Tag Archives: Arizona

Plan for lane restrictions on Interstate 40 at the West Flagstaff Bridge July 8

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FLAGSTAFF – Plan for lane restrictions on Interstate 40 at the West Flagstaff Bridge July 8
Drivers should use caution and allow extra travel time

Drivers in northern Arizona should plan for lane restrictions and travel delays on Interstate 40 while construction on the West Flagstaff Bridge replacement project (Exit 191) nears completion.

The following restrictions will occur from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 8:

  • East- and westbound I-40 will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
  • The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph.
  • A 16-foot vehicle width restriction will be in place.

The restrictions are needed for crews to install rumble strips on the recently paved asphalt on the West Flagstaff Bridge Replacement project over Business 40, which connects the interstate to Historic Route 66 in west Flagstaff.

The project, which is about 3 miles west of the junction with Interstate 17, is anticipated to be completed by fall 2022. Learn more on the project web page: azdot.gov/I40WestFlagstaffBridge

Eastern Arizona Counties Organization contributes $25,000 to Range Rider Program

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PINETOP – The Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) has made a contribution of $25,000 to support the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Range Rider Program that is directed by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team.

Created in 1993, ECO includes Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties. The ECO counties have developed a leading role in natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona, including forest and watershed restoration, travel management and public land access, threatened and endangered species management, rural economic development, and recreation issues.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its conservation partners are grateful to the ECO for their support of the Range Rider Program,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD Mexican wolf coordinator. “One of the key activities the department is engaged in is reducing depredations on livestock in the wolf recovery area. Based on the number of documented depredations since 2019 when the program was initiated, we have seen a decline in depredations which is attributed to the Range Rider Program.”

A range rider is a person who spends time in areas where wolves and cattle are in proximity and chases wolves from the area. It is a way of proactively deterring conflict between wolves and livestock. The range rider will work in much of eastern Arizona and will be directed to areas where high levels of depredations are occurring.

“ECO is pleased to provide this funding to AZGFD,” said Jason Whiting, ECO chair. “Depredations peaked in 2019 when the Range Rider Program was initiated by the department and other cooperators. It is important to note that funding for the Range Rider Program comes from modest county budgets, but the ECO believes that putting what we can into on-the-ground wolf-depredation avoidance is vital to reaching a balance between the ESA goal of recovery and the costs to Arizona ranchers.”

Richard Lunt, ECO vice chair, has been actively involved in wolf depredation prevention management. “Even with an increasing Mexican wolf population since 2019, documented depredations have declined by nearly 40 head of livestock. This represents money well spent by ECO to help promote balance between livestock production and wolf recovery,” he said.

Clay Crowder, the department’s assistant director for wildlife management added, “As the wolf population continues to grow, reducing conflict over depredations is essential and something that the IFT works on daily. This financial assistance from ECO will be put directly on the ground.”

2022 fall hunt draw results available

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has released the draw results for 2022 fall hunts.

Customers must have an AZGFD portal account to view draw results and bonus points. Draw results no longer are made available through an automated phone system.

A free AZGFD portal account (dependent account features are available) can be created by visiting accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register. A portal account allows customers to create a secure account where they can view and manage their contact information, as well as their licenses, draw results history and bonus points in their personal “My AZGFD Dashboard” section.

For questions about creating a portal account, call the department at 602-942-3000 and press “7.”

By the numbers:

  • 45,666: The total number of hunt permit-tags issued.
  • 191,074: The total number of those who applied for hunts or bonus points.
  • 150,813: The total number of applications submitted.

All hunt permit-tags are expected to be mailed by Aug. 5.

READY, SET, GO Status Changes for Elden Lookout Rd, Doney Park South, and Alpine Ranchos East

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FLAGSTAFF — After meeting with the Great Basin Type 1 team managing the Pipeline and Haywire Fires, it has been determined that it is safe to downgrade some areas on evacuation status.

The following changes will be effective immediately:

– The neighborhoods that were put in “SET” along Mt. Elden Lookout Road will be downgraded to “READY” status.

– The south portion of Doney Park (south of Silver Saddle Road to Townsend Winona Road) that are in “SET” will be downgraded to “READY” status. The north portion of Doney Park (north of Silver Saddle Road) will remain in “SET” status.

– The eastern portion of Alpine Ranchos that is currently in “GO” status will be downgraded to “SET” status. That are is open to re-entry immediately. The western portion of Alpine Ranchos/Crater Estates, to include the private properties around Moon Crater will remain in “GO” status. This is due to the Haywire Fires continual active status.

