Emergency Information

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) continues to caution against contact with water in the Nogales Wash and Potereo Creek due to an on-going potential for intermittent sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in a tunnel under the international border. This tunnel was built to transport stormwater from Nogales, Sonora to the Santa Cruz River.

In January 2019, ADEQ notified the public of the SSO potential, due to pump failures at the wastewater treatment plant in Nogales, Sonora. While the pumps have been repaired or replaced, an issue with electrical connections continues to be addressed. The U.S. and Mexico sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) are in contact with the utility in Nogales, Sonora, which is working to resolve factors contributing to the intermittent SSOs. ADEQ continues to monitor the situation and is also in contact with IBWC, the utility in Nogales, Sonora, the City of Nogales, Arizona and the Santa Cruz County Health Department.

During storm runoff, water levels may be higher than normal in local washes. Normally, there is persistent low flow in the Nogales Wash from a natural spring, plus water runoff and discharge originating in Nogales, Sonora. This water is not due to an SSO, but an SSO can mix with this water.

ADEQ urges people to avoid access to local washes in this area. This recommendation is based on potential health risks to people and animals from contact with raw sewage associated with the SSO. Untreated sewage carries pathogens that pose a risk to human health and the environment. People and animals that come into contact with untreated sewage are at risk of infection from those pathogens. Depending on volume of flow and frequency, an SSO could threaten the Santa Cruz River.

Recommended Actions:

• Avoid contact with the water in this area, including wading, drinking and washing. If you have contact with the water, rinse using soap and clean water immediately.
• Take care that pets and livestock do not drink potentially affected water. Pets can be especially susceptible because they tend to drink while in the water and lick their fur after exposure. Rinse pets using soap and clean water.
• If you think that your health or that of your pet or livestock has been affected from exposure to raw sewage, seek medical treatment immediately. Be sure to tell the medical professional about contact with the SSO. Also, make sure to advise your local county public health department about the exposure details.

For more information, visit the resources below:

• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Quality Division | View >
• Report an Environmental Complaint to ADEQ | View >
• U.S. EPA Sanitary Sewer Overflows | View >
• International Boundary and Water Commission | View >
• Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency | View >

Kaibab National Forest fire managers will be continuing work on two prescribed fire projects located on the Tusayan Ranger District beginning this week. Crews are expecting to treat approximately 680 acres over a four day period on the Reed project located approximately 2 miles east of the town of Tusayan. An additional 300 acres on the Russell project located about 10 miles southeast of Tusayan is expected to be completed in about two days.

As with all prescribed fire burns, these projects will only be initiated when forest and weather conditions are conducive to achieving desired effects that meet land management objectives.

Smoke may be visible at times from highway 64, the town of Tusayan, and adjacent communities of Grand Canyon. Managers can significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration of smoke more effectively by burning smaller units each day lessening the overnight Impacts to developed areas. Smoke and air quality will be monitored very closely as these projects move forward.

Some of the units to be treated will be adjacent Arizona Trail however the trail will remain open during these operations. Users should be aware of fire activity in the vicinity and use caution when passing through the area. No major Impacts are expected to interfere with hikers on the trail.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these vicinities will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed

 

burns authorizations, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html. Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

·         Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311

·         Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

·         Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

·         Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab 

·         Kaibab South Zone Rx Fire: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/

 

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Lakeside Ranger District will be burning slash piles October 7 through October 11 if conditions allow. The ignition areas are on the Billy Timber Sale, Unit 9, just North of Stone Pine Estates along Buck Springs Road and Fleming/Mortimer Commercial Fuelwood Sales located on Porter Mountain Rd and Forest Service Road 283. Scattered piles will be burned across roughly 38 acres of forest land. Possible smoke impact is anticipated along Highway 260, Pinetop Country Club and Sky Hi Retreat from the Billy Mountain Timber Sale Pile Burn.  Possible smoke impact on Porter Mountain Rd and Highway 60 from the Fleming/Mortimer Prescribed Burn.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.  Smoke may be visible from the communities of Show Low, Vernon and Pinetop-Lakeside.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large scale wildfire impacts to private lands.

Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries. Prescribed fire operations are subject to cancelation due to unfavorable weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstance.

For questions or concerns please contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100, or dial 311 to reach the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest's Black Mesa Ranger District plans to conduct burning operations within Burn Blocks 13,17,19,20 of the Nagel Forest Health Prescribed Burn area, if weather conditions allow, from October 7 to October 18. Burn Block 13 and 17 will be West of FR 717, South of FR 100, and East of FR 9429. Burn Blocks 19 and 20 will be along FR 169, West of FR 180 and the 9401 and East of FR 9412R and South of FR 9403Q and FR 100. The burn will encompass approximately 2,636 acres.

Once ignition occurs, crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

This project is in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to provide forest restoration and health to the Rocky Mountain Elk, mule deer, and other wildlife species that frequent the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. This prescribed fire is a follow up to previous mechanical treatments within parts of the unit.  It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large scale wildfire impacts to private lands.

Smoke will be visible from the surrounding communities of Forest Lakes, Heber/Overgaard, and Winslow including Hwy 260 and I-40.

For questions or concerns please contact the Black Mesa Ranger District at (928) 535-7300, or dial 311 for the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System.

 

Wildland firefighters are responding with ground crews and multiple engines to a wildfire in the Schultz Pass between Mt. Elden and the San Francisco Peaks.

The Hill Fire, last reported at 2 acres and growing, was reported just after 3 p.m. today by members of the public who called in a smoke report.

Smoke will be visible from Flagstaff and other local communities. The public should use extreme caution when driving on U.S. Highway 180 north of Flagstaff as firefighting vehicles and personnel will be using the highway to respond.

More information about this fire will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook accounts as news develops.

 

A one day prescribed fire operation is scheduled to occur on Saturday Oct 5 on the Williams Ranger District approximately 6 miles northwest of the community of Spring Valley. Aerial ignitions will be used to ignite an 1872 acre unit of the Marteen Prescribed fire project. This burn is expected to be completed in one operational period.

The unit being treated is situated within the Marteen Wildfire burn scar from 2008. Maintenance burning in previously burned areas such as this help consume accumulations of dead and down woody debris left behind from the original wildfire that occurred years earlier.

Smoke will be visible from Highway 180 and State Route 64 near Valle. Smoke may transport to the east and northeast in the vicinity of Kendrick Park on the north side of Kendrick Mountain during the day, with overnight residuals moving northwest up Spring Valley Wash into the area south of Valle. However, smoke production and duration will be very short and minimal by the following day.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened caution when passing through active project areas. Hunters and campers are encouraged to seek alternative campsites away from the active fire vicinity while operations are occurring.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. (ADEQ) To view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website go to: smoke.azdeq.gov/

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 
• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

The Coconino National Forest is reducing the size of the area closure for the Museum Fire on Friday (Oct.4) to allow for increased access and recreation on parts of Mt. Elden.

The Burned Area Emergency Response team has completed treatments to the land, including mulching with a helicopter in effort to stabilize the watershed and encourage recovery. Now that this important work is complete, the public will be allowed in additional areas of the burned area.

Although additional areas are open, the public is urged to use caution, as hazards still exist such as ash pits, rolling rocks, weakened trees, falling trees and possible floodwaters.

Some areas will remain closed that pose a continued and increased risk to visitors. These areas will be re-evaluated after the winter season to see what risks can be mitigated before opening to the public.

Portions of Forest Road 789 and FR 6353 marking the restricted-area boundary are OPEN to non-motorized use only. Elden Lookout Road (FR 557) is closed to all traffic where it intersects with the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Please see the official closure order and map for details.

