Emergency Information

Fire activity was minimal this morning, but early afternoon, increased temperatures and wind speed combined with decreased humidity caused flareups on Little Elden Mountain. Air support provided water drops to cool the active fire areas. Increased fire activity is expected to continue in other areas of the fire, producing smoke within the fire perimeter, but growth is not anticipated. Smoke should dissipate toward the northeast but will be visible from Flagstaff.

Crews continue to work close to the fire’s edge, going direct in some areas, where safe to do so. Steep slopes west of Oldham Park and Little Elden Mountain make those sections of line difficult for ground crews and equipment to access safely.  Crews continue to conduct suppression repair on Schultz Pass Road and Elden Lookout Road to the lookout for firefighter access.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team continued collecting data and assessing the fire area today. There are a variety of emergency stabilization techniques that the BAER team could recommend for the burned area of the Museum Fire. Reseeding of ground cover or mulching with straw or chipped wood are some common hillslope stabilization techniques. The team also will assess the need to modify road and trail drainage mechanisms. Options include installing debris traps, modifying or removing culverts to allow drainage to flow freely, adding additional drainage dips and constructing emergency spillways to keep roads and bridges from washing out during floods.

The Coconino National Forest Closure Order remains in effect, but the fire is not impacting recreation events occurring outside closed areas. Visit Discover Flagstaff for opportunities in the area. For your safety and the safety of firefighters, the public is not allowed in the fire area. Please visit the Museum Fire InciWeb page for a map of open trails and recreation areas.

Use extreme caution driving, and be on the lookout for firefighters and equipment on the roads.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff encourage residents to sign up for emergency notifications at coconino.az.gov/ready. The emergency call center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 928-213-2990.

Firefighters made great progress yesterday, increasing containment line on the Museum Fire to 35 percent. Crews have been able to work closer to the fire’s edge, going direct in some areas, where safe to do so. The new containment came mostly south of Shultz Tank and north of Dry Lake Hills on the north edge of the fire and northeast of Elden Mountain on the east side of the fire in the scar from the Radio Fire.

Initial attack crews assigned to the fire responded to two new starts as well as helped fill sandbags for Coconino EOC yesterday, as concerns over potential flooding remain. The new fires were suppressed quickly and do not currently pose any threats.

Today, firefighters will continue to work to increase containment, going direct where possible, monitoring hot spots along the perimeter and responding to any new fires reported in the area. Crews also are working on suppression repair along Schultz Pass Road.

A drying trend will continue through Monday which could result in an increase in fire behavior. Fire perimeter growth is not anticipated but there still are areas of concern with rugged terrain making access to some portions of the fire difficult.

The Coconino National Forest Closure Order remains in effect. For your safety and of firefighters, the public is not allowed in the fire area. Please visit the fire’s Inciweb page for a map of open trails and recreation areas.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff encourage residents to sign up for emergency notifications at coconino.az.gov/ready. The emergency call center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 928-213-2990.

IF YOU FLY WE CAN’T. DRONES ARE NOT ALLOWED OVER THE FIRE AND CAN IMPEDE FIRE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS.

Origin: 1 mile north of Flagstaff, AZ

Jurisdiction: Coconino NF

Start Date: July 21, 2019 

Size: Approximately 1,961 acres

Percent Contained: 35%

Personnel: 646

Cause: Under Investigation 

Fire Info Line: 928-288-2484, 7am – 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6450/

Facebook: Museum Fire Information

Twitter: @MuseumFireInfo

Smoke Outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks

Evacuation Map: coconino.az.gov/207

The Castle Fire remains low to moderately active and fire managers are now utilizing aerial ignitions to help fortify the control lines and keep the fire's spread in check. As the fire moves across the landscape, it will encounter areas with dense pockets of fuel that could result in increased fire behavior. The aerial ignitions can be used to target heavily fueled areas which will help lessen the fire intensity as the Castle Fire progresses.

Fire managers have identified the 19,632-acre planning area where the Castle Fire can bring positive restorative benefits to the area. Low intensity wildfire can be advantageous by providing an efficient and safe way to remove the dead and decaying plant material that could act as fuel for future forest fires.

Fire managers plan well in advance for opportunities such as this. The success in achieving restoration objectives is largely attributed to timing, current weather conditions and available fuel. The appropriate organization of well-trained professional firefighters to develop the plan and execute the work on the ground is essential. 

Area thunderstorms have not materialized over the fire area and have had minimal effects on the Castle Fire. However, the forecast calls for hotter and drier weather into the weekend.

When the lightning-caused Castle Fire was first discovered on July 12th, it was located about 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon. It Is currently 1,720 acres and is spreading north and south along the eastern perimeter of the planning area.

As an added safety measure for both public and firefighters, a temporary Closure Order is now in effect for the Castle Fire area:   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/

The Castle Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure.

CASTLE FIRE OVERVIEW

• Discovery Date: July 12, 2019.
• Cause: Lightning.
• Location: Approximately 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.
• Current Resources: Four crews, eight engines, a helicopter, a dozer, a chipper, two water tenders, four masticators, and miscellaneous fire management personnel. Total personnel: approximately 182.  
• Current Size: About 1,720 acres within a 19,632-acre planning area.
• Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and south rims of Grand Canyon National Park, Jacob Lake, Highway 67, Highway 89A, and Fredonia. 
• Current Closures: Kaibab National Forest managers have implemented a temporary Closure Order for the Castle Fire area in order to provide for public and firefighter safety.  For specific information about the Closure Order, please visit:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
• Recent and Current Operations: Wildland fire crews plan to continue improving roads and other designated perimeters within which the fire can move. Current weather conditions may influence the use of firing operations which may be conducted as needed in order to strengthen control lines.

Kaibab National Forest information is available through the following sources:

• Castle Fire Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab 
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
• Flickr: http://bit.ly/CastleFire2019 

The Bonelli Peak Fire burning in Southern Nevada has grown from 3,640 acres to 4,465 acres. It was caused by lightning.

The fire was moving to the northeast, but no smoke is visible. That’s subject to change with wind shifts.

Operations will be handed over to Nevada Type 3 Team 2 July 27. The team is assigned four handcrews, three engines and three helicopters.

No private lands are currently involved. The fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service-managed lands in Clark County.

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team is hosting a community meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Coconino High School located at 2801 North Izabel Street in Flagstaff. Fire professionals will present detailed information on the current fire status, operations, expected fire behavior, and forecasted weather, as well as mitigation and rehabilitation efforts. There will be a question and answer session immediately following. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Museum Fire Information Facebook page. Information Officers will monitor the feed and respond to your questions in real time.

Suppression efforts continue to reinforce firelines on all sides of the Museum Fire, increasing containment. The Initial Attack group responded to a new fire start west of Highway 180 and south of the Arizona Nordic Village. They are assisting the Forest Service with initial attack efforts.

The entire area of the Museum Fire is under a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The TFR limits access to airspace in the geographic area that encompasses the fire from ground level to an altitude of 13,000 feet (mean sea level) and applies to all aircraft, including DRONES. The TFR is in place to provide a controlled airspace for firefighting aircraft to operate and to support the firefighting efforts on the ground. Violations of a TFR are very serious and can result in large fines and jail time. For more details, visit FAA.gov.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began collecting data and assessing the fire area today. There are a variety of emergency stabilization techniques that the BAER team could recommend for the burned area of the Museum Fire. Reseeding of ground cover or mulching with straw or chipped wood are some common hillslope stabilization techniques. The team also assesses the need to modify road and trail drainage mechanisms to keep roads and bridges from washing out during floods.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff encourage residents to sign up for emergency notifications at coconino.az.gov/ready. The emergency call center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 928-213-2990.

Origin: 1 mile north of Flagstaff, AZ

Jurisdiction: Coconino NF

Start Date: July 21, 2019 

Size: Approximately 1,957 acres

Percent Contained: 35%

Personnel: 646

Cause: Under Investigation

Fire Info Line: 928-288-2484, 7am – 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6450/Facebook: Museum Fire Information

Twitter: @MuseumFireInfo

Smoke Outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks

Evacuation Map: coconino.az.gov/207

The Bonelli Peak Fire is approximately 3,640 acres and is burning mostly on Bureau of Land Management-managed public land and about 50 acres on Lake Mead National Recreation Area about 15 miles southeast of Echo Bay.

No structures are currently threatened and all roads in the area remain open.

Suppression resources on-site include two handcrews and aerial resources which include an air attack coordination platform, two single engine air tankers and two heavy air tankers.

Visitors to Lake Mead may observe smoke and fire aviation operations in the Virgin Basin and Overton Arm.

