Emergency Information

To avoid the risk of foodborne illnesses, the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourage consumers to take appropriate precautions in handling, preparing and cooking foods during the upcoming holiday season. CCPHSD also encourages people to make food safety a priority during the holiday meal planning process.

To ensure that holiday foods are safe, CCPHSD recommends following these basic safety steps:

Fire managers will be conducting prescribed burns near Flagstaff this week, beginning today, in strategic areas to help reduce the risk of severe wildfires around communities and important infrastructure.

Today (Nov. 13)

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, Palo Verde Generating Station (PVGS), in cooperation with local and State agencies, will test the outdoor warning sirens located within a 10-mile radius of the power plant.

The annual testing will activate the sirens twice, once at 12:00 p.m. and again at 12:30 p.m., to ensure operability. Volunteers from the West Valley Amateur Radio Club, the Tri-City Amateur Radio Club, Arizona Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other unaffiliated ham operators will be stationed at each siren and immediately report siren activation to emergency managers.

North Zone fire managers plan to begin prescribed fire operations on Monday (Nov. 12, 2018) and continue through all of next week on up to 3,000 acres on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, depending on weather conditions, fuel moisture and smoke dispersal on any given day.

Specifically, fire managers plan to treat acres in the following four project locations through the week in order to improve forest health and reduce the risk of unnaturally severe wildfire:

Fuels reduction efforts will be continuing on both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts beginning Friday (11/9/2018) of this week. Both districts will be conducting broadcast burns that could extend over the next several days as environmental and weather conditions permit.

The 12,000 acre Sunflower Prescribed Fire Project located approximately 8 miles southeast of Williams has been ongoing over the past year with nearly 7000 acres successfully treated to date. Aerial ignitions will continue as crews work toward completing the remaining 5000 acres on this project.

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend and when majority of the country turns their clocks back, the American Red Cross reminds them to also take these steps to make sure their household is prepared for emergencies. The State of Arizona, this is a reminder to check and install smoke detectors.

Fire managers will be conducting slash pile burns 26 miles southeast of Flagstaff Wednesday (October 31, 2018) afternoon.

Halloween is just days away, one of the most popular holidays in this country. Little witches, ghosts, pirates and super heroes will soon take to the streets for trick or treat fun, and the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada has tips to help everyone stay safe while enjoying the festivities.

“Halloween is a fun time for everyone and we want to make sure you all stay safe while enjoying it,” said Alan Diskin, executive director, American Red Cross of Southern Nevada. “Here are the top ways for parents to keep the kids safe while getting ready for Trick or Treat."

Fire managers will be conducting prescribed burns and slash pile burns near Flagstaff and southwest of Clints Well throughout next week as weather conditions dry out.

Flagstaff Area

Over the last two weeks, the number of Zika cases spreading in Sonora, Mexico has increased significantly, prompting officials from Maricopa County Department of Public Health to remind women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant to avoid travel to Zika-affected areas.

Tomorrow at 10:18 a.m. (Thursday, October 18th) millions of Arizonans will be asked to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" in the state’s largest earthquake drill ever, The GREAT ARIZONA SHAKEOUT. The American Red Cross will be participating in the drill along with thousands of other organizations, agencies, and businesses across the nation.

The Tohono O'odham Nation Department of Public Safety has lifted the evacuation notice for Ali Chugk and Kohatk communities effective Tuesday, October 16, 2018. Members from Ali Chugk and Kohatk that are able to return have been transported back to their respective communities from the Emergency Shelter in Sells by Tohono O'odham Nation personnel and the American Red Cross. The Emergency Shelter continues to be active with community members from Kohatk.

Fire managers will be conducting slash pile burns Wednesday, and continue Thursday if needed, near Flagstaff, Mountainaire, west Sedona and southwest of Clints Well.

Smoke from piles near Mount Eldon Road is expected to disperse toward the west and may be visible to north Flagstaff residents and motorists using Interstate 17 near Mountainaire. Smoke form the piles in west Sedona and near U.S. Highway 260, southwest of Clints Well, are small and should be unnoticeable. Smoke may settle during evening hours and impact low lying areas near the burn sites.

Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) officials announced that two cases of influenza have been confirmed in Coconino County. These cases are the first reported in Coconino County for the 2018 – 2019 flu season. The individuals have recovered from the illness.  The reported cases prompted Public Health officials to remind citizens to receive the flu vaccination (flu shot).

Five days after Hurricane Michael slammed into the southeast, thousands of people are living in severe conditions. The American Red Cross is with them, helping people in Florida, Georgia and Alabama as they struggle to get back on their feet. The Arizona, New Mexico and El Paso Region of the Red Cross has deployed 32 volunteers to help those affected by the devastating storm with another 75 people already serving in the Carolinas helping in the Hurricane Florence disaster recovery.

Fire managers will be conducting slash pile (34.611454N, -111.18

The Black Mesa Ranger District plans to conduct a prescribed burn within the Heber-Overgaard Green Waste Site on Forest Road 488F Rd in Township 12N, Range 17 East, and Section 16 starting Monday, October 15, just north of Overgaard on State Highway 277. Smoke will be seen from Highways 260, 277, and 377 and will have light to moderate impacts to Heber and those highways throughout the week but should decrease significantly each evening after the primary ignition occurs.

Over the weekend, the Tohono O’odham Nation Office of Emergency Management completed 50 home damage assessments within Districts impacted by Tropical Storm Rosa, including Gu Vo (11 homes), Pisinemo (17), Sif Oidak (20), and Hickiwan (2). Preliminary infrastructure assessments were also conducted by the Nation’s Planning Department, Natural Resources Department, and Tohono O'odham Utility Authority for public buildings and tribal utility systems. Damage assessments will continue in the coming days, including road assessments and comprehensive cost estimates.

The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forests will be conducting pile burning on the Little Timber Sale, starting October 15, 2018, weather permitting, and continuing through December 2018. The piles are located off Forest Road 275, just North of Alpine, and continue down Forest Road 275k. The burn consists of material from the Little Timber sale, which are 20’ X 20’ machine piles, and will be burned to allow for the regeneration of new seedlings and/or native grasses.

Over the weekend, the Tohono O’odham Nation Office of Emergency Management completed 50 home damage assessments within Districts impacted by Tropical Storm Rosa, including Gu Vo (11 homes), Pisinemo (17), Sif Oidak (20), and Hickiwan (2). Preliminary infrastructure assessments were also conducted by the Nation’s Planning Department, Natural Resources Department, and Tohono O'odham Utility Authority for public buildings and tribal utility systems. Damage assessments will continue in the coming days, including road assessments and comprehensive cost estimates.