The following trails will be OPEN:

• Arizona National Scenic Trail (ANST)
• Heart Trail
• Little Bear Trail
• Little Gnarly
• Lower Oldham Trail from Buffalo Park to the ANST junction
• Rocky Ridge Trail from ANST to Schultz Creek Trail
• Schultz Loop Trail
• Sunset Trail from the intersection of Schultz Tank to Little Bear Trail

The following trails will remain CLOSED:

• Brookbank Trail (entire trail)
• Lower Oldham, from ANST to Brookbank Trail
• Rocky Ridge Trail, from ANST to Brookbank Trail
• Sunset Trail, from Little Bear Trail to Elden Lookout Trail
• Upper Oldham Trail (entire trail)

For more information about the Mt. Elden area, please call the Flagstaff Ranger District at 928-526-0866.

 

Since the wind event that occurred last weekend, fire managers have been implementing a plan to stop the growth of the 11,000-acre Ikes Fire, which is located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Fire crews have been completing burnout operations over the last week along Forest Road 271 from the Grand Canyon rim to the junction of Forest Road 206. On Monday, crews began extending these operations along forest roads 206 and 4008, which connected the burnout preparation work to a point on the main portion of the Ikes Fire that burned earlier in the summer. This additional work involved about 2 miles of fire line burnout, which crews successfully completed yesterday.

In addition to the work along forest roads, the Flaming Gorge Fire Use Module began treating the area along the rim of the Grand Canyon with a burnout process that will prevent any further movement of the wildfire from the plateau area into the canyon. It will also make the area on the plateau resistant to any fire movement up and out of the canyon. Firing operations may continue into the weekend, which could result in smoke impacts similar to those that have occurred over the last two days. Smoke impacts will moderate as soon as burnout operations are completed.

The Ikes Fire remains at about 11,000 acres in size. Acreage totals may increase as burnout operations are completed over the next few days. In addition to hand ignitions, fire managers may use a helicopter to conduct aerial ignitions.

An expanded area closure is in effect on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest in order to ensure public and firefighter safety during ongoing fire operations. The closure includes the Rainbow Rim Trail area and the viewpoints from Parissawampitts Point to Stina Point. Crazy Jug Point north of Parissawampitts is open. The Kaibab National Forest will reopen the area as soon as conditions are safe for public entry.

For hikers and mountain bikers, the Arizona National Scenic Trail is an alternative recreational opportunity while the Rainbow Rim Trail is closed. The Arizona National Scenic Trail is accessible from many points along Highway 67 and offers a variety of scenery, including views into the Grand Canyon.

Highway 67 and the North Rim Village, North Rim Lodge and businesses are open. However, some road and trail closures are in effect for the Ikes Fire area within Grand Canyon National Park. The following roads and trails are closed on the North Rim:

• Powell Plateau Trail
• North Bass Trail
• Fire Point
• Swamp Point
• W4 road north of the intersection of the W4 and W1 roads

Smoke from the Ikes Fire has been more visible over the last few days due to the burnout operations. Visitors traveling to the area should be aware of possible smoke along Highway 67. Visitors are asked to drive carefully and turn headlights on for safety. For local air quality and related information, please visit the following websites: www.airnow.gov or the Smoke Management Division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at https://azdeq.gov/SmokeManagemet.

More information can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6475/. Visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm for additional information about wildland fire at Grand Canyon National Park.

For information about the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab or @KaibabNF on Facebook and Twitter.

• Ikes Fire Closure Map PDF

Kaibab National Forest fire managers will begin implementing prescribed fire treatments on the first units of the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project near Williams beginning Friday of this week. The project is expected to take multiple days to complete, however ignitions will only occur on days that will be most effect for meeting objectives and minimizing smoke impacts to the adjacent rural areas.

The 7400 acre prescribed burn area is located just north of the City of Williams and Interstate 40, east of Forest Road 124, and west of Airport Road and Highway 64. Goals of the prescribed fire treatment include decreasing the threat of unnatural severe wildfire by reducing accumulated fuels, improving forest health, and reintroducing fire to the landscape that aligns with the desired historical condition.

The project will be broken into smaller units that will be scheduled to be burned on days that will help to allow smoke to disperse away from developed areas and ventilate quicker reducing the impacts to local communities.

Area residents can expect to see and hear a helicopter in the area, as aerial ignitions will occur on portions of the burn. Smoke will be highly visible from the City of Williams and from roadways and recreation areas in the general vicinity of this project. Specific areas from which smoke is likely to be noticeable include H.A. Clark Memorial Field airport, Kaibab Lake, portions of State Route 64, Valle, the City of Williams, and Interstate 40.

Smoke is expected to lift during the day and travel northeast toward Red Lake Valley. However, cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying areas surrounding the burn location.

Fire managers are aware that community members may be sensitive to the smoke produced, and they make every effort to limit the amount and duration of production. Prescribed fires with short-term impacts to air quality can help prevent future severe unplanned wildfires under unpredictable conditions with smoke that may pose significant risks to public health and safety.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of the Three Sisters prescribed fire project. However, during operations, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

The Kaibab National Forest is part of a fire-dependent ecosystem. Fire on the landscape is critical to overall ecosystem functioning and the sustainability of local communities, watersheds and wildlife habitat.

Prescribed burns are always dependent on weather and wind conditions, as well as approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 
• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

Fire managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to take advantage of favorable weather conditions and have planned several fuel treatments October 4th through October 30th.  All burning will be dependent on current and expected weather conditions.  Fire managers will utilize tactics to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible.  These may include canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, timing daytime ignitions to allow the majority of smoke to disperse prior to settling overnight, and burning larger sections at a time when conditions are favorable to reduce the overall number of days smoke is in the area.

79/80: Broadcast burn unit. Approximately 662 acres located south of Groom Creek off Senator Hwy (FS Rd 52).  Fire managers may be utilizing aerial ignition devices in addition to ground ignitions on this prescribed burn.

Waterfalls: Broadcast burn unit. Approximately 644 acres located south of Groom Creek off Wolf Creek Rd (County Rd 101).  Fire managers may be utilizing aerial ignition devices in addition to ground ignitions on this prescribed burn.

High Valley Fuel Break Piles: Pile burn unit. Approximately 77 acres located south west of Prescott in between Copper Basin Rd (County Rd 64) and White Spar RD (Hwy 89).

Aspen Creek Piles: Pile burn unit. Approximately 152 acres located south west of Prescott near Copper Basin Rd (County Rd 64) and Thumb Butte Loop Rd (FS Rd 373) junction.

Lynx Creek Piles: Pile burn unit. Approximately 509 acres located south east of Prescott off Walker Rd (County Rd 57) 

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of all prescribed burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.  Drivers should be prepared for short delays adjacent to operations along roads.  

Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These burns will mimic natural fires by reducing hazardous fuels accumulations, and reintroduce fire into a fire dependent system; recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity.  Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority. 

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather forecasts, fuels moisture levels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

Messages will be posted to social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:

·         Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/)  

·         Twitter (https://twitter.com/PrescottNF?lang=en)

 

The public can obtain additional information via the following:

• Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
• Twitter:  @PrescottNF
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
• Fire Information:  (928) 925-1111
• Local Ranger Station:  Bradshaw RD (928) 443-8000

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) will begin two separate prescribed fire projects in Coconino County this month.

The week of October 14, firefighters start work on the McCreary Prescribed Fire consisting of 475 acres of piles near Happy Jack, two miles north of Clint’s Well. The intent of the burn allows for the safe and efficient removal of debris piles from prior hazardous fuels reduction work to safeguard nearby communities. 

The McCreary Prescribed Fire project is planned for three days.

Also on October 14, work begins on the Raymond Wildlife Area Prescribed Fire near Winslow. The project is a partnership between DFFM and the Arizona Game and Fish Department to improve ecosystem health, allow for grassland restoration, and to increase forage production within Game and Fish lands.

The 14,665-acre Raymond Wildlife Area Prescribed Fire takes place over the course of a few years, of which, 500 acres is scheduled to be completed by December 2019.

