Grand Canyon, AZ - Grand Canyon National Park fire resources completed ignition operations on the Long Jim Prescribed Fire. Crews will continue to patrol the unit and mop up any areas along the fires perimeter that may threaten the holding line.

Due to changing conditions, fire managers have decided to halt any further ignitions. A total of 1,761 acres were treated. Crews met the objectives for the Long Jim Prescription including improving the defensible space in the wildland/urban interface (WUI) within the South Rim developed area, returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, and reducing fuel loads.

All temporary closures have been lifted at this time.

Prescribed fires play an important role in decreasing risks to life, resources, and property. Fire managers carefully plan prescribed fires, initiating them only under environmental conditions that are favorable to assuring firefighter and visitor safety and to achieving the desired objectives. Prescribed fire objectives include reducing accumulations of hazard fuels, maintaining the natural role of fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem, and protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources.

Information about the Long Jim Prescribed Fire can be found on the park's website http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm.