Tag Archives: Arizona

County Enacts Stage 3 Fire Restrictions Beginning Wednesday at 8 a.m.

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County will be entering Stage 3 Fire Restrictions at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, in coordination with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forest closures. This ordinance applies on County public lands, as well as private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County.

“In coordination with our regional partners and to mitigate the catastrophic damage of wildfire, Coconino County is enacting Stage 3 Fire Restrictions,” said Chairman of the Board Matt Ryan. “With this very active wildfire season, this move is the right decision. We need everyone to abide by these restrictions and appreciate everyone’s cooperation.”

A Stage 3 exemption allows for combustion, open fire, and campfire only when:

• Persons with a written permit or variance.
• For personal use of cigarette or other tobacco smoking medium when used inside an enclosed vehicle only.
• For emergency repair of public utilities and railroads and other health and safety mitigation measures when operated by a public utility or railroad and implemented in accordance with an approved agency plan.
• By any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting entity in the performance of an official duty.

Unless allowed by an exception above, there are no outdoor activities that allow for open fire, campfire, fireworks, and combustion events.

While activities that involve mechanical operations, such as lawn care, home construction, and community clean-ups are not specifically prohibited, residents and visitors should use their best judgment when considering whether to engage in any activity that could spark a fire. Anyone engaging in these activities could be held legally responsible.

Interested persons can view all current fire restrictions in Coconino County at coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions.

Full forest closure for the Kaibab National Forest to begin Wednesday morning

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WILLIAMS — Due to fire danger, dry conditions, and persistent wildfire activity during a time when firefighting resources are sparse, the entirety of the Kaibab National Forest will close for public safety, beginning Wednesday (June 23) at 8 a.m.

A full forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of the Kaibab National Forest at any time. Those with private inholdings will be allowed access to their property, as well as personnel providing utility support where necessary, and firefighters performing their duties. In addition, work on thinning and other forest and watershed restoration projects will cease.

Forest Service personnel will attempt to reach as many people as possible to begin vacating campsites and informing individuals who are camping in the forest currently. Campers and visitors to the national forest should vacate their campsites before the closure begins, and the public should cancel any plans for visiting the Kaibab National Forest for the next several weeks.

Though parts of the national forest may receive rain from sporadic storms over the next couple of weeks, this closure will not be rescinded until sufficient precipitation is received to adequately reduce the risk of wildfire, and hot, dry weather conditions are no longer forecast to continue. In short, this closure will continue until conditions are such that the closure can be lifted.

Full closure of Coconino NF begins Wednesday

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FLAGSTAFF — Due to fire danger, dry conditions, and persistent wildfire activity during a time when firefighting resources are sparse, the entirety of Coconino National Forest will close for public safety, beginning Wednesday, June 23 at 8 a.m.

A full forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of Coconino National Forest at any time. Only those with private inholdings will be allowed access to their property, as well as personnel providing utility support where necessary, and firefighters performing their duties.

Forest Service personnel will attempt to reach as many people as possible to begin vacating campsites and informing individuals who are camping in the forest currently. Campers and visitors to the national forest should vacate their campsites before the closure begins, and the public should cancel any plans for visiting the Coconino National Forest for the next several weeks.

Though parts of the national forest may receive rain from sporadic storms over the next couple of weeks, this closure will not be rescinded until sufficient precipitation is received to adequately reduce the risk of wildfire, and hot, dry weather conditions are no longer forecast to continue. In short, this closure will continue until conditions are such that the closure can be lifted.

Work on thinning and other forest and watershed restoration projects will cease. Partner agencies, organizations, concessionaires, outfitters, permit holders, and contractors, are all prohibited from entering the national forest.

Violating closures and fire restrictions is a violation that 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.

Sheriff’s Office Evacuating Dispersed Camping Due to Rafael Fire

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is evacuating dispersed camping south of Forest Road 535 from the junction of Forest Road 231 road. The Sheriff’s Office is also evacuating dispersed camping in the Sycamore Canyon area.

Garland Prairie is reminded to be in READY. READY means Prepare Now. Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and family meeting locations. Build an emergency go kit with enough food, water, and necessary supplies for at least 72 hours.