Airplanes and helicopters will use the lake just south of Echo Bay to fill buckets. The airplanes will appear as if they are landing on the lake, but they will not stop. They will scoop up water and continue to the fire scene. The helicopters will make more precise dips with their buckets to collect water.

Aviation crews may also be using the Echo Bay Airstrip. The public should maintain a safe distance from all fire aviation.          

As a reminder, no drones are allowed in active fire areas, and drones are never allowed within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. If a drone flies over a fire, air operations could be suspended until the risk of a mid-air collision with a drone is resolved. When firefighting aircraft are grounded for any reason, fire crews lose access to a valuable resource which can adversely affect the safety and efficiency of the overall firefighting effort.

A temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire. Before you fly into the area, please obtain approval by contracting air-to-air contact at 123.675 for both transmit and receive. Contact is 52SA or Echo Air Attack.

The Bonelli Peak Fire was reported on July 24 at 10 p.m.

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team is hosting a community meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Coconino High School located at 2801 North Izabel Street in Flagstaff. Fire professionals will present detailed information on the current fire situation, expected fire behavior, predicted weather, and plans for continued fire suppression, as well as mitigation and rehabilitation efforts. The meeting will be streamed live on the Museum Fire Information Facebook page, and there will be a question and answer session immediately following. American Sign Language interpretation and CART captioning will be provided.

Helicopters dropped over 9,600 gallons of retardant to slow the spread of fire yesterday. Hand crews and ground equipment are working directly on the perimeter to build and fortify lines. Snags, or standing dead trees, are a major hazard to firefighters and are mitigated for safety and potential fire spread. Challenges for firefighters include snags, heavy fuels, boulder fields, and steep terrain near the fire perimeter. Crews are implementing proactive measures to remove burned ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and existing slash wherever possible. The daily goal is to increase the containment of the fire. A continuous fuel break around the entire perimeter of the fire with high confidence potential fires will not spot over this line is considered contained.  

There is a possibility of thunderstorms again today with hotter and drier conditions forecasted for the weekend. Warm temperatures and low humidity levels create the potential for increased fire activity. Meteorologists have installed a Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) on Mount Elden at approximately 9,000 feet in elevation. This station monitors the weather and provides data for fire managers to predict fire behavior and monitor fuels.

Expect increased traffic this weekend. Drive with caution and be on the lookout for firefighters and equipment on the roads. The Coconino National Forest Closure Order remains in effect. For your safety and the safety of firefighters, the public is not allowed in the fire area.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff encourage residents to sign up for emergency notifications at coconino.az.gov/ready.  The emergency call center is open 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. – 928-213-2990.

Origin: 1 mile north of Flagstaff, AZ

Jurisdiction: Coconino NF

Start Date: July 21, 2019 

Size: Approximately 1,957 acres

Percent Contained: 12%

Personnel: 685

Cause: Under Investigation

Fire Info Line: 928-288-2484, 7am – 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6450/

Facebook: Museum Fire Information

Twitter: @MuseumFireInfo

Smoke Outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks

Evacuation Map: coconino.az.gov/207

Firefighters have made excellent progress in reinforcing the 19,632-acre planning area perimeter of the Castle Fire. If weather conditions remain favorable today, a helicopter will be utilized to conduct aerial ignitions along the interior edges of the already burned areas. This will help strengthen the control lines to minimize any potential of the fire burning outside of the planning area.

The fire is slowly backing through dead and down trees and grass. Area thunderstorms have not materialized over the fire area and have had minimal effects on the Castle Fire. This wildfire continues to play a vital role in functioning as a natural disturbance within the mixed-conifer ecosystem by reducing excessive fuel (vegetation) accumulations that currently exist across the forest floor.

The lightning-caused wildfire was detected on July 12th and has grown to 1,700 acres. The Castle Fire is located about 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon.

Yesterday, under favorable weather conditions, the fire backed its way downslope into receptive fuel beds, resulting in good consumption of available vegetation. As a result, the fire grew more than 700 acres. While firing operations are being used mostly along the eastern edge of the planning area, equipment, including masticators and bulldozers, continue prep work around the southern and northern perimeter.

Fire managers expect the Castle Fire to remain active, even with the possibility of precipitation, as predicted over the next few days. The long-term forecast calls for dry weather to follow, likely causing the fire to regain momentum and continue to gradually spread throughout the planning area of 19,632 acres.

As an added safety measure for both public and firefighters, a temporary Closure Order is now in effect for the Castle Fire area:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/

The Castle Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure.

CASTLE FIRE OVERVIEW

• Discovery Date: July 12, 2019.
• Cause: Lightning.
• Location: Approximately 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.
• Current Resources: Three crews, eight engines, a helicopter, a dozer, a chipper, two water tenders, four masticators, and miscellaneous fire management personnel. Total personnel: approximately 171.  
• Current Size: About 1,700 acres within a 19,632-acre planning area.
• Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and south rims of Grand Canyon National Park, Jacob Lake, Highway 67, Highway 89A, and Fredonia. 
• Current Closures: Kaibab National Forest managers have implemented a temporary Closure Order for the Castle Fire area in order to provide for public and firefighter safety.  For specific information about the Closure Order, please visit:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
• Recent and Current Operations: Wildland fire crews plan to continue improving roads and other designated perimeters within which the fire can move. Current weather conditions may influence the use of firing operations which may be conducted as needed in order to strengthen control lines.

Kaibab National Forest information is available through the following sources:

• Castle Fire Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab 
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
• Flickr: http://bit.ly/CastleFire2019

The United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA), in coordination with Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff, will open the Museum Fire Volunteer Coordination Center. The center will open at 8 a.m. Friday, July 26 at the Coconino County Health and Human Services department building (2625 N. King St. Flagstaff). It will be open through the weekend and until further notice.

People who are interested in helping citizens who are affected by the Museum Fire, and the potential flooding impacts, should report to the center. Volunteers will be trained and deployed to help people in the community who need assistance with sandbags and other Museum Fire and flood related issues. If people have trucks and/or trailers, they are encouraged to bring them.

Requests for volunteer support will be taken at the Coconino Call center (928-213-2990). People interested in volunteering, and who have further questions, should call the UWNA (773.9813 ext. 219), email[email protected] or text volunteernow to 51555.

WHAT:           Volunteer Coordination Center

WHEN:           8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday, July 26 (through the weekend and until further notice)

WHERE:         Coconino County Health and Human Services Department, Ponderosa Room, 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff, Ariz. 86004

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team is hosting a community meeting at 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 26 at the Coconino High School located at 2801 North Izabel Street in Flagstaff. Fire professionals will be presenting specific fire-related information to the general public. The meeting will be streamed live on the Museum Fire Information Facebook page.

Fires crews improved access on Mount Elden Lookout Road for suppression resources to reach previously inaccessible areas of the fire. To the south, helicopters dropped loads of retardant to continue cooling hot spots. There is a large amount of heavy timber near the north area of the fire that is actively burning, as well as log decks that are putting off large amounts of smoke.

Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority within the immediate fire area as well as within the surrounding communities. Due to special events occurring in the area, there will be an influx of visitors to the City of Flagstaff and the Coconino National Forest. Heavier vehicle traffic is to be expected on roadways from the general public and firefighters. Motorists are encouraged to heighten their situational awareness when driving to their respective destinations.

Scattered thunderstorms in the area could produce rain and gusty outflows that may cause strong, erratic winds, increased fire behavior and increased smoke in Flagstaff and surrounding communities. Access to live data links from local smoke monitors are located at fires.airfire.org/outlooks. The public is advised to refer to the Coconino County Health Department for information on the health impacts of smoke at www.coconino.az.gov/221/Health. Hot, dry weather will continue throughout the weekend.

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is scheduled to begin work in the fire area on Friday. Officials from the Coconino National Forest will determine the need for emergency treatments to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of the fire and to stabilize and prevent any degradation to natural and cultural resources.

For the most current “Ready, Set, Go” status of communities, call the Coconino County Call Center at 928-213-2990, staffed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.

Origin: 1 mile north of Flagstaff, AZ

Jurisdiction: Coconino NF

Start Date: July 21, 2019 

Size: Approximately 1,927 acres

Percent Contained: 12%

Personnel: 679

Cause: Under Investigation 

Fire Info Line: 928-288-2484, 7am – 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6450/Facebook: Museum Fire Information

Twitter: @MuseumFireInfo

Smoke Outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks

Evacuation Map: coconino.az.gov/207

Smoke from the Museum Fire is impacting several Flagstaff communities. Coconino County Health and Human Services is encouraging individuals to take precautions to protect themselves from the health effects of wildfire smoke.

Anyone who can see, taste or smell smoke, including healthy individuals, should limit outdoor activity. Many factors influence a person’s susceptibility to smoke. These factors include the level, extent, duration of exposure, age and individual susceptibility. People with heart disease, lung disease or asthma should avoid the outdoors entirely when smoke is present, as should children and the elderly.

