wildfire

The lightning-caused Galahad Fire is slowly burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. As Arizona Public Radio’s Parker Olson reports, National Park officials are letting the 223-acre fire burn.

Due to increased fire danger, the Coconino and Kaibab national forests will enact Stage II fire restrictions beginning Fri, May 30 at 8 a.m. This bans most fire-oriented activities on the national forests.

On the Kaibab National Forest, the ban only applies to Williams and Tusayan ranger districts. Due to different weather and fuel conditions, the restrictions do not apply to the North Kaibab Ranger District. For more info on national forest fire restrictions, see http://firerestrictions.us.az.

Also on Friday, the City of Flagstaff will implement its own Stage II fire restrictions. This prohibits all open burning, such as in fire pits and chimineas, as well as the use of charcoal BBQ grills in all city parks, natural areas and private residences. Smoking in parks and on the Flagstaff Urban Trail System is also banned. For more info, see www.flagstaff.az.gov.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has approved a ban on all fires on public and private lands in the unincorporated areas of the county effective immediately. The prohibition will remain until the danger of wildfire decreases.

The ban applies to all open fires, campfires and other pyrotechnic displays. The Board of Supervisors had previously banned the use and sale of fireworks in the county.

As a result of drought conditions, hot temperatures and increased fire danger, officials have announced elevated fire restrictions for the Tonto National Forest beginning Fri, May 23 at 8 a.m. The new restrictions prohibit virtually all fire or fire-causing activities in the forest. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal-burning device is banned.

Thu, May 22 – 10:21 a.m.

The Woods Canyon Fire on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in the Black Mesa Ranger District is currently at 88 acres and 40 percent containment. Officials say dozer and handlines have been created on the east and west sides of the fire, but crews are still battling spot fires on the north side. The fire is located about 22 miles west of Heber-Overgaard.

According to the Coconino National Forest, an approximately 20-acre Slide Fire has caused the announcement of evacuation orders for areas of Oak Creek Canyon north of Slide Rock State Park. According to the Arizona Daily Sun, Highway 89 is closed at the Oak Creek Overlook and may soon close near Ft. Tuthill in Flagstaff. The Slide Fire was reported around 4 p.m. today and is burning on the north side of the highway near Slide Rock State Park.

Traffic/Fire Alert:
ADOT reports that I-17 is closed in both directions near Sunset Point north of Phoenix due to a brush fire. The freeway is closed from mile marker 254 northbound, to mile marker 262 southbound. No word yet as to the size of the fire or when I-17 may reopen. You can find more information at az511.gov or follow ADOT's Facebook page and Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT).

As a result of increasing fire danger, the Prescott National Forest will implement Stage II fire restrictions beginning Fri, May 23. Under the restrictions, building, maintaining attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or stove fire is prohibited. This applies to all developed campgrounds and improved sites.

Gov. Brewer has signed a bill shielding cities and towns from large settlements relating to death or serious injury of public safety employees. As Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports, the bill was inspired by the deaths of 19 firefighters last summer during the Yarnell Hill Fire.

Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect Thursday for the Coronado National Forest and several other sites in southern Arizona. The same restrictions are currently in place in many other parts of the state including the Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves national forests.