Tag Archives: Fire

Point Wildfire is currently burning in Munds Mountain Wilderness

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sedona-point-fire-1SEDONA — The lightning-caused Point Wildfire is currently burning in Munds Mountain Wilderness on Munds mesa, which is located east of State Highway 179 and south of Sedona and Schnebly Hill road.

The fire is estimated at 190 acres and was ignited following several lighting storms that came through the area mid-week.

“Today we are focusing on stopping the northern progression of the wildfire,” said Nicole Branton, Red Rock District ranger. “This fire is in very difficult terrain that is dangerous to firefighting personnel, so we can expect to see smoke over the next several days as it continues to burn in areas that firefighters cannot access. Firefighter safety is our primary concern along with containing the fire on top of the mesa to prevent further spread into surrounding canyons.”

Smoke will also be visible from various parts of the Verde Valley and along Interstate 17 while firefighters work to contain the fire over the next few days.

Air attack helicopters and planes along with 55 firefighters are working to help slow progress across the mesa and to reduce its chance of moving into side canyons. Drones cannot be flown over or near the fire, as doing so will cease operations that are fighting the fire with water drops from the air.

For public and fire fighter safety, the public is asked to acknowledge the closure area of Munds Mountain Trail and Jack Canyon Trail.

Coco Fire Slowly Moving

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TUSAYAN — On July 22, the Coco Fire ignited due to lightning 6 miles southeast of Tusayan near the junction of Forest Road 302 and 2719. The initial start of the fire covered 15 acres and has now grown to 25 acres as of today by moving through the grass and pine litter. There was very minimal smoke production yesterday and no reported impacts to the east rim drive or the town of Tusayan overnight.

Today crews will be finishing up with preparation work along the planning area boundary. Later in the day when conditions are favorable, firefighters will be using management ignitions to create a black line along the Arizona Trail and FR 2719. This buffer will be in the Northeast corner of the planning area. Dave Barringer, Coco Fire Incident Commander-T, states “that slight delays may be expected for hikers in this small portion along the Arizona Trail due to the burn out operations if the assessment is made to start those ignitions today.” When those ignitions begin some smoke impacts to the east rim drive may occur during the evening hours.

Two new lightning caused wildfires on Williams Ranger District

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SunflowerFIre013WILLIAMS — Fire officials on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest have two new lightning caused fires called the “Sunflower” and “Ike” fires. Both fires are being assessed for their potential of reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and restoring overall forest health.

The Sunflower fire was discovered on July 20th, and has grown to approximately 11 acres in size. It is located near Sunflower Flat west of White Horse Lake close to the junction of forest roads 747 and 14. The Ike fire, also discovered on July 20, is approximately 1.5 miles to the southeast of the Sunflower fire and is currently less than one acre in size. Both fires are burning in a ponderosa pine fuel type mixed with oak and grasses and have the potential to grow over the next several days as a warmer drying weather pattern is forecasted.

Smoke may be visible from several communities including Williams, Parks, Bellemont, Pittman Valley, Prescott, Camp Verde, Flagstaff and Sedona. Fire managers will monitor smoke production closely and will take extra measures as necessary to minimize impacts to surrounding developed areas.

As these fires develop and expand in size, an emergency closure order may be implemented in the immediate effected areas and on a short section of the Overland Trail to ensure public and firefighter safety.

Local fire units respond to 6-acre wildfire near Woods Subdivision

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WILLIAMS — Fire responders from the Kaibab National Forest, Coconino National Forest, and the Williams and Ponderosa fire departments responded to a wildfire yesterday about a mile south of the Woods Subdivision near Garland Prairie. The Dogtown fire, which was reported just after 2 p.m., was contained at 6 acres by fire personnel.

“Due to the remote location, poor access, and expected weather conditions, this fire had the potential for a much different outcome,” said incident commander Grayson Beckley.

High winds can cause rapid spread that can be problematic for firefighters, which may also create a threat to neighboring communities. In this case, however, firefighters were able to contain the wildfire quickly despite high winds.

The cause of the Dogtown fire is unknown and currently under investigation by Forest Service law enforcement. Crews will remain on scene today working to extinguish all heat and smoke found within the fire perimeter, and will monitor the area throughout the week.

With warmer temperatures, lower humidity and higher winds, springtime conditions warrant increased diligence, and visitors are reminded to use extreme caution when using fire in forested areas. Individuals can help in reducing the number of preventable, human-caused fires by completely extinguishing campfires before leaving their camp site.

Although there are no fire restrictions currently in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, managers continuously monitor conditions that may increase fire danger levels at any time. Fire restrictions can be monitored here.

Kaibab National Forest announces release of wildland fire video

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firevideo-1WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is announcing the release of an informational video explaining the importance of wildland fire in the ecosystems of northern Arizona from the perspectives of various natural and cultural resource specialists.