All prescribed fires are weather dependent and must be approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality before ignitions start. Fire information will be updated on DFFM’s Twitter and Facebook pages and information will be shared via the agency’s social media application.

To download the free app, go to the iTunes or Google Play stores and search the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected]

 

For the protection of the public’s health and safety forest officials are extending the Sheridan Fire Area Closure which will now remain in effect until October 24th, at 6:00 am.

The Sheridan Fire is 80% contained and in monitor status; however potential hazards still exist in the fire area.  Risks in recently burned areas include burned out stump holes, unstable terrain, falling trees or limbs, and the potential for washed out roads and trails after a significant rain event.   

The extension will also allow the Prescott National Forest Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team time to finish their assessment of the impacts of the Sheridan Fire.  The BAER program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and lessen these threats through appropriate emergency actions to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources.

This assessment will determine and prioritize work within the fire area; followed by modeling and analyzing data before completing a report that will be given to Forest Service officials.

Closure:  County Road 68 (Camp Wood Road) is now open. All areas north of County Road 68 (Camp Wood Road) are open with the exception of a small area adjacent to Forest Service Roads 95 and 9821B (see map). The area south of County Road 68 (Camp Wood Road) remain closed. The current closure area map and detailed description are available on the Prescott National Forest website.

The public can obtain additional information via the following:

• Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
• Twitter:  @PrescottNF
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
• Fire Information:  (928) 925-1111
• Local Ranger Station:  Chino Valley RD (928) 777-2200

Effective Tuesday, October 1st at 6:00 am, the Prescott National Forest will lift the fire related area closure for the Cellar Fire east of Wagoner.      

Members of the public will be allowed to access the area, which had been closed due to public safety during ongoing fire operations, including areas of active fire, the presence of firefighting equipment and personnel; and for the public’s safety due to monsoon activity.  The public is advised to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased vigilance regarding personal safety and understand that potential hazards can still exist. 

Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:

• Burned out stump holes that could cause injury if stepped in;
• Unstable terrain with potential for rolling debris (boulders, logs, rocks, etc.);
• Unsound burned trees (snags) that could fall or drop large limbs;
• Storms resulting in flash flooding that could wash out roads, initiate debris flows, and entrap people at flooded stream courses;
• Eroded and very rough roads that could result in unsafe driving conditions
• Blowing dust and ash on roads and hillsides.

 

Visitors are advised to follow these outdoor safety best practices:

1. Know the weather forecast and check it frequently as conditions can change in a very short timeframe.
2. Let someone outside the area know exactly where you are and where you will be going daily.
3. Do not park vehicles or camp in areas with burned snags or where potential flood waters would prevent escape. Know where you are in relation to drainages.
4. During windy conditions remain in open areas that are free of trees (both live and burned) as much as possible.
5. If an area seems unsafe for any reason, leave.
6. Have good maps and know where you are at all times.
7. Keep a well charged cell phone with you and check it frequently so you know when you are in an area where there is no coverage.    

 

The public can obtain additional information via the following:

• Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
• Twitter:  @PrescottNF
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
• Fire Information:  (928) 925-1111
• Local Ranger Station:  Bradshaw RD (928) 443-8000

After two days of strong winds over the wildfire, minimal growth occurred in critical areas of the Ikes Fire on the Kaibab Plateau. The wildfire remained at a little more than 11,000 acres in size despite the high wind event.

Last week, two helicopters were used over portions of the fire below the canyon rim in Quaking Aspen Canyon to reduce the threat to unburned areas on Kaibab National Forest lands northeast of Fire Point. While the helicopter water drops did not entirely extinguish the wildfire, they did moderate fire behavior during the critical wind event.

There is still potential for the Ikes Fire to move into unburned areas above and below the canyon rim. To prepare for this, fire crews have burned out along a containment line at Forest Road 271 on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest in order to assist in the control of future fire growth. Fire managers are also evaluating other potential opportunities to contain or limit the spread of the wildfire.

