonNPS on Twitter. For more on Grand Canyon’s fire management program, please visit the park’s web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm.