News on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
There is an uncontained wildfire burning in the Kaibab National Forest, situated in northern Arizona near the Utah state border. The fire was caused by lightning. The fire started on Friday and had already burned over 7.7 square miles (about 2,000 hectares) as of Sunday. The fire is situated on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, approximately 13 miles southeast of Jacob Lake.
The Kaibab National Forest has experienced several wildfires over the past few years. In June 2023, the Flat Fire lasted in the Kaibab National Forest, 28 miles north of Flagstaff, and burned 156 acres.
Heavy rain and snowfall during Arizona's winter caused more vegetation growth, which could fuel the larger fires if the state witnesses a drier monsoon as temperatures rise during the summer.
The Kane Fire has been reported, and the Kaibab National Forest fire crews and other firefighting forces are making efforts to contain the fire. The cause of the fire is lightning.