(Sept. 2, 2009 – 7:50 a.m.) The National Park Service will be burning piles of woody debris on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The pile burns will occur over the next few weeks as weather conditions allow.

The piles of debris consist of small tree branches, twigs, and needles removed during preparation of prescribed fire control lines. Pile burning is a necessary preparation for the prescribed fires scheduled for this fall at the South Rim. The piles will be ignited and monitored by firefighters until they are completely out.

Park visitors may see or smell smoke in the vicinity of the piles which are located along the south side of Highway 64 between Grand View Point Road and the Buggeln Picnic Area, approximately 12 miles southeast of Grand Canyon Village.

Signs will be posted advising visitors and motorists of possible smoke along impacted travel corridors. Coordination with the Department of Environmental Quality is already underway to ensure that smoke impacts are minimized.

For more information on this debris burning project, please contact Art Gonzales at (928) 638-7947.

(Source: Grand Canyon National Park)