Category Archives: Williams Fire Department

Zipline fire quickly extinguished

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1961 Thunderbird used for display at Zipline.

WILLIAMS — At approximately 7:30 p.m., Williams Police and Fire units were dispatched to a reported vehicle fire at the Zipline in Williams. Before they arrived, it was reported that the vehicle fire was extinguished, but WFD responded to ensure that it was out.

The vehicle was the red 1961 Thunderbird that is used as a display when the Zipline is open. The owners were attempting to start it when a fire occurred in the engine. The owner quickly extinguished the flame with a fire extinguisher the Zipline has on hand. Their quick action prevented the vehicle from becoming a total loss.

The Williams Fire Department responded to ensure the fire was completely out and stayed on hand for safety.

There were no injuries.

Williams Fire Department called in to make sure fire extinguished.

Santa freed by Williams Fire Department

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Santa with Williams Fire Department

WILLIAMS — We have been reporting that Santa was stuck on the Zipline and would apparently not be able to make his rounds.

Last night there were several reports concerning break-ins around the area. Reports indicated missing cookies, pastries, milk and hot cocoa with little marshmallows and whipped cream. Oddly, it was reported that left behind were wrapped boxes and bags with various toys and other objects.This morning we learned that the Williams Fire Department apparently saw our Facebook post and responded late in the cold night to free Santa so that he could make his rounds. He was seen this morning driving around in a fire truck handing out a few more gifts with his elves prior to departing on his return trip to the North Pole.

Fire guts home in Williams

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WILLIAMS – Three fire engines were called in to fight a fire at 418 5th Street in Williams that started about 5:45. Units from the Williams Police and Coconino County Sheriff’s Department responded for traffic control.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. There are reports that the family members are okay, but they lost one of the family dogs. The house was totally gutted.



Injury accident in I-40 construction area

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WILLIAMS – While the Prairie Dog fire was being fought, an injury accident occurred at about mile post 158 on westbound I-40 in the construction zone. A worker was run over by a piece of construction equipment injuring his leg. Lifeline ambulance requested assistance from Williams Fire Department shortly after the Prairie Dog fire was out. Williams Fire Department Rescue 1 responded and Guardian launched a helicopter. Condition of the injured person is unknown.

Two-Year Old Found Safely After Wandering Away from Campsite

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WILLIAMS – A two-year old boy is back safely with his family after wandering away from a campsite Wednesday afternoon.

At approximately 5:45 pm on Wednesday, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a 2 year old boy who wandered away from the family’s campsite south of Williams, AZ near Hyde Hill. The campers, who were from the Phoenix area, consisted of a family of four adults and five children. They were setting up their camp off of the Forest Service 139 road when they realized the child was missing. They had last seen him approximately 20 minutes prior, and he had been playing with the other children next to the campsite.

Deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Williams Patrol District responded to initiate the investigation and establish containment of the search area. They coordinated bystanders and family who wanted to assist. Deputies from the Flagstaff Patrol District also responded as did the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit. Arizona Department of Public Safety, Northern Air Rescue was requested and flew over the area. Other agencies that assisted with the search included the Williams Fire Department and personnel from the Kaibab National Forest.

At approximately 7:30 pm, the child was located by one of the deputies searching the area. The child was found approximately 0.7 miles northwest of the camp in the forest near a road. The child was in good condition and was reunited with family members.

“We credit the success in finding the child to several factors, including that the report was called in timely and that Sheriff Deputies were able to get to the scene quickly,” the press release stated.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit provides preventative search and rescue education in the form of the Hug-A-Tree program to elementary age school children. The program has been offered and continues to be offered to schools in Coconino County. If a school or group would like to request a program please contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit.

Firefighters contain wildfire in Williams despite drone incursion

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WILLIAMS – Firefighters contained a small wildfire Thursday in Williams near Oak and 11th streets despite a drone flying over the area that temporarily delayed the arrival of a helicopter attempting to drop water on the blaze.

The Williams Fire, which was reported to the Williams Dispatch Center at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday and said to be located on the southwest side of Cemetery Hill, was less than a quarter mile away from residences in the area. Kaibab National Forest fire officials arrived on scene and immediately requested that a helicopter that was prepositioned at the Williams Airport be dispatched to drop water on the fire.

As the helicopter was preparing to launch, incident commander Mike Uebel reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone, was flying over the fire. The helicopter was advised to stand down until representatives from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office could find the operator and get the drone cleared from the area.

The drone eventually departed the fire area, and Uebel was able to guide the helicopter into the location to make water drops. Other firefighting resources working to suppress the Williams Fire included four engines and a dozer. While the Williams Fire was contained at less than an acre in size, the situation could have ended very differently, according to fire officials.

“People may be flying a drone thinking it’s cool to get video footage of a wildfire, but they don’t realize the impacts they have on our ability to do our jobs,” Uebel said. “Sometimes your actions that seem harmless can have major impacts to the safety of firefighters and to the safety of our community. If we can’t respond, we can’t put out the fire.”

Members of the public should never fly an unmanned aerial vehicle over or near a wildfire. Unauthorized drone flights could cause serious injury or death to firefighters in the air or firefighters and members of the public on the ground. Firefighting aircraft, such as air attack, lead planes, airtankers and helicopters, typically fly in smoky, windy and turbulent conditions. Safety depends on knowing what other aircraft are operating in the airspace and where they are at all times. This is compromised by the presence of unauthorized drones.

“We don’t want recreational drone use to impede the response of aerial resources. On another day when conditions weren’t as favorable for us, we could have had a different outcome,” said Jeremy Human, fire management officer for the Williams and Tusayan ranger districts.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The drone never reappeared and the operator was not found.

Representatives from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Williams Police Department and Williams Fire Department all assisted Kaibab National Forest fire officials in the fire suppression effort.