For details on the boundary between the east and west Alpine Ranchos visit the Coconino County Situational Awareness Viewer at http://ow.ly/2Nll50JvzE5. Due to the rural nature of this area, it is difficult to establish and describe a clear boundary.

The area north of Wupatki Trails along Hwy 89 north to Sacred Mountain Trading Post will remain in “GO” status. The Pipeline Fire is still very active in this area and is in close proximity to private land and the Medicine Valley residences.

If you require assistance or have questions, contact the Fire Call Center at 928-679-8525 between the hours of 7:00 AM and
7:00 PM.

We want to remind the citizens in the “SET” areas that they are still required to be ready to evacuate at a moments notice.
The best way to receive updates on evacuation status is to sign up for emergency notifications through Coconino County Emergency Management. To sign up for Emergency Notifications visit www.Coconino.az.gov/ready.

To follow the current evacuation status for the Pipeline and Haywire Fire, please visit http://ow.ly/2Nll50JvzE5.

Plan for alternating east- and westbound Interstate 40 ramp closures at A-1 Mountain Road (Exit 190) in Flagstaff June 20 – 21

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following alternating east- and westbound Interstate 40 intermittent ramp closures at the A-1 Mountain Road interchange (exit 190) from 6 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Monday, June 20, and Tuesday, June 21, while crews complete final striping work:

Eastbound I-40 on- and off-ramps closure at A-1 Mountain Road (exit 190):

Detour to A-1 Mountain Road: Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing A-1 Mountain Road will be detoured to Exit 191 to turn around and travel west to access A-1 Mountain Road.
Detour from A-1 Mountain Road: Drivers on A-1 Mountain Road who want to travel eastbound on I-40 will first travel west on I-40 to Hughes Avenue (Exit 185- Bellemont) to turn around and proceed eastbound on I-40.

Westbound I-40 on- and off-ramps at A-1 Mountain Road (exit 190):

Detour to A-1 Mountain Road: Westbound I-40 drivers accessing A-1 Mountain Road will be detoured to Hughes Avenue (Exit 185-Bellemont) to turn around and travel east on I-40 to access A-1 Mountain Road.
Detour from A-1 Mountain Road: Drivers on A-1 Mountain Road who want to travel westbound on I-40 will first travel east on I-40 and then take Route 66-Exit 191 to turn around and proceed westbound on I-40.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

The bridge replacement project is approximately 5 miles west of the junction with Interstate 17 in Flagstaff. For more information, visit https://azdot.gov/i40-A1-Mountain

Areas of Coconino and Kaibab national forests to close this weekend

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino and Kaibab national forests will temporarily close certain areas to public access beginning Friday and Saturday due to fire danger and for public safety, while all other parts of the national forests outside of the closure areas remain in Stage 2 fire restrictions.

On the Kaibab National Forest, the area of Bill Williams Mountain will be closed beginning Friday, June 17 at 8 a.m. Specifically, public access will be prohibited on all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the closure area, generally located between County Road (CR) 73, Old Route 66 in the City of Williams, Forest Road (FR) 122, FR 108, and I-40. This includes Benham Trail, Bixler Saddle Trail, Bill Williams Mountain Trail, Bill Williams Connector Trail, Buckskinner Trail, City of Williams Link Trail, Devil Dog Loop Trail, and Clover Spring Loop Trail. Forest Road 122 will also be closed. FR 108 will remain drivable; however, motorists cannot park off the road.

On the Coconino National Forest, the areas of Pumphouse Wash/Kelly Canyon and Fisher Point/Walnut Canyon will be closed beginning Saturday, June 18 at 8 a.m. This includes Pumphouse Wash Dispersed Camping Area, Forest Road (FR) 237 and other roads within the Pumphouse Wash closure area. In the Fisher Point/Walnut Canyon closure area, all forest roads and recreation sites within the area will be closed. This includes Fisher Point, Marshal Lake, portions of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, Canyon Vista Campground, Sandys Canyon Trail No. 137, and more.

These area closures are in addition to the already-implemented emergency closure of most of the Coconino National Forest north of Interstate 40. For the official Closure Order and a map of this area, please see the official Closure Order.

With regards to both national forests, those with private inholdings will be allowed to access their property via a Forest Service Road but are prohibited from entering the surrounding National Forest lands. Exemptions will be issued for critical activities such as road work and surveys that are vital to continuing restoration operations, time-sensitive utilities and communications site work, and emergency response.