Check with your neighbors, family, friends, and elders to ensure they are READY too. Register with the Coconino County Emergency Notification system at coconino.az.gov/ready

Backbone Fire at 6,000 acres; evacuation orders issued

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CAMP VERDE, Ariz., June 18, 2021 — Evacuation orders have been issued in communities surrounding the 6,000-acre Backbone Fire, which originated approximately 12 miles west of Pine and Strawberry, and 15 miles southeast of Camp Verde. The fire has moved across Fossil Creek with 0 percent containment.
Hot, dry and windy weather conditions have led to extreme fire behavior.
Evacuation orders are in place for residents and visitors of nearby areas such as Strawberry and Pine. Residents and visitors should contact their county or subscribe to emergency alerts for information regarding evacuation status.
State Route 260 is closed between Camp Verde and State Route 87. Motorists can contact the Arizona Department of Transportation or visit AZ511 for updates on road closures and traffic.
While there is electrical infrastructure in the area of the fire, APS does not anticipate a loss of service. However, APS may take lines out of service if needed to protect firefighters working on the fire. Nearby residents can visit the APS website or contact APS for outage information.
Rough and rocky terrain coupled with limited area access and extreme heat are creating challenges for the roughly 100 personnel assigned to the fire, which includes one Hotshot crew, one hand crew, one fuels module, three helicopters and miscellaneous overhead. The fire is currently 0 percent contained and more resources have been requested.
The Fossil Creek recreation area will be closed due to wildfire danger, which includes Waterfall Trail, Irving/Flume, Tonto Bench, Fossil Creek Bridge, Homestead, Sally May, Purple Mountain, and Mazatzal. Closures and other changes to recreation site status will be made available on the recreation page of the Coconino National Forest’s website.
The lightning-caused fire was first reported 11:30 p.m. June 16.

Storm Sparks Eight Fires on North End of Prescott National Forest

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  • Location: Eight different fires across the north end of the Chino Valley Ranger District
  • Start Date: 6/17/2021-6/18/2021
  • Size: Rock Butte -120 acres, Red Hat – 49 acres, Limestone – 33 acres, Silent – 26 acres, Rafael – 9 acres, Sandflat – 5 acres, Archibald – 3 acres, Hornet – 1 acre
    Percent Contained: Varies among fires
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Vegetation: Grass, Brush, and Pinyon juniper

Summary: Fire managers’ main objective today is determining access routes for the various fires. Yesterday they were able to put retardant on several of the fires. All of the fires were started by the lightning storm that passed through on Thursday. Due to the extreme drought conditions, all fires are being managed in a full suppression mode. Some of the fires are in remote locations and are being monitored via air until ground crews can gain access.
The Silent and Rock Butte Fires are just north of Paulden. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has issued a “ready status for the area north of Paulden . Under “ready” conditions, residents are asked to stay informed through local media and public safety officials. (https://www.facebook.com/YavapaiCountySheriff/ ).
Red Hat and Limestone Fires lie a few miles to the northwest of Paulden. The Rafael Fire lies about 2 miles north of Perkinsville; the Sand Flat, Archibald and Horney Fires lie 3-4 miles north of Perkinsville.

Resources: 1-Air Attack, 1-Type 3 Helicopter, 3-Engines, 2-Hotshot Crews, 1-Fire Crew

Weather: Hot very dry conditions through Sunday with temperatures peaking in the afternoons around 100 and overnight to early morning temps in the 60’s, relative humidity ranging from 10-30%, winds out of the East at 5 MPH, shifting in the afternoon to the West up to 20 mph. There is a 0% chance for precipitation to occur in the area.

Closures: None at this time.

Highway 180 reopens as 11,000-acre Slate Fire moves east

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FLAGSTAFF — Highway 180 has reopened following a week-long closure caused by the Slate Fire, which is located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff and is now at 11,012 acres and at 16 percent containment.
While Highway 180 has reopened, motorists are asked to reduce their speeds and keep an eye out for crews still working in the area. Additional portions of the Coconino National Forest are closed to the public for safety reasons.
Adverse wind shifts Monday contributed to the spread of the fire, and crews spent the day using engines, hand crews, dozers, and helicopter water bucket drops to tend to spot fires on the south side of the fire.
Crews also took advantage of adverse winds by running a line of retardant on the west side of Missouri Bill Hill, followed by dozer and crew work Monday night in an effort to protect firefighter safety.
Crews plan to spend Tuesday continuing to secure Cedar Ranch with two engines while putting water on hot spots in the area. Additionally, resources will likely be relocated from the west side of Highway 180 to the southeast side of the fire. Work is still being done to survey archaeological sites in the area.
Several recreation sites in the area remain closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) to Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2). A Forest Order was also issued over the weekend to close nearby parts of the Coconino National Forest.
About 190 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including three Hotshot crews, two hand crews, nine engines, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters and miscellaneous overhead.
The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff’s Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation.
SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:
  • Current size: 11,012 acres
  • Containment: 16 percent
  • Reported: 3 a.m. June 7, 2021.
  • Cause: Under investigation.
  • Origin location: Roughly 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff. (35.492, -111.847)
  • Fuel types: Pine, pinyon, juniper, brush.
  • Current resources: Three Hotshot crews, two hand crews, nine engines, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters and misc. overhead. Total personnel: Approximately 190.
  • Predicted smoke impacts: Winds will continue to move in a northeast direction Monday and into Tuesday.
  • Current closures: A portion of the Arizona Trail from mile 603.3 to 616.2, Slate Mountain and Red Mountain trailheads and Kendrick Cabin. A Forest Order was issued Saturday closing parts of the forest located near the fire for safety reasons.
  • Recent and current operations: Crews are tending to spot fires, conducting bucket work with helicopters and securing lines. A line of retardant was dropped and crews continue to secure Cedar Ranch.