Although windy conditions will continue over the next several days, they are not expected to be nearly as severe as those that occurred Saturday and Sunday when the National Weather Service predicted sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Besides the high, gusty winds on Sunday, there were also low relative humidity levels, which were recorded at 14 percent.

Because of concerns for public and firefighter safety, the Rainbow Rim Trail and the viewpoints from Parissawampitts Point to Stina Point on the North Kaibab Ranger District are closed. Crazy Jug Point north of Parissawampitts is open. For hikers and mountain bikers, the Arizona National Scenic Trail is an alternative recreational opportunity while the Rainbow Rim Trail is closed. The Arizona National Scenic Trail is accessible from many points along Highway 67 and offers a variety of scenery, including views into the Grand Canyon.

Highway 67 and the North Rim Village, North Rim Lodge and businesses are open. However, some road and trail closures are in effect for the Ikes Fire area within Grand Canyon National Park. The following roads and trails are closed on the North Rim:

• Powell Plateau Trail
• North Bass Trail
• Fire Point
• Swamp Point
• W4 road north of the intersection of the W4 and W1 Roads.

Smoke production from the Ikes Fire was minimal over the weekend but may be visible to those visiting the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Visitors traveling to the area should be aware of possible smoke along Highway 67. Visitors are asked to drive carefully and turn headlights on for safety. For local air quality and related information, please visit the following websites: www.airnow.gov or the Smoke Management Division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at https://azdeq.gov/SmokeManagemet.

More information can be found at InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6475/. Visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm for additional information about wildland fire at Grand Canyon National Park.

For information about the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab or @KaibabNF on Facebook and Twitter.

The Prescott National Forest assumed command of the Johnson Fire this morning at 6 AM. Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3 were highly successful in managing the fire and produced a solid plan for the forest; for any future wildfires that may occur in the area.  Mario Orozco is the Type 4 Incident Commander for the Johnson Fire.  

Fire activity has been minimal with no growth over the last few days. Higher relative humidity helped to assist firefighter’s efforts on the ground. Firefighters will continue to closely monitor the fire on the ground and utilize aerial resources as needed.  The reduced complexity and low intensity of the fire warranted a reduction in resources as crews and equipment continue to de-mobilize. 

Hazards faced by remaining fire crews include poor road access and hazardous trees known as “snags”.  As fire moves through a heavily-wooded area many of the trees left behind are weakened by fire; combined with recent heavy rains and expected winds over the weekend; falling snags pose a real threat to crews working along ridge tops.

Crews near the fire perimeter will continue to mitigate hazards, extinguish hot spots, monitor and patrol the fire area.

 

Resources:  3 - Engines, 1- Crew, 1 Helicopter and miscellaneous medical resources and overhead personnel.

 

Campground Update: Upper Wolf Creek Group Campground and all designated dispersed camping sites in the southern portion of the Prescott Basin re-opened yesterday.  Lower Wolf Creek Campground will remain closed for the season.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded when traveling along Forest Road 52 (Senator Highway) and Lower Wolf Creek to obey all traffic signs and use caution as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.   

 

Johnson Fire Overview:

Location:  8 miles south of Prescott, AZ on the Bradshaw Ranger District (T12N, R2W, S16) 

Start Date:  September 22nd

Size:  Approximately 166 acres 

Percent Contained:  75%

Cause:  Under Investigation  

Vegetation:  Brush, Pinyon and Timber

 

This will be the last news release for the Johnson Fire unless there is a significant change in fire activity.

 

The public can obtain additional information via the following:

 

• Fire Information:  (928) 925-1111
• Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
• Twitter:  @PrescottNF
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
• Local Ranger Station: Bradshaw Ranger District (928) 443-8000 

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Gila District announced today that the Aravaipa Veterans Fire Crew has achieved certification as an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC). Of the 13 BLM IHCs nationwide, the Aravaipa Veterans Interagency Hotshot Crew is the only BLM-funded hotshot crew in Arizona, and only one of two BLM IHCs in the nation focused on recruiting and developing veterans.