Forest managers consider several factors before implementing restrictions or closures, including current fire danger and fire activity, local, regional and national fire preparedness levels, expected weather conditions, availability of firefighting resources, and the economic impacts to businesses and communities. All northern Arizona national forests coordinate fire restrictions and forest closures with federal, state, tribal and local partners.

Closures are generally the last resort for land managers, who take many other steps to reduce the potential for human-caused fires and often consider closing only the most critical areas before a full forest closure. As such, additional area closures or even full forest closures could be forthcoming if conditions warrant.

Closures and restrictions will be in effect until hot, dry conditions are no longer forecast to continue and the forests receives enough widespread precipitation to lower fire danger.

For details and maps of these specific closure areas and their boundaries, visit the following pages online:

Forest Service personnel will make every effort to notify anyone in these areas to vacate before the closure is implemented.

Violating closures and fire restrictions carries a mandatory appearance in federal court, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both.

For information on all Arizona state and federal fire restrictions, including an interactive map, visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, Forest Orders, and general forest conditions can be found at fs.usda.gov/kaibab and fs.usda.gov/coconino.

What is today?

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If one were to ask the average passersby what today is, they might take a hint from the flags lining the street. Oh, they might say. Today is Flag day, of course. June 14 is definitely Flag day (36 USC 110). The more learned might even say, Well it’s Flag week. Flag Week (36 USC 122) started on Sunday June 12 and will end on June 18. You will have to search far and wide to find anyone that can go much beyond that.

I hope that I have you questioning me in your mind. Just what the Sam Hill am I talking about.

Flag Day is June 14 and Flag Week is the week that contains Flag Day. There is, however, another holiday period “hidden” in this day. You certainly weren’t taught about it in school recently. I do not remember being taught about it in the 60s and 70s. It is a holiday period that – as far as my research can reveal – only one city in America acknowledges. That city is Rome, New York.

The 21-days from Flag Day to Independence Day (which is held on July 4) is Honor America Days (36 USC 112).

Now you might say to yourself, Of course THIS administration won’t recognize that. Yet, how many “Republican” administrations have transpired without any acknowledgment of this holiday?

Most do not know that September 17 is Constitution Day and the week of September 17 to September 23 is Constitution Week. Why? The proverbial “they” do not want you to know. There is no inclination from to so-called left or right to get you to honor America in anyway.

America has done some bad things. Slavery should have been abolished with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The conservative Democrat slave owners of the South at the time were too powerful and important to the Revolution. After all, Virginia was the most important colony to the cause at the time. It even provided the commanding general and the first President under the Constitution – George Washington.

It is important to recognize our faults. In 1905 George Santayana expressed this in these words, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

We hope to lead you, during this period, to reading material that is important to you. We also recommend that you pull out your copy of (or find a copy to watch) the mini-series John Adams. If you have Tubi or one of the other video apps on your phone, tablet or television stick, you can find a myriad of videos on the American revolution and American history. Read a copy of the Constitution. Even skipping all of the mathematical formulas and boring detail, you can find all sorts of interesting stuff. For example that the Federal Government is supposed to ensure that each state has a Republican form of government (Constitution, Article IV; Section 4, Clause 1). Even Wikipedia got that right. Read the Federalist Papers. You do not have to read them all. Concentrate on those that interest you (HINT: Federalist Paper No. 29 should interest you). Read the anti-Federalist arguments If the schools are going to teach you nothing, learn on your own. You have that so-called “smart” phone, use it for something smart!

Officials Responding to New Haywire Fire

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FLAGSTAFF – The Pipeline Fire, located 6 miles north of Flagstaff, was reported June 12, 2022, at 10:15 a.m. by a fire lookout and is currently 4,500 acres and active on all sides.

Another fire has been reported, known as the Haywire Fire, northeast of the Pipeline Fire. The fire has burned 1,600 acres and was first reported at 5:30 a.m. this morning. Coconino National Forest is responding to this fire separately from the Pipeline Fire at this time. The
Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) will eventually manage both fires.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has issued GO evacuation orders for the Crater Estates Area. GO means evacuate immediately.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has also issued GO evacuation orders related to the Pipeline Fire for areas of Schultz Pass Road and Arizona Snowbowl and Timberline South of Brandis. GO means evacuate immediately. Areas currently on SET status include Doney Park and Mount Elden Lookout Road/Mount Elden Estates. SET means danger is in the area; make preparations to evacuate immediately.

All residents are asked to be in READY status and should monitor the situation and be
ready to prepare for evacuation.

To follow the current evacuation status for the Pipeline Fire and Haywire Fire, please visit http://ow.ly/2Nll50JvzE5

Shelter Information:

• A Red Cross Shelter is open for residents evacuated due to the Pipeline Fire at Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff, 86004.
• A shelter for household animals is available at Coconino Humane Association: 3501 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. Please check in with staff upon arrival.
• A Livestock shelter is located at Fort Tuthill County Stables. Those seeking assistance are asked to leave animals in their vehicle or trailer and to check in with staff to complete the animal intake process. Directions to Fort Tuthill County Park are available at: https://www.google.com/maps?q=35.1490865,- 111.6879575&hl=en-US&gl=us&entry=gps&shorturl=1. The livestock stables are self-service. Animal owners are responsible for all services related to their livestock, including feeding and watering, and should bring cages for smaller livestock staying at Fort Tuthill.

US 89 is closed north of Flagstaff due to the Pipeline Fire. The southbound side is closed at milepost 430; the northbound side is closed at milepost 427. There is no estimated time to reopen the road. Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.com.

Information about the status and activity of the Haywire Fire and suppression efforts can be found on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8155/ .

For more information visit www.Coconino.az.gov/PipelineFire or call the Pipeline and Haywire Fire Call Center at 928-679-8525.

CCSO issues Evacuations due to Pipeline Fire

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FLAGSTAFF – Due to the Pipeline Fire the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Issued a “GO” evacuation notification for the neighborhood along Highway 89 North of the Landfill Road to Wupatki Trails on both sides of Highway 89. Doney Park is in the “Set” Status

At 11:00 hours The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a fire off Snowbowl Road. Responding Deputies were given the description of a White Pickup truck leaving the area of the fire. Responding Deputies spotted a vehicle matching the description and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The driver, a 57-year-old male, was detained until Federal Law Enforcement Officers from the United States Forest Service arrived. The male was arrested by Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers and booked into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility for Federal Natural Resource Violations. Federal regulations prohibit the release of the subject’s name, photo and charges.

At this time, it is unknown how long the “Go” evacuations will remain in place. Coconino County Sheriff’s office remains in constant communication with the United States Forest Service Fire personnel, managing this incident, as soon as it is determined safe reenter the Sheriff’s office will release the evacuation order and allow the residents back to their properties. Currently Highway 89 is closed at Campbell and Highway 89 on the South side and Shultz Pass Road and Highway 89 on the North side. 24 hour security Patrols will be conducted n the evacuated areas until re-entry is complete.

It is important that the residents of the evacuated areas, know that if they leave their property, they will not be allowed back in under the evacuation order unless escorted.

Currently the Red Cross Shelter is located at:

  • Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff
  • Animal Shelter is set up at Fort Tut-Hill
  • Call Center is at (928)679-8525
  • For special circumstances, escorts to and from properties within the evacuated areas will be available from the East Valley Baptist Church at 10655 N. U.S. 89, Tonight until 9:30pm and beginning again on Monday the 13th at 9:00am.

Strong winds push Pipeline Fire more than 15 miles

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FLAGSTAFF – The Pipeline Fire which began 6 miles north of Flagstaff around 10 a.m. is currently estimated at 4,000-5,000 acres and was pushed more than 15 miles by strong winds throughout the day.

A 57-year-old male was arrested by Forest Service law enforcement officers earlier today in connection with the wildfire and charged with natural resource violations. The subject was booked into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility.

“The investigation into the cause of the Pipeline Fire is ongoing and, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot discuss any details of the investigation,” said Law Enforcement Patrol Captain Andy Pederson.

At this time, no structures or homes have been destroyed.

Jimmy Harris’ California Team 15, a Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT), arrives tomorrow to assume management of the wildfire.

Resources battling the fire today from the air included up to eight air tankers and five helicopters. Currently, 13 engines, nine crews, six prevention patrol units, three dozers, and one water tender are assigned, which comprises approximately 270 personnel.

More air tankers and helicopters are on order for tomorrow’s suppression efforts, and more firefighting resources and personnel will be added to the fight with the arrival of a Type 2 IMT.

Information regarding evacuations and resources for evacuees can be found on the Coconino County Emergency Management website at https://www.coconino.az.gov/207/Emergency-Management.

A map showing the current evacuation area can be found on the Coconino County Emergency Management ArcGIS site at https://coconinocounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=745e7806b0444387bf32792b9c25e169.

Information about the status and activity of the Pipeline Fire and suppression efforts can be found on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8152/.