Public comment period extended for draft Environmental Assessment for continued fish stocking in Arizona

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PHOENIX — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) today extended the deadline for the public to comment on the draft Environmental Assessment (dEA) of Arizona’s sport fish stocking program. The original June 11 deadline has been extended for two weeks, until June 25, 2021, to allow for more comment opportunity. The methods of providing public comments remain the same as in the original announcement and are described below.
The dEA is part of a process to continue to allow federal Sport Fish Restoration funding to support AZGFD’s long-standing program of stocking fish for public recreational opportunities, and for hatchery operations and maintenance. Each year, thousands of anglers in Arizona take advantage of the fish stocking program, which is funded in part by federal dollars from the Sport Fish Restoration Program and augmented by state dollars from fishing license sales.
Every 10 years, USFWS and AZGFD evaluate the social, economic and environmental effects of Arizona’s stocking program, and pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), prepare a dEA that analyzes possible actions or alternatives. The preferred alternative for the agencies, also known as the Proposed Action, would allow AZGFD to continue its stocking program for the next 10 years and also includes conservation measures to reduce potential impacts on federally listed or sensitive native aquatic or semi-aquatic species.
Members of the public are encouraged to review and provide comments on the dEA. Written comments can be submitted from May 11, 2021 through 5 p.m. (Arizona time) on June 25, 2021. Comments can be either:
•    Emailed to fw2fa@fws.gov, or
•    Sent by U.S. Mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attention Dave Weedman, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086 (must be postmarked no later than June 25, 2021).
Your written comments—including personal identifying information, such as name, address, phone number, and email address—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask that personal identifying information be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Two Facebook Live sessions with information about the dEA were held June 1 and June 2 and are available for on-demand viewing:
•    View the June 1 session – covers AZGFD northern regions (1, 2, 3).
•    View the June 2 session – covers AZGFD southern regions (4, 5, 6).

Central West Type 3 Incident Management Team assumes management of Cornville Fire

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SEDONA — The Central West Type 3 IMT assumed command of the Cornville Fire Monday evening, which has grown to 1,241 acres just east of the Cornville community and is currently zero percent contained.

The wildfire, reported on Sunday at about 12:30 p.m., was mistakenly reported that it originated from a structure on fire on private property. Investigators have found that the origin of the fire actually began on national forest land and rapidly grew throughout Sunday, encroaching upon private land.

The fire activity for Monday was minimal and burned away from homes and populated areas, while firefighters worked to secure lines around Cornville.“Firefighters have done good work the last couple of days on suppression efforts around the community,” said Incident Commander Trainee Charles Ebert. “We’re continuing to focus on suppression efforts around the communities and on the north flank of the fire. Forward progress of the fire has been slowed or stopped.”

Firefighters patrolled the fire lines overnight and will be focusing today on the northern and eastern flanks to keep the fire from progressing any further.

Extremely warm temperatures and windy conditions will persist throughout the next several days and will challenge firefighters as they work to increase containment of the fire and keep it from moving or growing any further.

There are currently no evacuations or structures threatened, but residents in the area are encouraged to remained prepared and be ready to evacuate if necessary.

V Bar V Heritage Site, Red Rock visitor center to reopen next week

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FLAGSTAFF — The V Bar V Heritage Site and the Red Rock Ranger Station Visitor Center will both reopen to the public beginning next week.
V Bar V Heritage Site:
The V Bar V Heritage Site, located at 6750 N. Forest Road 618 in Rimrock, will reopen on June 18.
Operating hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Monday.
COVID-19 restrictions include group size limitations and requested mask usage for unvaccinated individuals.
Either an America the Beautiful Interagency Pass or a Red Rock Pass (available on site) is required for access to the heritage site.
V Bar V is a rock art/ ceremonial site that features more than 1,000 petroglyphs and is largest known petroglyph site in the Verde Valley.
Red Rock Ranger Station Visitor Center:
The Red Rock Ranger Station Visitor Center, located at 8375 Highway 179 in Sedona, will reopen June 14.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday, and noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The Arizona Natural History Association Gift Shop will be open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Several COVID-19 restrictions will be in effect. Capacity inside the building will be limited to 20 visitors at a time, and social distancing is encouraged. Visitors who have not been vaccinated are asked to wear a mask, and visitors who wish to remain outside are welcome to call 928-203-2900 for assistance, or to visit the informational kiosk outside the building next to the parking lot.