“We’re proud of the Aravaipa Crew’s accomplishments and the continued efforts to develop a workforce of Veterans,” said Gila District Manager Scott Feldhausen. “This hard working and highly skilled crew is now a part of the elite fire resources available to fight fires not only in Arizona, but nationally and abroad.”

Interagency Hotshot Crews are the most highly trained and experienced type of hand crews and they must meet and maintain stringent requirements to achieve the IHC status. Their primary mission is to provide a safe, professional, mobile response to all phases of fire management and incident operations. IHCs are staffed, conditioned, equipped and qualified to meet a variety of strategic and tactical wildland fire assignments, and they are typically relied upon for the most challenging fire assignments. When not committed to fire assignments, IHCs provide a workforce to accomplish a variety of resource management objectives while maintaining availability for incident mobilization.

In 2016, the BLM Arizona fire organization requested that the Aravaipa Veterans Crew begin the process to be certified as an IHC. Over the subsequent two years, the Aravaipa Veterans Crew took steps, including multiple fire deployments across the West, to meet the IHC requirements before being formally certified at the national level.

The Aravaipa Veterans IHC will provide an opportunity for veterans to work in a team environment and build skills and experience. Team members will also learn about opportunities to work for and become competitive for employment with the Federal Government in other natural resource arenas.

Information and Photos of Aravaipa Veterans IHC are available at: https://www.blm.gov/arizona/fire/aravaipa-crew.

In an effort to stop the Ikes Fire’s progression to the north, fire managers will utilize helicopter bucket drops in Quaking Aspen Canyon. The 11,000-acre lightning caused wildfire which is located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest became active last week during a wind event that produced wind gusts to 45 mph.

Additional resources including two heavy-lift helicopters have been brought in to assist with the firefighting efforts. The helicopters will utilize water from the Colorado River to drop on the fire to halt its spread ahead of another wind event forecasted to impact the area starting Friday and lasting through the weekend and into next week.

The majority of efforts will be focused on the northwestern edge of the fire’s perimeter below the rim located in the Grand Canyon National Park. The goal is to reduce the potential for fire, that is currently burning in drainages below the Rainbow Rim trail, to burn onto the rim and into the Kaibab National Forest. Fire managers will continue to evaluate safe and effective options and strategies to limit or stop fire spread.

To ensure public and firefighter safety, the temporary closure area of the Ikes Fire on the North Kaibab Ranger District will be expanded to include the roads, trails and viewpoints in the Rainbow Rim Trail area. Areas in the expanded closure include:

• Parissawampitts Point
• Fence Point
• Locust Point
• North Timp Point
• Timp Point
• Stina Point

Highway 67 and the North Rim Village, North Rim Lodge and businesses are open. However, some road and trail closures are in effect for the Ikes Fire area within Grand Canyon National Park. Due to the fire change, the following roads and trails are closed on the North Rim:

• Powell Plateau Trail
• North Bass Trail
• Fire Point
• Swamp Point
• W4 road north of the intersection of the W4 and W1 Roads.

Smoke from the Ikes Fire, along with other wildfires in the area, will be visible and may cause impacts. Visitors traveling to the area should be aware of possible smoke along Highway 67. Visitors are asked to drive carefully and turn headlights on for safety. For local air quality and related information, please visit the following websites: www.airnow.gov or the Smoke Management Division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at https://azdeq.gov/SmokeManagemet.

More information can be found at InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6475/. Visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm for additional information about wildland fire at Grand Canyon National Park.

For information about the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab or @KaibabNF on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Summary: This will be the final update from the Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3. Saturday, September 28 at 6:00 am the team will be transferring command of the fire back to the Prescott National Forest comprised of crews and overhead, many of whom have been fighting the fire since its inception, insuring continuity in strategies and objectives.

