FREDONIA, Ariz. - A wildfire being allowed to burn on the Arizona Strip north of the Grand Canyon has grown to 2.6 square miles (7 square kilometers) within a much larger planning area where public-land managers say the fire is removing excess vegetation from the forest floor.
The lightning-caused Castle wildfire on the Kaibab National Forest was detected July 12 and is 11 miles (18 kilometers) south of Jacob Lake and about 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of the highway to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Forest officials said firefighters have made "excellent progress" in reinforcing the perimeter of the fire's 31-square mile (79-square kilometer) planning.
Officials say the fire poses no danger to structures.
Smoke from the fire is expected to be visible from both rims of the Grand Canyon.