Tusayan, Arizona, June 20, 2023 — Crews continue to work on the lightning-caused Hull and Ridge Fires on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

The Ridge Fire, located approximately 7 miles southeast of Tusayan along forest road 302 near Skinner Tank, is currently 894 acres burning in ponderosa pine forest, and is moving south along Skinner Ridge.

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 941 acres burning in ponderosa pine forest, it is spreading north, and is being co-managed with Grand Canyon National Park.

Both fires are in and surrounded by areas which have been treated with fire. This, coupled with unseasonably green grass, cooler temperatures, and precipitation, have limited the spread of both fires.

Due to Monday’s wind advisory, with gusts over 40 mph, tactical firing operations were not conducted. Winds are forecast to decrease yet remain breezy through the week. An incident meteorologist is assigned to both fires and provides fire managers with area-specific forecasts. Crews continue to identify and improve protections around infrastructure and the perimeters of the planning areas within which the fires may burn. 133 personnel are currently assigned to these incidents.

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.