Tag Archives: Arizona

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The area closure protecting the Bill Williams Mountain watershed will also be rescinded at this time, and visitors can once again camp, hike, and drive in the popular recreation areas.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.

Tyrannical Phoenix government shuts down Williams parade by edict

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An edict by Governor Doug Ducey caused Williams to cancel the annual Independence Day Parade. But there sure was a lot of traffic downtown this evening. I believe they were throwing a little tea.

OpEd by Glen Davis

Murphy’s Towing of Ash Fork was on hand in case someone broke down in the traffic jam.

WILLIAMS – INDEPENDENCE DAY — The Williams Independence Day parade was cancelled by an arbitrary edict of a tyrannical government in Phoenix ordering the cancellation of any celebrating of the day we threw off the chains of a tyrannical government that issued arbitrary and tyrannical edicts on the colonists. A move that, no doubt, please the Chinese government no end.

That means the Williams Independence Day parade was cancelled by City Hall. Although we understand Eager flat-out defied the arbitrary edict.
But there sure was a long traffic tie-up down Route 66 In Williams this evening beginning about 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m. The traffic was so heavy that it stretched from Monument Park on the west end of town all the way past First Street. Many of the vehicles were carrying American Flags. The traffic was so bad that some people tried to assist by marching with the vehicle carrying flags. There were tow trucks from Murphy’s Towing in Ash Fork involved in case anyone got stuck. Fortunately they were here. The Williams Police Department had to help clear up the traffic jam; the likes Williams has not seen in some time.The major traffic-jam was witnessed by a lot of visitors and residents of Williams.

If there had been a parade, I guess it would have turned out to be a disaster.

You know, I could swear I caught a waft of tea in the air.

Wildfire north of Flagstaff producing noticeable smoke

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FLAGSTAFF — A wildfire approximately 4 miles north of Flagstaff on the west side of the San Francisco Peaks was reported at 5:30 a.m. today and is producing a lot of smoke visible to surrounding residents.The Twisted Fire is currently about 2 acres with minimal activity, and firefighting resources on scene include a Hotshot crew, several engines, a dozer, and water tender.

City of Page evaluating fireworks display

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PAGE — Governor Ducey has signed a new executive order (2020-43) entitled Pausing of Arizona’s Reopening Slowing the Spread of COVID-19. The Executive Order closes Bars, Gyms, Movie Theaters, Waterparks, Tubing and delays the start of schools.

The Executive Order orders the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to cease issuing series 15, Special Event licenses and series 16 and Festival/Fair licenses for the period of June 29, 2020 through July 27, 2020. The EO will be reviewed every two-weeks after July 27.

At this time, a decision has not yet been made whether to continue the July 4th fireworks display planned by the City of Page. More information on this topic is expected and will be shared with the community when available.

Keep it Clean this Holiday Weekend!

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Arizona State Parks and Trails today encouraged both residents and visitors to the Grand Canyon State to get outdoors during the July 4th holiday, enjoy all that Arizona’s unique, outdoor recreation areas have to offer and do their part to protect our beautiful, natural environment for each other and for future generations.

“Arizona’s state parks and trails offer a respite and a chance to explore this state’s most beautiful places,” said Arizona State Parks and Trails Executive Director Bob Broscheid. “It’s up to everyone to recreate responsibly and remember to always ‘Pack It In, Pack It Out,’ when enjoying the great outdoors.”

“We want Arizonans and visitors to enjoy our outdoor spaces and precious waters for generations to come,” said ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera. “We’re asking everyone to do their part and leave no trace, or, better yet, leave Arizona’s natural spaces better than you found them.”

It’s simple:

Pack out your trash
Use a designated restroom
Pick up after your pet

Over holiday weekends, significant amounts of trash are left behind at some of Arizona’s favorite outdoor destinations. Visitors need to ‘leave no trace’ by removing all items they bring to the outdoors and disposing or recycling those items responsibly at home. Trash left behind also brings a hidden danger to water — it attracts wild animals, which leave their waste behind. To make matters worse, people don’t always use designated restrooms and neglect to pick up after their pets. This ‘poo-llution’ contributes to potentially harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, in waters where families swim, wade and play.

You can help even more by picking up more than you pack in. Take an extra bag, pick up trash and tell ADEQ how much you helped protect Arizona’s land and water. It is incumbent to both Arizonans and visitors to the Grand Canyon state to maintain our beautiful parks and other outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more about how you can help ADEQ scientists clean up Arizona’s great outdoors and protect Arizona’s beautiful waters today and for our future:

Help Clean Up
Become Citizen Scientist with ADEQ’s Arizona Water Watch Program

Coconino County Sheriff’s SAR Member & CERT Team Receive GEMS Awards

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was honored by having its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and one of its Search and Rescue members, Dennis Gill, recognized by the Flagstaff GEMS Citywide Volunteer Recognition group, which was presented by the Civic Service Institute at NAU.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office CERT Team was awarded the GEMs 2020 “Civic Organization of the Year “award. CERT was recognized for its effort and work during the Museum Fire during the summer of 2019. CERT provided over 40 volunteers during the emergency working in support of multiple local government agencies.

