District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County enacts Stage Two Fire Restrictions

June 12, 2020
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Coconino County Government
ELIZABETH C. ARCHULETA
Supervisor, District 2
Special Edition
Quote of the Day
‘”Growing is the result of learning..”
– Malcolm X
Coconino County enacts Stage Two Fire Restrictions
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted to enact Stage Two Fire Restrictions effective immediately.
The ordinance applies to private lands in unincorporated areas, which are private lands outside of cities and towns.
The Board enacted a campfire ban in late April to protect the health and safety of firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the impact of poor air quality on those suffering from or at risk of COVID-19.
The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests will implement Stage Two Fire Restrictions across both forests at 8 a.m. Saturday June 13 due to increasing fire danger and the need to prevent human-caused wildfires during potentially dangerous fire conditions.
Stage Two Fire Restrictions prohibit:
  • All open fires and campfires
  • Charcoal grills
  • Outdoor smoking (except in closed vehicles or developed campsites free from combustible material)
  • Outdoor mechanical and industrial operations
  • Use of motorized vehicles off of designated trails and roads
  • Operating internal combustion engines without spark arresting devices
  • Possessing, discharging, or using any fireworks
  • Explosive targets and tracer round ammunition
The public is urged to exercise diligence in protecting the community from human caused wildfire. “This is an extremely dry period coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic. People need to exercise extreme caution,” stated Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “A single spark can have devastating effects with the potential to ruin peoples’ lives and destroy the forests we love. We strongly urge everyone to be fire wise and observe these restrictions. Reducing human caused wildfires will decrease the strain on fire agencies and resource limitations as a result of COVID-19 for both responding to an emergency as well as fighting wildland fires.”
Many parts of Coconino County are prone to wildfire. District 3 Supervisor Matt Ryan stated, “Living in a fire-based ecosystem requires a level of vigilance and understanding, part of this is understanding why we have these restrictions in place and helping the community by abiding with all fire restrictions.”
While activities, that don’t involve mechanical operations, such as lawn care, home construction and community clean-ups, are not specifically prohibited, residents and visitors should use their best judgment when considering whether to engage in any activity that could spark a fire. Anyone engaging in these activities could be held legally responsible.
For the full Wildfire Defense Ordinance and to sign-up for emergency notifications, go to https://coconino.az.gov/1778/Wildland-Fire.
Take precautions to protect yourself
from wildfire smoke
Coconino County health officials are encouraging individuals to take precautions to protect themselves from health effects of wildfire smoke from the Mangum Fire.
The fire is burning approximately 9 miles southwest of Jacob Lake and 16 miles north of the boundary with the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Smoke is visible from both the north and south rims of Grand Canyon National Park, Jacob Lake, Highway 67, Highway 89A, Fredonia, Kanab and Page.
Wildfire smoke is a mixture of small particles, gases and water vapor. The primary health concern is the small particles. Not everyone who is exposed to smoke will have health problems. Many factors influence a person’s susceptibility to smoke. These factors include the level, extent, and duration of exposure, age, and individual susceptibility.
Anyone who can see, taste or smell smoke should curtail outdoor activity. People with heart disease, lung disease or asthma should avoid the outdoors entirely, as should children and the elderly.
Typical symptoms of exposure to smoke include burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches, dizziness and nausea.
Closing windows and turning off evaporative coolers when smoke is present helps to reduce exposure to the smoke and should be adequate to protect persons without respiratory problems.
People with pre-existing conditions should avoid exposure to the smoke as much as possible and consult their physician if they have any questions.
When smoke levels are high, the appropriate protective measures should be followed.
  • Stay inside with windows and doors closed when possible.
  • Make sure air conditioning units have a clean filter in the air intakes. Devices with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters can reduce the indoor pollution.
  • Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car.
  • Avoid activities that can increase pollutants indoors such as cooking and vacuuming.
  • Avoid physical exertion.
More information about how to protect yourself is available at http://www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/995.
CCC to Host “Virtual” Fourth of July Parade
Coconino Community College will be hosting a “virtual” Fourth of July Parade this year, featuring Shoebox Floats!
That’s right! Dress up any kind of shoebox with your organization’s Fourth of July spirit and get it into the parade. The event is FREE and available to everybody throughout Coconino County (scholarship donations are always welcome).
The entries will be lined up and filmed in procession – complete with a Grand Marshall. The parade will make its worldwide YouTube debut on the Fourth of July at 10 a.m. for everybody to enjoy at this link https://www.youtube.com/CCCTV123.
“Our communities are really struggling right now,” said CCC President Colleen A. Smith. “And it seems like a good idea to celebrate our communities and our nation.”
The rules are simple:
  • Decorate a shoe box with themes that celebrate our communities and the holiday.
  • Keeping it family oriented is important and we hope you’ll consider the celebratory spirit of our nation’s birth.
Prizes will be awarded for the best float in the following categories:
  • Business and Industry
  • Family Unit
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Education Organization
  • City and County Government
  • Celebrating 2020 Graduates
CCC employees are encouraged to enter floats but will not be eligible for prizes.
Submit your float entries for the parade at the CCC webpage at this link.
Deadline for entries is Thursday, June 25 by 5:00 p.m.
Drop off your creations at any of the Coconino Community College Campuses:
  • CCC Lone Tree – 2800 S. Lone Tree Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86005
  • CCC Fourth Street – 3000 N. Fourth St, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
  • CCC in Page – 475 S. Lake Powell Blvd., Page, AZ 86040
Have questions or need more information? Please call the CCC Office of the President at (928) 226-4217, or (928) 226-4397.
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
As of June 12, 2020
These figures are updated and will be shared every morning at 10:00 am in order tocoincide with the Arizona Department of Health Services release of data. We will continue sharing these figures in our daily newsletter.
Here is the information as of 06/12/2020:
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
The Coconino County Health and Human Services has issued a new weekly report entitled COVID-19 Coconino County Weekly Update.
The report, which includes a COVID-19 situation summary, key takeaways, demographic and geographic information, hospitalizations and testing data related to Coconino County residents, is updated each Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
AZDHS just updated their COVID-19 website which now includes race and ethnicity on confirmed cases, location of confirmed cases by zip code, ages & gender of related deaths, and number of hospital beds & ICU beds available.
COVID-19 Testing Information
COVID-19 testing is free and does not require a Doctor’s order. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, it is recommended to get tested within 72 hours of exposure.
La prueba COVID-19 es gratuita y no requiere una orden del médico. Si ha estado expuesto a COVID-19, se recomienda hacerse la prueba dentro de las 72 horas posteriores a la exposición.
Coconino County Residents Count:
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
If you have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, please do so!
By filling out the census, you are ensuring that our community is counted and can receive the necessary resources we need to keep our community safe, healthy, and thriving!
Other important things to keep in mind:
  • Count everyone who is living in your house on 04/01/20 on your census form
  • The census DOES NOT ask about citizenship
  • All information collected is required BY LAW to be kept confidential
  • Make sure to include children and babies when filling out your census
  • EVERYONE COUNTS!
You have the option of completing the questionnaire by phone.
To begin, call 844-330-2020 for English or 844-468-2020 for Spanish.
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