FILE PHOTO
Tuesday through Friday the chance of thunderstorms continues ranging from 40% to 50% chance. There is a 30% chance on Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to cool slightly dropping from the low 80s to the upper 70s and there are no excessive winds predicted for the period. The forecast for Flagstaff is almost identical to Williams with slightly cooler temperatures overnight.
Kaibab Forest Service photo
Due to the success of the suppression efforts in limiting the wildfire’s spread, the evacuation of Kaibab Lake Campground on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has been lifted. Campers may return to the campground immediately.
Fire resources remain on scene and will continue working through the evening toward containment of the Prairie Dog Fire.
The wildfire began on private property and moved onto the Kaibab National Forest. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.
For more information, reference the following sources:
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
WILLIAMS – While the Prairie Dog fire was being fought, an injury accident occurred at about mile post 158 on westbound I-40 in the construction zone. A worker was run over by a piece of construction equipment injuring his leg. Lifeline ambulance requested assistance from Williams Fire Department shortly after the Prairie Dog fire was out. Williams Fire Department Rescue 1 responded and Guardian launched a helicopter. Condition of the injured person is unknown.
WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest and Williams Fire Department are responding to the 2-acre Prairie Dog Fire located just north of Interstate 40 about a mile east of the City of Williams and west of Highway 64.
Due to the potential for the wildfire to grow, the Williams Police Department is evacuating Kaibab Lake Campground and asking visitors to stay clear of the area while fire suppression efforts continue. No additional structures are threatened at this time.
Fire resources on scene include five engines, one dozer, two water tenders and several individual firefighting personnel. The Flagstaff Hotshot crew is en route and a helicopter has arrived.
The wildfire began on private property and has moved onto the Kaibab National Forest. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.
In case you forgot, rain looks something like this.
Whether or not it will be enough to break the drought remains to be seen.
WILLIAMS — While the Kaibab National Forest received some rain over the weekend, forest managers would like to remind visitors that fire danger levels continue to be elevated and that Stage II fire restrictions as well as an area closure of the Bill Williams Mountain watershed will remain in place until much more significant and widespread precipitation is received.
Officials emphasize that the Kaibab National Forest is still at the height of its fire season and that northern Arizona continues to have the potential for large, severe wildfires. The Kaibab National Forest needs the public’s continued support in preventing unwanted, human-caused wildfires.
“We have had excellent compliance with the fire restrictions and area closure that are already in place on the Kaibab National Forest,” said Jerry Parker, Forest Service law enforcement officer. “Members of the public can continue to do their part in protecting our forests by remaining vigilant and abiding by all fire restrictions and area closures.”
The Forest Service uses fire restrictions and closures to help prevent unwanted, human-caused wildfires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions.
Forest officials remind visitors that having a campfire on the National Forest while under fire restrictions is a violation of law requiring a mandatory appearance in federal court and consequent fines and possible jail time. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during times of the year when fire danger is increased.
For detailed information about the Stage II fire restrictions and the area closure of the Bill Williams Mountain watershed currently in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, reference the following sources:
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
Arizona Fire Restrictions: firerestrictions.us/az
But let it be admitted, for argument’s sake, that mere wantonness and lust of domination would be sufficient to beget that disposition; still it may be safely affirmed, that the sense of the constituent body of the national representatives, or, in other words, the people of the several States, would control the indulgence of so extravagant an appetite. It will always be far more easy for the State governments to encroach upon the national authorities than for the national government to encroach upon the State authorities. The proof of this proposition turns upon the greater degree of influence which the State governments if they administer their affairs with uprightness and prudence, will generally possess over the people; a circumstance which at the same time teaches us that there is an inherent and intrinsic weakness in all federal constitutions; and that too much pains cannot be taken in their organization, to give them all the force which is compatible with the principles of liberty. — Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper No. 17
Happy Flag Day, Flag Week and Honor America Days? The Stars and Stripes line the streets of Williams, today, in honor of the event.
President Donald Trump issued the annual proclamation making June 14 flag day and this week Flag Week.
It happens to be President Trump’s birthday.
It also happens to be the beginning of Honor America Days. Honor America Days are a United States Federal Observance observed June 14 to July 4. According to 36 U.S.C. § 112, the 21 days from Flag Day through Independence Day is a period to honor the United States. On these days, U.S. Congress declares that there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.
