Daily Archives: May 20, 2014

Does Slide Rock fire portend foreboding for Williams?

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The Twin Fire of October 2009 near Williams caused by an out-of-control prescribed burn. (Photo Marv Mason from I-40)

The Twin Fire of October 2009 near Williams caused by an out-of-control prescribed burn. (Photo Marv Mason from I-40)

WILLIAMS – The dry winter season has caused the reservoirs in Williams to start to dry up. These reservoirs not only provide drinking water, but a source of fire fighting water for the forests.

20091004-029Williams has not seen a major fire since a prescribed burn went out of control resulting in the Twin Fires of October 2009. Two prescribed burns were swept by winds to join into a conflagration that caused concern and evacuations of portions of the City of Williams.

At that time water in Williams was plentiful.

Mayor John Moore of Williams optimistically stated that we probably have enough non-potable water in Santa Fe, Gonzales Lake and other reservoirs to fight a fire. He is not anxious, however, to test the theory. Williams would have access to the Hot Shots, air craft and other fire resources currently combating the Slide Rock fire.

“The Slide Rock fire is a bad situation,” Mayor Moore said. “I am sorry for those people. I’m happy we don’t have a fire here, but that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t occur here. Particularly looking at the thunderstorm situation predicted for this weekend. Those are actually fire starters.”

Williams normally experiences high winds during this time frame which generally rescind, for the most part, after Memorial Day. Winds are expected to be between 7 to 13 mph with gusts up to 24 mph through Thursday night. The long range forecast for this week shows a chance of thunderstorms through Memorial Day with a 20% chance of precipitation Thursday night rising to 30% Friday night.

The question is whether or not there will be enough precipitation to keep the Kaibab Forest around Williams open.

“I will be talking to the forest service tomorrow [May 20] to see if they have got any new plans; what their intentions are,” Moore said. “Right now if they said ‘Close her down’ I would support them 100%. I hate to loose the business—and we are going to loose business—but that’s our livelihood for years to come.”

Slide Rock and Sunset fires first major fires of the season

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Near Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, the Brins Fire burnt 4,300 acres during the summer of 2006. This photo is of the cliffs above the Slide Rock parking lot. (Arizona State Parks web site)

Near Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, the Brins Fire burnt 4,300 acres during the summer of 2006. This photo is of the cliffs above the Slide Rock parking lot. (Arizona State Parks web site)

OAK CREEK – High winds and restricted area are making difficult the fighting of a fire in Oak Creek Canyon about a mile north of Slide Rock State park reported just before 4 pm today. It is being fought largely with aircraft. Witnesses reported to KTVK in Phoenix that fire fighting crews responded with amazing swiftness after the fire was reported.

A separate fire near Cordes Junction closed portions of Interstate 17 for about four hours.

The Slide Fire, reported just before 4 p.m. today, is currently estimated to be 20 acres, burning on the north side of Highway 89 in Oak Creek Canyon near Slide Rock State Park.

Multiple firefighting units are responding, including two Hotshot crews, four engines, two helicopters, an air attack unit and Sedona Fire.

Gerry Blair of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office told KTVK in Phoenix that they are requesting some evacuations and that he had heard of no fire-related injuries.

Highway 89 may close to traffic near the Slide Rock area, and evacuations are being ordered for areas just north of Slide Rock State Park. It is unknown whether there are any structures threatened at this time.

The fire is currently moving to the north and fuel treatments in the area have kept the fire from aggressive activity.

Cause is unknown at this time.

The American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter has opened a shelter at Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E. Butler Avenue, in Flagstaff for those displaced by the fire in Oak Creek Canyon.

The Sunset brush fire near Sunset Point north of Phoenix caused Interstate 17 to be closed for a time. After more than four-hours, Interstate 17 was reopened. according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

At 6:30 p.m., both directions of the freeway were reopened. The left lane was closed in each direction for two miles, from milepost 254-256. There is no indication when those lanes would reopen.

The freeway had been closed from near the Sunset Point Rest Area 35 miles north of Phoenix to just south of the Cordes Junction exit at SR 69 beginning about 2 p.m.

Additional energy-efficient license plates now available from ADOT

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energy-efficient-license-platePHOENIX — Beginning today, specific hybrid vehicle owners will have another opportunity to obtain one of the “Clean Air – Blue Skies” Energy Efficient license plates being made available by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

The federal program, which began in 2007 as a pilot, is designed to test the impact of allowing 10,000 hybrid vehicles to use the HOV lanes in Arizona during peak travel times without occupancy restrictions. ADOT is again offering the opportunity to Arizona owners of qualifying vehicles to obtain a “Clean Air – Blue Skies” plate for unrestricted access to HOV lanes. The maximum limit of 10,000 is still part of program stipulations; there are 1,800 of the special plates now available as a result of non-renewed or canceled registrations.

Until Sept. 30, 2017, states may allow low emission vehicles, and those certified and labeled as low emission and energy-efficient vehicles (including alternative fuel vehicles) that do not meet the established occupancy requirements to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes so long as the state establishes procedures to enforce the restrictions on the use by these vehicles.

The program requirements for qualifying vehicles have changed.

Qualifying vehicles will be limited to include only plug-in hybrid electric vehicles according to the certification list established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is responsible for issuing the rules that establish the certification and labeling requirements for low emission and energy-efficient vehicles.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles may be driven for a longer period of time on solely electric power, reducing both the amount of fuel consumed and tailpipe emissions released compared to normal hybrid vehicles. Reduced vehicle pollution supports the purpose of the “Clean Air – Blue Skies” program by encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles to improve the air quality in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

To qualify for the Energy Efficient plate, a customer must own one of the following plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from specific model years, which must be currently registered at the time of application: Chevrolet Volt (2011-2014), Fisker Automotive Karma (2012), Ford C-MAX Energi (2013-2014), Ford Fusion Energi (2013-2014), Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid (2014), and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (2012-2014).

If qualified, the vehicle owner must complete the online Energy Efficient plate application process located only on ServiceArizona.com and submit a payment of $8 (initial application fee) plus postage and handling. Plates will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Energy Efficient plates will not be distributed at Motor Vehicle Division or Authorized Third-Party offices. The standard Arizona vehicle license tax applies to all plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Only owners of currently registered, qualifying vehicles under the revised program requirements will be able to secure one of the 1,800 plates. Those with a temporary registration paper plate or permit are not eligible until the owner actually receives an issued license plate.

After completing the Energy-Efficient license plate application and the customer chooses to have the disability emblem added, the customer must complete a Disability-Hearing Impaired Plate/Placard Application found online at the MVD Forms Library. The completed application form must be mailed to: Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division-Special Plates Unit; P.O. Box 2100-Mail Drop 801Z; Phoenix 85001-2100.

Customers with a vehicle that qualified under the previous program (Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and non-plug-in Toyota Prius) and is currently registered with an Energy Efficient plate will be allowed to continue to use their plate on that vehicle and drive in the HOV lane until they sell/transfer the vehicle. The Energy Efficient plate may only be transferred to a qualifying plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that is owned or leased by the same registered owner.

Drivers are reminded that this is a federal- and state-approved program that could be changed or ended at any time. For more information on the Energy Efficient Plate Program, application process and qualifying vehicles, please visit the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division website at azdot.gov/mvd.

Chipotle Mexican Grill bans firearms

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chipotleDALLAS – Chipotle Mexican Grill is the latest large chain to prohibit firearms into their restaurants after the Dallas chapter of Open Carry Texas stopped to eat after a demonstration. The carrying of firearms into the store was not a part of the demonstration according to an article on the Forbe’s web site.

Facebook image showing men carrying arms not in compliance with Open Carry Texas (Forbe's Photo)

Facebook image showing men carrying arms not in compliance with Open Carry Texas (Forbe’s Photo)

A Facebook (Facebook page has apparently been banned by Facebook) photo, according to the Forbe’s article, shows two-men unrelated to the Open Carry Texas event carrying “…SKS rifles, semi-automatic weapons of the kind once used by both the Soviet Army and the Viet Cong.”

A previous incident apparently occurred at a Jack-in-the-Box in Forth Worth. Open Carry Texas member Edwin Harros stated in an interview that their members are required to carry their semi-automatic rifles on their backs. Jack-in-the-Box, to date, has not issued a statement banning firearms in their establishments.

An anti-gun activist group called “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” began a Twitter campaign on Monday against customers bringing guns into Chipotle. The gun control group is backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg.

The company responded with a statement that read in part,

“The issue of gun ownership or gun rights has become one of the most contentious debates in the country. Chipotle has never taken a position on this issue, as we focus instead on our mission to change the way people think about and eat fast food.

“Recently participants from an “open carry” demonstration in Texas brought guns (including military-style assault rifles) into one of our restaurants, causing many of our customers anxiety and discomfort. Because of this, we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.”

Arizona Revised Statute 4-229 requires any establishment not allowing firearms to post a sign in a conspicuous location containing a pictogram of a firearm with a red circle and diagonal red line across the firearm with the words, “no firearms allow pursuant to A.R.S. section 4-229.” A person is allowed to enter a posted establishment in order to seek emergency aid or to determine if the sign is posted pursuant to this law. Any private property owner is allowed to prohibit firearms on their property.

Starbucks also asked people not to bring firearms into their establishment or outdoor seating areas in 2013 which represents a ban on firearms, but did not specifically call it that.

Arizona-based Sprout’s Market is also backing their ban on firearms fifty-percent. They have banned firearms, but apparently do not feel comfortable with conforming to Arizona Revised Statute by posting the required signs.

Discretion being the better part of valor, if a person with a firearm enters an establishment without the required signage and is asked to leave, it is best not to get into an argument. Simply remind them that they are not in compliance with A.R.S. 4-229 and leave the store. Report the violation to the appropriate authority.

Arizona does have so-called Constitutional concealed carry, which means any legal US citizen of Arizona may carry concealed, but only persons with a concealed carry permit may enter an establishment that serves alcohol and no one may drink while carrying a firearm.

According to the article, the anti-gun group stated they

“…support the Second Amendment… In states where no background checks or training are required to buy semi-automatic rifles and carry them openly in public, businesses have a duty to protect their employees and patrons.”

Federal law requires a background check for any person purchasing a firearm in any gun store in the nation.

Arizona Revised Statue 15-714.01 allows schools to conduct firearms safety courses. The courses may provide instruction which includes the rules of firearm safety, basic operation of firearms, history of firearms, marksmanship, the role of firearms in preserving peace and freedom and the constitutional roots of the right to keep and bear arms…