Tag: wildfire

Pipeline Fire closure to lift, allowing motor vehicle access in Schultz Pass area once again

by Community Contributor • August 16, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Several roads located in the Schultz Pass area of the Coconino National Forest’s Flagstaff Ranger District will reopen to motorized vehicles tomorrow following a roughly two-year closure due to the Pipeline Fire.

The temporary trail and road closure order for the Pipeline Fire, which has been in effect since September of 2022, will be lifted at 8 a.m. Friday (Aug. 16).

Gates, barricades and signage posted in the area will be modified and removed to reflect the removal of the closure order.

Mechanical thinning to begin along Snowbowl Road

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2024 • Comments Off

“These mechanical thinning operations are part of a larger forest-wide initiative to fulfill our local obligations to the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy,” said District Ranger Matt McGrath. “These efforts are just one small part of a greater overall strategy to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and subsequent post-fire flooding in the Flagstaff area.”

Aerial ignitions begin on Lockett Fire east of Tusayan

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

TUSAYAN — Cooler temperatures, increasing humidity, and light winds to the south allowed fire crews to begin tactical firing operations along the eastern end of the Lockett Fire planning area perimeter yesterday evening, treating 274 acres of forest landscape with low-severity fire. The applied fire moved slowly across the forest floor, consuming pine needle duff, dead-and-down woody debris, and some standing snags.

New lightning-caused fire on Tusayan Ranger District

by Community Contributor • July 5, 2024 • Comments Off

TUSAYAN — A new lightning-caused wildfire discovered last week east of Tusayan will be managed in a confine and contain strategy within designated areas to reduce fuel loads and promote healthier landscapes.

The Lockett Fire started on June 29 and is located approximately 12 miles east of Tusayan along the Coconino Rim, between Forest Road 307 and Forest Road 310. It is currently 16 acres burning in ponderosa pine forest, moving with a slow rate of spread and consuming pine needle duff and dead-and-down woody debris and stumps on the forest floor. This fire is burning in the footprint of the 2014 Belknap Fire.

Pre-Wildfire Studies Reveal Significant Threat in Watershed Above Flagstaff

by Community Contributor • February 28, 2024 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — Two recent pre-wildfire studies from the Coconino County FCD confirm there is a significant wildfire and post-wildfire flood threat in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed above Flagstaff, with potential to cause substantial economic impacts to the region.

Still Fire at 7,781 acres, smoke impact to continue

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2023 • Comments Off

Smoke impact will linger despite a pause on Highway 87-adjacent firing operations on the Still Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire located 4 miles northeast of the Highway 87 and Lake Mary Road junction.

Smoke impact will remain noticeable along Highway 87, in the Blue Ridge communities, the Little Springs area, and possibly in the Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Pine, Strawberry and Payson areas.

Smoke will settle into low-lying areas overnight.

Driving conditions in the fire area may remain hazardous, and possible intermittent closures may be implemented along area roads, including Highway 87, for public safety.

Burning operations suspended on Cecil Fire, firefighters working toward containment

by Community Contributor • October 3, 2023 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Cecil Fire managers will not resume firing operations on the 2,180-acre lightning-caused fire located southwest of Flagstaff, and have shifted to a strategy that will result in full containment as soon as possible.

The Cecil Fire is currently 0% contained and resources assigned to the Cecil Fire include four 20-person hand crews, 13 engines, a dozer, a water tender and miscellaneous overhead for a total of 147 personnel.

Fire managers for the Cecil Fire set early management objectives that included firing operations aimed at treating as much Coconino National Forest and Arizona State Trust land as possible during safe wind and weather conditions.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-Up Week of August 21, 2023

by Community Contributor • August 24, 2023 • Comments Off

On Tuesday, August 22, emergency personnel from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Tusayan Fire Department, and Grand Canyon National Park responded to the town of Tusayan for a report of flooding due to heavy rainfall in the area.

Water levels up to three feet deep prompted officials to close a section of Highway 64 for safety. Over 100 residents and visitors in Tusayan were relocated, and about 70 students from the Grand Canyon Unified School District sheltered in place until it was safe for them to return home. No injuries were reported and crews will continue working to clean up the aftermath.

Tunnel Fire Update — Crews continue to focus on key areas to protect structures, keep the fire from moving up steep slopes

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2022 • Comments Off

April 21, 2022 — Residences, buildings, and watersheds that drain near them are currently the main emphasis for firefighters battling the now 20,511 acre Tunnel Fire 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff.

Overnight crews continued cooling hotspots in the Timberline Estates and Wupatki Trail subdivisions, as well as worked to contain multiple spot fires on the fire’s western flank near Forest Road 420 (Schultz Pass Road). These efforts were instrumental in keeping the fire from burning up steep slopes toward Schultz Peak and may help to minimize post-fire flood impacts.

Protecting Yourself from Wildfire Smoke

by Community Contributor • June 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Smoke from the Rafael and Snake Fires continue to affect several communities in the southern part of Coconino County including areas south of 1-40 and west of I-17.

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.

Willard Springs Transfer Station open two extra weekends until November 14

by Community Contributor • October 23, 2020 • Comments Off

Coconino County will keep the Willard Springs Transfer Station open two extra weekends this year to help residents maintain defensible spaces against wildfire around their homes.

Coconino County will keep the Willard Springs Transfer Station open two extra weekends this year to help residents maintain defensible spaces against wildfire around their homes. The station normally closes for the winter season on the last Saturday of October; however, because the threat of wildfire remains extremely high, the station will remain open during its normal hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Saturday, November 14 for the free deposit of green waste only.

NAU study: Post-wildfire flooding to cost hundreds of millions

by Community Contributor • May 15, 2018 • Comments Off

Williams and surrounding areas face severe economic impacts The Coconino County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute (EPI) on the economic impact of post wildfire flooding to the City…

County launches Pre-Disaster Plan

by Community Contributor • January 24, 2018 • Comments Off

County officials launched the Bill Williams Mountain Disaster Planning Initiative today in Williams, Ariz. The initiative includes developing a pre-disaster plan for the City of Williams if Bill Williams Mountain sustains a major wildfire. A recent study conducted by J.E.…