CERT worked in the Call Center taking over 1500+ calls keeping residence and visitors informed on the latest information about the fire, closures and restrictions. CERT supported City and County Law Enforcement assisting with contacting residences in the fire threatened areas during pre-evacuation, evacuation and re -entry stages. CERT also assisted with neighborhood notifications for community meetings going door to door in flood threatened areas passing out flyers informing residence of upcoming meetings. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office CERT team has been supported and sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office since 2004 and comprised of 140+ members spread throughout the county.

Dennis Gill a 36-year member of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team was recognized as the GEMS 2020 “Volunteer of the Year.” Dennis over his career has responded to over 1000 missions and impacted hundreds of lives.

Over Dennis’s Career he has been the leader of the Technical Rescue, Dennis was one of the first members of the “Northern Arizona Interagency Helicopter Rescue Team”. Dennis also served multiple terms on the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Board of Directors where he helped to manage funds, develop and facilitate training to help improve the capabilities of the team. His expertise and knowledge is counted on frequently to help manage and respond to incidents around the county.

ADOT adds to truck screening technology smoothing flow of commerce

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PHOENIX – To help freight move efficiently while ensuring that commercial vehicles can operate safely on state highways, the Arizona Department of Transportation has expanded its use of technology that screens moving trucks for weight and identifying information.

This system, used until now at select rest areas including McGuireville on Interstate 17, Sacaton on Interstate 10 and Canoa Ranch on Interstate 19, is now operating at ADOT’s commercial ports of entry along I-10, I-40 and State Route 95 in Parker.

“This truck screening system will allow our officers to focus on the commercial vehicles that need our officers’ attention,” said Jeff Stanhope, deputy director for ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division. “It helps us make better use of our resources and efforts while allowing trucks in compliance to go on their way.”

The technology includes weigh-in-motion sensors, cameras that are designed to read USDOT numbers and license plates, and message signs. An additional feature at the Ehrenberg and San Simon ports of entry on I-10 also identifies commercial vehicles with tires that could be damaged or in need of repair. The failure of a tire on a commercial vehicle can lead to catastrophic collisions and cause tire debris to be deposited on and along roadways.

As a commercial vehicle approaches the port of entry, highway signs direct the driver into the right lane. When the truck is a half mile from the port, the weigh-in-motion sensors and cameras capture the vehicle’s weight and identifying information and relay it to ADOT Enforcement and Compliance officers at the port.

The computer checks the truck’s credentials against national and state databases. If the truck is cleared and within weight limits, the message boards along the highway direct the driver to bypass the port and continue on. If there is an issue identified with the commercial vehicle, such as expired registration, federal out-of-service orders or required permits not on file, the signs direct the driver to pull into the port for further inspection.

In addition to saving ADOT officers and truck drivers time and resources, the system tracks and stores the size and weights of the commercial vehicles entering Arizona. This data will help ADOT’s Multimodal Planning Division make more informed decisions about the state’s highway system in the future.

Upcoming full closure on Interstate 40 east of Flagstaff June 26 – 29

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The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising drivers to plan for a full closure on Interstate 40 – about 30 miles east of Flagstaff – as work gets underway on the Two Guns bridge rehabilitation project.

While the following full closure is in place, drivers will use the on- and off-ramps at the I-40/Two Guns Road interchange (milepost 230) to exit and re-enter the highway: Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, June 26, and ending at 8 p.m. Monday, June 29.

Drivers should be prepared to slow down and make frequent stops while traveling through the construction zone.

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.

Rescue Unit Rescues 4 stranded hikers in Munds Canyon

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CCSO Photo

FLAGSTAFF – On June 19th at 7:20 p.m. the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of stranded hikers in Munds Canyon south of Flagstaff. The group was comprised of one an adult male and three juveniles after they split from a larger group of ten hikers. The group had intended to hike Munds Canyon from I-17 to Oak Creek. After realizing they had underestimated the distance to Oak Creek Canyon, they attempted to return to their vehicle near I-17. The group became exhausted and unable to return to their vehicle as it became dark.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit personnel responded to locate and assist the hikers. A search and rescue team was able to make voice contact with the hikers at approximately 6:00 a.m. and then were able to make access to the hikers using a rope rescue system at approximately 7:45
am. The hikers were assessed and provided with additional supplies and then assisted in ascending out of the canyon via a rope system. Once at the top of the canyon the hikers were provided with a ride to Schnebly Hill Road where they were reunited with family members. None of the hikers required any
medical attention.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind outdoor users to be prepared for their activities by researching the details of their trip including trail conditions and hazards as well as carrying the appropriate safety equipment which includes:

  1. Extra Water
  2. Extra Food
  3. Extra Clothing for the Conditions
  4. Navigation Equipment (map, compass, GPS)
  5. Headlamp/Flashlight
  6. First Aid Kit
  7. Shelter Material (space blanket or large leaf bag)
  8. Pocket Knife/Multitool
  9. Signaling Equipment (whistle and signal mirror)
  10. Fully Charged Cell Phone and Extra Battery

In addition, outdoor users should leave a detailed trip itinerary with a trusted person so that if the group does not arrive or make contact as expected authorities know where to begin a search.