If you have not heard about Honor America Days that is probably because the Department of Education forbids teaching Patriotic holidays. It does not show up on your calendar. It should, however.
There are a few who actually recognize the holidays. Rome, New York, for example, celebrates with a parade and a 5K Run.
Fort Stanwix honored one of their seasonal rangers who served in Afghanistan at their Honor America Days concert in 2007.
Of course kids can always think on their own. You can take time to read the Constitution of the United States of America. Take a look at the unalienable Bill of Rights. This link will take you to the Bill of Rights as originally written. There were twelve but only ten were approved. WARNING: Your eyes might be opened to how much of your liberty has been eroded. You can even read the Federalist Papers with particular emphasis on Federalist Paper No. 29.
You can read them on your iPad.
WILLIAMS – In the area around Williams people have water out for animals. Some put out water for their stock and pets and some for wildlife. This week, one local resident got a surprise.
The resident set water out for deer and elk. Wednesday of last week he came to his home about three miles south on Perkinsville road to discover drag marks across his driveway. A deer carcass was dragged into and laying in the grass alongside the driveway.
He set up his trail camera. He caught this image of what killed the deer in the first place.
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AZGF warns against setting food and water out for animals. Some people have enough acreage to put out water for wildlife a fairly safe distance from their home. Some with livestock have to leave water out for their animals. With the recent drought conditions, however, that also attracts predators.
If you do or must leave water out, take care when you step outside to take in the cool night air. Scan the area carefully. Remember that your cats and small dogs make meals for these predators. Feed your animals inside and do not leave food out for them in town.
FREDONIA — The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service will implement additional fire restrictions, also known as Stage II fire restrictions, across the North Kaibab Ranger District, and the South Rim, North Rim and Inner Canyon of Grand Canyon National Park beginning at 8 a.m. this Friday. Visitors should be mindful that these new fire restrictions will limit certain activities and will remain in effect until rescinded, which typically occurs after significant and widespread moisture arrives and fire danger levels subside.
As a reminder, the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts are already in Stage II fire restrictions and will also remain in effect until lifted.
Under the Stage II fire restrictions to be implemented Friday across the North Kaibab Ranger District, the following are prohibited:
Under the Stage II fire restrictions to be implemented Friday across Grand Canyon National Park, the following are prohibited:
Exemptions to the Stage II fire restrictions on the North Kaibab Ranger District include the following:
Exemptions to the Stage II fire restrictions on Grand Canyon National Park include the following:
On the Kaibab Plateau, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service fire managers work together as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program. Here North Zone Fire Managers use fire restrictions to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Implementation of fire restrictions normally occurs based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured. These factors include but are not limited to the following:
On National Forest Lands, fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area covered by the restrictions receives significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded. However, Grand Canyon National Park operates under Stage I Fire Restrictions year round, except in certain circumstances where fire managers must increase to Stage II fire restrictions because the criteria listed above dictates a need to do so.
Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands when fire danger is increased. Fire managers would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the National Forest or National Park while under fire restrictions is a violation of law requiring a mandatory appearance in federal court, consequent fines, and possible jail time.
As a reminder, these fire restrictions apply to the entire Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park. Additionally, many city, state, and county agencies implement similar restrictions, so members of the public should check with the appropriate agency on any restrictions applying to privately-owned property or other lands not within the jurisdictional boundaries of any Federal Land Management Agency.
Know Before You Go! Members of the public can find additional information through the following:
Drivers in northern Arizona are advised to plan for travel delays on Interstate 40 because of traffic realignment and ramp closures at Parks, Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads. Crews are repairing 17 miles of pavement on I-40 between Parks and Williams. The project also includes making bridge deck repairs at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads.
Beginning Monday, June 4, I-40 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between mileposts 178 and 179, near the Parks exit, while crews begin to reconstruct the travel lanes. The Parks exit will remain open throughout this work.
Through July, the westbound I-40 on- and off-ramps at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads will be closed and traffic is being detoured to the Parks and Williams exits. In mid-July, the westbound on- and off-ramps at Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads will reopen and the westbound on- and off-ramp and eastbound on-ramp at the Parks exit will be close with traffic detoured to Pittman Valley Road through early August. Drivers must follow signed detour routes.
Crews are completing work on westbound I-40 between Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads first, then moving to eastbound I-40 in the same area in early summer. Construction will pause for the winter season and is scheduled to resume in spring 2019 for additional paving, bridge and intersection work. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.
What to expect