Single Publication

Red flag conditions test the Kane Fire

August 9, 2023 – Daily Update

Acres: 2,853 acres

Start Date: August 4, 2023

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 0%

Total personnel: 179

Location: 11 miles south of US 89A, near Forest Road 220, North Kaibab Ranger District, AZ

Fuels: Pinyon pine/juniper with grasses and sage

Highlights: Pushed by yesterday’s high winds, the Kane Fire has been most active on the southeast corner near Kane Canyon. Southern winds drove the fire toward the east, producing an additional 40-50 acres of growth and visible smoke near the Kane Ranch. Despite these conditions, the overall acreage of the fire decreased from the previous day due to more accurate mapping of the incident. Aerial observations from a reconnaissance flight and infrared mapping showed minimal heat on the north end of the fire and very little fire activity on the west side.

Operations: As the Kane Fire moves into Kane Canyon to the east, firefighters are increasing protections surrounding the historic Kane Ranch. In this area, crews are removing flammable vegetation and installing sprinklers to increase defensibility around these structures. At the canyon opening, firefighters are using hand tools to construct fireline by removing vegetation down to bare mineral soil to create a barrier to help prevent fire spread. Crews are using bulldozers to maintain and improve the Buffalo Ranch Road to provide access for firefighters and also serve as a physical feature to stop the spread of fire. Fire managers will continue to assess current conditions and strategize future options to fully contain the fire while protecting valuable resources in the area.

Weather: Conditions over the fire area will be mostly cloudy with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures will range from 88 to 91 degrees at 5,400 feet in elevation, and 78 to 81 degrees at 7,400 feet. A southerly flow from the Baja coast will bring moisture over the fire area today and Thursday. This system will bring a good chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day with a lower chance at night. Moisture will then decrease on Friday with only scattered showers and thunderstorms. Winds will be much weaker today compared to Tuesday.

Closures: The Kaibab National Forest has issued an emergency area closure for the Kane Fire. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Kane Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. The full closure order (No. 03-07-23-06) and map are available on the Kaibab National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kaibab/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should stay away from Kane Fire operations. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/.

Smoke: Smoke from the Kane Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas of Page, Tuba City, Tusayan, Flagstaff, and Fredonia, AZ. Although smoke is visible from many areas south of the Grand Canyon, it is generally spreading to the northeast. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/azknf-kane-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Kaibab NF website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/kaibab/home

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaibabNF

Email: 2023.kane@firenet.gov

Phone: (928) 421-4983

Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM