Daily Archives: April 10, 2018

Coconino Sheriff’s Evacuates Winona Neighborhood and Arrest Made in Fire

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WINONA – On April 8, 2018 around 12:17 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call reference a fire in the Winona area along N. Copley Drive. Evacuation notifications were done through Code Red and door to door notifications. One arrest was made.

On April 8 around 12: 17 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a fire in the Winona area, a community located approximately 10 miles east of Flagstaff, AZ near Interstate 40. Units arrived on scene and observed fire units from Summit Fire District working an active fire in the area of North Copley Drive.

Around 12:30 pm, Code Red was activated for the Winona area and pre-evacuation information also was sent out to the Doney Park and Timberline Fernwood areas. By approximately 1:00 pm, 75 homes had been evacuated in the Winona area. Fire Units from Summit Fire, Flagstaff Fire, US Forest Service, Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter and other Northern Arizona fire units worked to contain the fire throughout the afternoon and evening.

During an investigation into the fire, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steve Carter a 54-year-old male and resident on Copley Drive in connection with the fire. Mr. Carter was burning yard debris when the fire got away from him and grew out of control. High winds and dry conditions also were a factor. Steve Carter was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for 3 counts of Felony Endangerment, 1 count Misdemeanor Reckless Burning and 1 count of Felony Criminal Damage.

The evacuation was lifted at approximately 8:00 pm and residents were allowed to return to their homes. Fire and Sheriff units stayed in the area throughout the night. One residential structure and multiple outbuilding burned along with 86 acres.

In addition to the previously listed agencies assisting, the Sheriff’s office would like to thank additional resources that assisted: Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Coconino Emergency Management, Coconino Public Works, AZ Game and Fish and the residents of Winona for their part in working to reduce the fire threat.

Prepare now for wildfire season, keep your property and your family safe.

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PHOENIX – The Red Cross is reminding Arizona that wildfire season is here. Red Flag conditions are in effect now and will continue across the region through the end of monsoon season. Now is the time to take action, build an emergency preparedness kit, make a plan and download the Red Cross Emergency app. Yesterday, the Northern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross opened a Reception Center in Coconino County in support of the Copley Fire. The National Weather Service predicts an active wildfire season and the Red Cross is ready to respond by providing shelter to people affected by a fire or by evacuation.
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Jail District Board of Directors desire federal judicial decision

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Jail District Board of Directors are named defendants in a pending suit filed by Guillermo Tenorio-Serrano. The Board of Directors view this case as an opportunity to seek a ruling on whether 4th and 14th Amendments of the U.S Constitution supersede that part of a 2010 Arizona State Law known as SB 1070, which discusses local law enforcement’s role in U.S. immigration law.

In effect, the lawsuit calls into question the legality of the current jail policy, and asks the courts to determine whether local law enforcement is required to, or may, enforce federal immigration law through compliance with ICE detainers and warrants.

The question arose when Petitioner, Tenorio-Serrano, filed suit against the Jail District Board of Directors claiming the detention facility is in violation of his 4th and 14th Amendment rights by representing that he will be detained up to 48 hours under an ICE detainer and warrant after posting bond on pending state law criminal charges. The Directors have hired outside legal counsel to represent the Board in this matter.

“There have been other court cases in other states where SB 1070 does not exist,” said Board Director Chair Matt Ryan. “The question regarding the constitutionality of this section of SB 1070 is important to the Directors. We strive to protect the civil rights of all its citizens, regardless of status and follow the law of the State of Arizona. The Directors are asking the Federal Court for a decision relative to the constitutionality of this section of SB 1070.”

Flagstaff Traffic Alert: Lane closures planned on Beulah Boulevard under Interstate 40

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FLAGSTAFF – Arizona Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to set lane restrictions on Beulah Boulevard under the I-40 bridge overpass in Flagstaff. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time as crews will have lane closures in both directions from 8 p.m. Thursday, April 12, to 5 a.m. Friday, April 13. One lane in each direction will remain open at all times. Additionally, lane widths will be restricted to 11 feet throughout the construction project.

These lane closures and width restrictions are necessary for crews to begin bridge deck replacement and repair work at the I-17 and I-40 interchange in Flagstaff. This project will replace three bridge decks and approach slabs, increase the bridge cross slopes and retrofit one bridge deck with an overlay. The project will also include guardrail and paving work.

Construction began in February 2018 and the majority of the work is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

ADOT is scheduled to host informational sessions for the public from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 9, May 8, June 12 and July 10. These open houses will be at ADOT’s facility at 1901 S. Milton Road in Flagstaff. Project team members will be available to provide information and answer questions on the construction schedule and traffic impacts.

What to Expect:

  • Construction seven days a week with both day and night work, according to project phasing
  • Overnight, one-direction closures on Beulah Boulevard beneath I-40
  • Rolling night closures of I-17, according to phasing
  • Ramp closures
  • The southbound I-17 to eastbound I-40 ramp is scheduled to be closed in two-week increments at the end of June, end of July and end of October
  • The northbound I-17 to westbound I-40 ramp is closed through December

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more project information, please visit www.azdot.gov/FlagstaffTI. For questions or comments, please contact Mackenzie Kirby, ADOT Northcentral District Community Relations Project Manager at 928-525-6494 or mkirby@azdot.gov. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Kaibab National Forest to offer firewood permits

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will offer firewood cutting permits for the 2018 firewood season beginning April 16 for the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts and May 1 for the North Kaibab Ranger District.

The minimum cost for a personal use firewood permit is $20. Firewood cutting permits can be purchased at the following locations and during the specified hours Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays:

· Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
· Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 638-2443
· North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 643-7395

The 2018 firewood cutting season runs from April 16 to Dec. 31 for the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts and from May 1 to Nov. 30 for the North Kaibab Ranger District.

Besides the paid, personal-use firewood permits, free-use permits may also be available for specific areas on the forest. Individuals seeking such permits should check with the appropriate ranger district office for availability, locations and other information. Those interested in free-use permits are also encouraged to check in periodically with the appropriate ranger district office throughout the firewood season, as additional free-use areas may be opened for public use.

It is important that a permit be acquired even for free-use areas because by tracking public demand for the various kinds of permits, the amount of wood removed, and other factors, forest managers are better able to plan for the future needs of firewood collectors and provide greater opportunities for accessing these important resources. Firewood from the Kaibab National Forest is frequently used by local community and tribal members for home heating, cooking and other critical purposes.

“We consider our firewood cutters to be partners in our forest restoration efforts. We have a lot of dead and down trees as well as small-diameter trees that firewood cutters help us remove. This improves overall forest health and reduces the threat of unnaturally severe wildfire,” said Samantha Flores, timber staff officer for the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts. “We ask our firewood cutting partners to always get a permit for any wood removed so that we can continue to provide plentiful opportunities for firewood collection across the forest.”

All permits issued by the Kaibab National Forest will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest and to inform planning for future firewood cutting areas to meet public need and forest restoration objectives.

The removal of firewood is permitted only from National Forest lands on the district for which the permit is issued. Firewood cutters are reminded to take note of property boundaries and cut only on National Forest lands.

Detailed firewood cutting information and maps for each ranger district will soon be available on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.bit.ly/KNFfuelwood. Please check back for updates as firewood season cutting dates approach.

Members of the public can find additional information on the Kaibab National Forest through the following sources:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF