Category Archives: Counties

Fire Restrictions to be Lifted Tuesday on Entire Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS — Due to significant and widespread precipitation received across much of northern Arizona, the Kaibab National Forest will lift all fire restrictions on all three districts on Tuesday July 28 at 6:00 a.m.

Coconino County has also lifted fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas.

The area closure protecting the Bill Williams Mountain watershed will also be rescinded at this time, and visitors can once again camp, hike, and drive in the popular recreation areas. However, due to the hazardous nature of technical work in the higher elevations where steep slope fuels reduction operations have been occurring, a revised area closure will be forthcoming in September to ensure public safety on that portion of the mountain as work resumes.

The districts have received a substantial amount of rain over the last two weeks relaxing the danger levels across the forest. Each year fire officials closely monitor conditions before decisions are made to implement fire restrictions and area closures designed to protect human life, property and natural resources. These procedures are used to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions.

The Kaibab National Forest would like to express appreciation for all those who assisted our firefighters and patrol units with their compliance while under these conditions. When members of the public abide by fire restrictions and closures, they greatly help in protecting their public lands and adjacent communities from the threats posed by human-caused wildfires.

Drowning victim recovered at Blue Ridge Reservoir

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BLUE RIDGE – On June 21, 2020, At 6:07pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Blue Ridge Fire District responded to the Blue Ridge Reservoir, also known as C.C. Cragin Reservoir, for a report of swimmer who had gone under water near the boat ramp and never resurfaced.

A search of the immediate area was conducted using the boats of bystanders, but the subject was not located. Search operations were suspended as it began to get dark and a plan was developed for an underwater search on the morning of June 22.

On June 22 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Tonto Rim Search and Rescue to conduct an underwater search. As part of the search a Search and Rescue dog trained in human remains detection in water was used to confirm the area to search. Divers searched an area indicated by the search dog and located the missing subject at approximately 11:30am.

The subject, 32-year-old Austin Smith of Payson, was recovered from the lake and transferred to the custody of the Coconino County Office of the Medical Examiner. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the assistance of the Blue Ridge Fire District, Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, and the US Forest Service in resolving this incident.

Jacob Lake evacuations continue as Magnum Fire expands

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JACOB LAKE — Evacuations in the Jacob Lake area continued throughout the weekend and are continuing today in areas threatened by the 24,700+ acre Mangum Fire Burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office along with United States Forest Service personnel throughout the weekend and into the week, continue to patrol and search in and around the Mangum fire vicinity affecting Jacob Lake and surrounding areas. Approximately 230 people were evacuated in initial efforts with another 50 visitors evacuated/escorted out of the area over the weekend.

Sheriff Deputies, along with Forest Service Officers, made personal notifications to residents in the areas of White Sage and Lonesome during the weekend placing them in the “SET” stage for evacuation. Approximately 30 to 35 homes were contacted during this notification,

Due to proximity of the Mangum Fire, Highway 67 was closed over the weekend and remains closed at this time to all traffic. Visitors are being escorted out at intervals throughout the day up to 4:00 p.m. Forest Service and Park Officials are asking anyone wanting to leave the area to drive to Forest Service road 429 and Highway 67 where the Highway is closed, where escorts out of the fire hazard area will be facilitated by Forest Service Officers. These times are subject to change as Fire conditions change.According to the Kaibab Forest Service, risk remains for the Jacob Lake community but has diminished. Previous fuel treatments conducted by the local Ranger District Office have aided in moderating fire behavior allowing firefighters time to continue improving defensible space around the community. A night shift continued their work.

The fire spotted across containment lines along Forest Road 22 yesterday near Mangum Springs and raced north into grass, brush, and pinon/juniper towards Middle Mountain. Air tankers, including the Very Large Air Tanker, quickly responded with retardant to limit its growth.

Today crews will continue to construct fireline to minimize the fire’s northward movement northeast of highway 89A. Crews will work to attempt to secure fire’s spread near Little Mountain. Forecast weather includes less wind, but dry conditions, high temperatures, and low humidity.

Currently Hwy 89A is closed at M.P. 545 east of Jacob Lake and at mile post 608.8 west of Jacob Lake. Hwy 67 is closed to all traffic. These roadways will remain closed while the Mangum Fire continues to pose a threat to public safety.

As fire efforts continue more information will be made available. For any questions regarding the Mangum fire please contact the USFS at 602-345-0469. For information regarding the evacuation efforts please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 928-226-5089. For Road closures please contact Az Department of Transportation by dialing in state, 511, and out of state 888-411-7623, www.az511.gov

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office urges all residents to sign up for Emergency Notifications to receive any emergency notifications about the fire and possible evacuation notices. Please visit https://www.coconino.az.gov/207/Emergency-Management for information on how to register to get
emergency alerts.

Coconino County Fair modified due to COVID-19

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks and Recreation is modifying the 71st Coconino County Fair due to COVID-19 concerns. This decision was reached after months of deliberation, research and consultation with local health officials and the Board of Supervisors. Several county fairs in Arizona have cancelled their events this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

During the June 2 meeting, the Board of Supervisors supported a modified event that will incorporate measures to focus on 4-H youth member exhibits, the livestock auction, and online or virtual ways to engage the community in lieu of an in-person event at Fort Tuthill County Park. The safety and health of attendees, exhibitors and staff are very important to the County, as is continued support to area youth with their 4-H and livestock projects.

The Coconino County Fair is held every year over the Labor Day weekend at Fort Tuthill County Park fairgrounds with over 40,000 people attending the event who travel from across the county and the state, making it the largest event in Northern Arizona. The event regularly features a carnival with amusement rides, food and amusement vendors, and live entertainment. The County decided to support a modified event this year because of the event’s large attendance and the distance people travel.

“The Coconino County Fair is a long-standing tradition that residents and visitors look forward to all year. We are excited about the possibilities to come out of the difficult decision to modify this year’s event to focus on the 4-H exhibitors and junior livestock auction,” stated Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “This is an opportunity for innovative thinking, and we can’t wait to see what the Parks and Recreation Department plans for the 2020 Coconino County Fair.”

Planning is currently underway for what components make up a modified county fair. Coconino County Parks & Recreation is asking the public to submit ideas about a modified County Fair at http://www.CoconinoCountyFair.com.

Red Flag Warning 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday

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RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST FRIDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN COCONINO AND YAVAPAI COUNTIES Red Flag Warning issued June 4 at 1:42PM MST until June 5 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a Red Flag Warning due to strong winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA…Locations near Fredonia, Grand Canyon, Jacob Lake, North Rim, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Seligman and Valle. This includes portions of the Coconino National Forest, Kaibab National Forest and Prescott National Forest. * WINDS…South 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 13 percent. * IMPACTS…The combination of strong gusty winds and low relative humidity may create critical fire weather conditions. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, which could lead to new fire starts.

Transwestern Road changing to Hughes Avenue

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FLAGSTAFF — The name of Transwestern Road in Bellemont is changing to Hughes Avenue. This change is being made in response to concerns expressed by the Ponderosa Fire District and other emergency responders about having two roads in the Bellemont area with very similar names: Transwestern Road, which crosses over Interstate 40 (I-40) at the interchange and Transwestern Pump Station Road, which intersects with Brannigan Park Road a couple of miles west of Bellemont.

The name of Transwestern Road is being changed to Hughes Avenue to help improve
emergency response times and to clarify the road’s name for motorists and residents who might need to report an emergency or accident. Hughes Avenue is the road that already provides access to Camp Navajo on the south side of I-40, so it is logical to extend this road’s name north across I-40 to where it intersects with Brannigan Park Road in order to alleviate any confusion.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is in the process of replacing the signs along I-40 and at the Transwestern Road bridge (Exit 185) to reflect the name change. This work is expected to be completed by mid-June. During this time frame, Public Works crews will be replacing its affected street name signs on County roads.

The County’s Geographic Information System (GIS) team will update all affected databases (911, etc.) to reflect the name change from Transwestern Road to Hughes Avenue. GIS also will share the updated road name information with FedEx, UPS, USPS, APS, Guardian Medical, Sheriff’s Dispatch and Fire Districts. The name change from Transwestern Road to Hughes Avenue does not affect any physical or mailing addresses.

An area map is available at www.coconino.az.gov/Transwestern2HughesNameChange. If you have any questions about this project, then please email countyroadsinfo@coconino.az.gov.

County Attorney respond to death of George Floyd

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COUNTY ATTORNEY BILL RING’S RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD

FLAGSTAFF — ) With regard to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

As the County Attorney of Coconino County, a land with great diversity of peoples, I condemn as intolerable the disgusting abuse we see in video and news media coverage of the death of George Floyd. Mr. Floyd should never have lost his life that day. Our shared Constitutional right to due process assured him that he would live through a compliant encounter with law enforcement. Except as we all have seen, trust in the equal application of that promise was tragically broken by
callousness and plain old deplorable meanness.

The fair administration of justice requires that the Minneapolis District Attorney and the Minnesota Attorney General review all the available evidence such as civilian videos, body-worn police cameras, eyewitness statements, statements from the officers if they choose to give them, and a complete forensic autopsy. The weight of the evidence will dictate those who are accused and their charges, along with the course of prosecution in pursuit of justice. The process of criminal justice is deliberate for a reason. We must seek what is true by way of what is correct so that the result is complete and the answers we learn are the basis for the restorative work ahead of us.

And yet there are the many peoples’ collective history of long walks and painful experiences that drive civil protests. Protestation and righteous discontent have been the driver of change in our democracy. I respect the right to grieve. Grievance can be uncomfortably loud at times and nonetheless be completed peacefully. I have always been proud of our community’s abilities in this regard. But like Dr. King, I do not condone violence. Mr. Floyd’s ultimate legacy will be a national commitment to improve our attitudes on race and justice, law enforcement training and performance review, and our commitment to achieve equal justice for all.

County Announces Free Wireless Hotspot in Page

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PAGE — Coconino County has installed a Wi-Fi hotspot allowing residents of Page and the surrounding areas to access internet without charge.

The hotspot is located between the Coconino County Health and Human Services Northern Region Office and Page Magistrate Court buildings at 467 Vista Avenue. A map is attached. Internet access is available throughout the entire parking lot and residents are encouraged to stay in their cars and practice social distancing. The network does not require a password and is named County WIFI.

“Broadband and internet connectivity are crucial to connect residents to work and school,” said Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler. “Many parts of our county do not have quality access to a broadband connection. Providing available and free internet access will allow the residents of Page and tribal communities to connect with job-seeking resources and focus on schoolwork during this difficult time.”

Northern Arizona University has also installed Wi-Fi hotspots for students to use throughout the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation. For more information on Northern Arizona University’s Wi-Fi hotspots please visit www.nau.edu/access.

County weekday COVID-19 media availability updated call-in number

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Media Availability call-in number is changing. Please call 623-473-9267, and use the Conference ID number 46969762# to log in.

Media availability on the County COVID-19 response will continue at 4 p.m., weekdays via conference call. County Incident Command will give a short briefing on the County COVID-19 response and take questions from the media following the briefing.

County Board of Supervisors issue statement to close Grand Canyon National Park

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FLAGSTAFF — The following is a statement from the Coconino County Board of Supervisors regarding the closing of the Grand Canyon National Park.

“For the safety and health of Coconino County healthcare providers, residents and visitors, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors strongly urge Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to close Grand Canyon National Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board also calls on local, state and federal officials to join the Board in calling for the closure of the park.

“The Grand Canyon is the crown jewel of parks across the County and country. However, it is important that the park adheres to proven guidance to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing measures in response to pandemics work. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, closures aimed to reduce the spread of infection have been proven to be extremely effective. Keeping the park open and allowing travelers from all over the world to come here and risk spreading COVID-19 is an unnecessary risk.

Locally elected officials know their communities and how best to look out for the public health of the people they serve. Leaders in Washington D.C. should heed, and seek out, the advice of, local leaders for the safety of Coconino County, the state and the nation.”