Moderate to heavy rain considerably cooled the remaining heat in denser fuels yesterday, allowing fire fighters to pivot away from full suppression efforts to a monitor status. Weather concerns, road conditions and fire weakened tree hazards will keep crews outside the fire perimeter throughout today as heat and fire activity continue to diminish. Fire crews and resources are continuing to be released, as weather conditions continue to be favorable.  

Resources: 2-Engines, 1 Crew, 1 Helicopter, and miscellaneous medical resources and overhead personnel.

Campground Update: Upper Wolf Creek Group Campground and all designated dispersed camping sites in the southern portion of the Prescott Basin will re-open today, Friday September 27, 2019.  Lower Wolf Creek Campground will remain closed for the season.

In the interest of safety, the public is asked to not travel in the vicinity of Ponderosa Park, Lower Wolf Creek, and the community of Potato Patch as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be traveling in the area. Avoiding these areas will allow firefighters to work and travel safely during suppression operations.

For further information please visit or call the following:

• Fire Information: (928) 925-1111

• Twitter: @PrescottNF

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6608/Location: 8 miles south of Prescott, AZ on the Bradshaw Ranger District (T12N, R2W, S16)

Start Date: September 27th

Size: 166 acres

Percent Contained: 66%

Cause: Under Investigation

Vegetation: Brush, Pinyon and Timber

Incident Commander: Dave Gesser, Type 2 SW Incident Management Team #3

Crews continued to build direct handline on the perimeter of the fire yesterday, resulting in  significant increase in containment. The fire is currently 166 acres, with 46% containment.  The reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Crews on the ground were able to walk to entire perimeter to obtain an exact fire size. Crews will monitor the fire today, allowing overnight rains to assist in suppressing heat in the fire area. Scattered showers will continue over the fire area throughout the day today. Crews will mop up and continue improving containment lines as conditions allow.  



Resources: 5-Engines, 2-Dozers, 1-Type 2 Crew, 3-Type 1 Crews, 2-Type 3 Helicopters, and miscellaneous overhead personnel. Air resources will be ordered as necessary.



Campground Update: Upper Wolf Creek Group Campground will be open on Friday September 27, 2019.  Lower Wolf Creek Campground will remain closed for the season. All designated dispersed camping sites in the southern portion of the Prescott Basin will re-open on Friday September 27, 2019.  



In the interest of safety, the public is asked to not travel in the vicinity of Ponderosa Park, Lower Wolf Creek, and the community of Potato Patch as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be traveling in the area. Avoiding these areas will allow firefighters to work and travel safely during suppression operations.

Location: 8 miles south of Prescott, AZ on the Bradshaw Ranger District (T12N, R2W, S16)

Start Date: September 22, 2019

Size: 166 acres

Percent Contained: 46%

Cause: Under Investigation

Vegetation: Brush, Pinyon and Timber



Incident Commander: Dave Gesser, Type 2 SW Incident Management Team #3



For further information please visit or call the following:

Fire Information: (928) 925-1111

• Twitter: @PrescottNF
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6608/

         

Campfire, smoking and target shooting restrictions on the Tonto National Forest have been lifted, effective at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2019. The fire restrictions, which covered the entire forest, are no longer needed because fire danger has been reduced by recent rain and increased humidity levels. Campfires and smoking are now allowed throughout the forest. Target shooting is also once again allowed in dispersed areas where it can be conducted safely, but remains prohibited in areas close to homes and developed recreations areas of the Tonto National Forest. 

Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth extended his thanks to the public during the extended fire restrictions which began in June. “We want to thank everyone for their compliance while restrictions were in effect. It was an exceptionally dry summer monsoon, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to prevent wildfires.” 

Please continue to help prevent wildfires by:

• Making sure your campfire is completely out. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. 
• Checking safety chains before heading out to make sure they are not dragging on the road. 
• Maintaining spark arrestors and not running power equipment on windy days. 
• Parking a vehicle over barren soil. Dead grass could be ignited by a hot catalytic converter. 

Following these simple tips prevents sparks, which could mean one less wildfire. 

For more information, visit the Tonto website at www.fs.usda.gov/tonto or call (602) 225-5200.