Over the last decade, the Kaibab has managed both wildfire and prescribed fire to treat approximately 300,000 acres for a variety of objectives. That work wouldn’t have been possible without employees from all program areas actively engaging in the management of fire across the landscape, according to Kaibab fire staff officer Art Gonzales. Because of those ongoing efforts, Gonzales thought it important to highlight a part of the wildland fire world that most people never get to see.

“Typically, most fire videos provide a fire management officer, fuels specialist or fire ecologist perspective on why we believe fire across the landscape is essential for a number of reasons,” Gonzales said. “I wanted to take this video in a new direction, a direction in which those folks who are often the critical link in a successful program do not remain behind the scenes or go unnoticed. I was looking for a video about fire but from a non-fire perspective.”

To that end, Gonzales teamed with the Southwest Fire Science Consortium and producer Josh McDaniel to create a 10-minute video entitled “Keeping Fire on the Ground: Resource Specialist Perspectives on the Kaibab National Forest,” which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/IpFWb5NDyPI.

“I am hopeful this is a product that can be used to help educate, raise awareness, and highlight the collective efforts necessary to build a successful wildland fire management program,” Gonzales said. “On the Kaibab, we have been fortunate to have past and present employees at all levels of the organization who truly understand fire and who have helped build an extensive history of using wildland fire to achieve benefits to many resource areas across the forest, from protection of the wildland urban interface to ecosystem restoration to cultural and heritage site preservation and more. It is critical that this important work continue, and I hope the video will help spread the word about our efforts.”

Fire strikes home in Williams

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Fire nearly out at 131 Sherman in Williams.

Fire nearly out at 131 Sherman in Williams.

WILLIAMS — For units of the Williams Fire Department and a Lifeline Ambulance responded to a fire at 131 Sherman Avenue in Williams in the late morning hours of Sunday. Details of the fire are unknown.

The Lifeline Ambulance stood about two-blocks from the fire so it appears that there were no injuries.

The fourth fire truck arrived at about 11 a.m. and it appeared that the fire was nearly out by that time.

#fsFIRE Official Update to yesterdays house fire in Flagstaff

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Photo courtesy of Flagstaff Fire Dept.

Photo courtesy of Flagstaff Fire Dept.

FLAGSTAFF – OFFICIAL UPDATE FROM FFD.

At 18:00 on Monday evening the Flagstaff Fire Department responded all 7 units and a Battalion Chief to a residential house fire in the 5800 block of Abbey road. First arriving units reported heavy fire from the residence. An initial exterior attack was immediately initiated with heavy application of water and foam.

Due to the complexity of the fire and the potential for fire spread into the adjacent urban interface, other partnering agencies were called for assistance. The US Forest Service responded to the scene to assist in extinguishing small spot fires, caused from burning embers, in the wooded area near the home.

Read more at FLAGscanner

Kingman Hualapai Fire devastating

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KINGMAN—While people barbequed and prepared to participate in the Bullhead City fireworks display as spectators, fire and emergency crews had the unenviable task of fighting the Hualapai fire just outside Kingman, Arizona. The tragic loss of eighteen Prescott fire fighters only amplifies the danger of wild fires after a dry winter.

According to an article by Jayne Hanson of the News-Herald, the fire started June 30 by a lightning strike. The fire forced evacuations of home in the path of the fire by Mohave County Sheriff’s Deputies by late Monday morning.

By the 2nd, the fire had scorched over a thousand acres of Bureau of Land Management controlled Arizona property.

On the third, over a hundred fire fighters were having trouble containing the fire because of the rugged terrain. The fire was clearly visible from I-40 on the south side. The exit to DW Ranch Road was closed.

By July 5th, it appeared that fire crews had the fire contained.

Firemen fight fire on Sherman

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UPDATE: The family dog was transported to the veterinarian clinic in Flagstaff and did survive the ordeal. The Williams Police Department reports the dog is in good condition.

WILLIAMS—After their arrival, it took less than fifteen-minutes for Williams Firefighters to reduce the blaze at 119 Sherman to a smoldering ember. No one was home at the time except the family dog.

Firefighters took on the blaze in the rental with a fire cannon and hose. They also sprayed neighboring homes to prevent the spread of the intense heat. The fire began about 9:50 a.m.

Neighbors across the street reported hearing a pop and going outside to find a black bag burning on the porch. They reported the fire to the Williams Fire Department.

After rescue, fire fighters work to comfort the family pet.

While firefighters rescued the dog, paramedics at the scene were not allowed to administer any manner of medical treatment or first aid.

“It should not take any special training to give a dog an oxygen mask,” local resident Brenda Carter complained.

The dog is alive, but his condition is unknown.