Typical symptoms of exposure to smoke include burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Closing windows and turning off evaporative coolers when smoke is present helps to reduce exposure and should be adequate to protect persons without respiratory problems. People with pre-existing conditions should avoid exposure to the smoke as much as possible and consult their physician if they have any questions.

When smoke levels are high, the appropriate protective measures should be followed:

• Avoid physical exertion.
• Stay inside with windows and doors closed.
• Make sure air conditioning units have a clean filter in the air intakes. Devices with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters can reduce indoor pollution.
• Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car.
• Avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves or even candles.

For more information about how to protect yourself visit www.coconino.az.gov/health.

Location:  16 miles south of Prescott, AZ on the Bradshaw Ranger District (T10N, R2W, S5) 

Start Date: July 14th

Size: Approximately 7,512 acres

Percent Contained: 58%

Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Grass, Brush, and Chaparral

Resources: 3 Engines

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

The Prescott National Forest assumed command of the Cellar Fire this morning at 6 AM. Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team #1 (Alan Sinclair, Incident Commander) did a fantastic job managing the fire and produced a solid plan for local resources continuing to fight the fire. Reggie Antonio is the Type 4 Incident Commander for the Cellar Fire. 

Fire activity has been minimal with no growth over the last few days. Higher relative humidity help 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 Cellar Fire Public Safety Closure Area is still in effect. Prescott National Forest released a new Forest Order on July 24, 2019 at 6 AM reducing the Cellar Fire Public Safety closure area. Detailed information and a map are available on Inciweb. Post fire flooding hazards are within the closure area. Particular flooding concerns exist at the lower end of Blind Indian Creek near the forest boundary. Unstable soils and falling rock potential exist within the fire scarred area. The roads on the boundary of the closure remain open to the public.

The public can obtain additional information via the following:

• Cellar Fire Information (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM) (928) 925-1111
• Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/prescottnf  
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6443/
• Interactive Cellar Fire Map is available at https://tinyurl.com/CellarFireMap  

Coconino County Flood Control District officials have completed a flood analysis and the effects of the Museum Fire on the Burris Watershed. The analysis shows that the watershed will not experience increased flooding due to the Museum Fire at this time.

The Burris Watershed is contained in the western Doney Park neighborhoods. These areas include North Peaks and Burris Lane along Hwy 89, east and north of Flagstaff. The Timberline and Fernwood neighborhoods are not in the Burris Watershed.

The analysis of the watershed shows that fire has burned into a small area previously burned by the 1977 Radio Fire. Results of the analysis show that the watershed is minimally affected and with current fire conditions, there will not be any flood impact to the communities in the watershed as a result of the Museum Fire at this time. Any rain event that would have produced flooding prior to the fire would produce the same level of flooding after the fire. 

Any change in fire conditions would alter this analysis and change the flood outlook for the Burris watershed. The Coconino County Flood Control District will re-run the hydrological analysis if there is a change in fire conditions and inform the public of any change in results to the flood analysis.

Coconino Flood Control District officials will conduct a public meeting for Doney Park and Timberline-Fernwood neighborhoods at 6:30pm, Thursday, July 25 at the Cromer Elementary School on Silver Saddle Rd, east of Hwy. 89. County officials will outline the analysis of the watershed with maps available for review. The meeting will be streamed on the Coconino County Facebook page with American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation available.

Residents with questions can contact the Emergency Operations call center at 928.213.2990. People are also encouraged to sign-up for emergency notifications for evacuation and other notices at coconino.az.gov/ready.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) upgraded the Health Watch to a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for ozone effective July 26 in the Phoenix area. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

Ground level ozone forms when two types of pollutants—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—react in sunlight. These pollutants come primarily from automobiles, but also from other sources including industries, power plants and products, such as solvents and paints. Generally, the highest levels of ozone occur in the afternoon.

Check the Hourly Air Quality Forecast | View >

Health Impacts

People most vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution include children, older adults, adults exercising outdoors, people with heart or lung disease and those suffering from asthma and bronchitis. Exposure can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease and reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Symptoms may include itchy eyes, nose, and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and upper respiratory issues.

Please help reduce ozone by doing one or more of the following:

• Drive as little as possible, carpool, use public transit or telecommute
• Re-fuel your vehicle in the evening
• Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants or banks – park your car and go inside
• Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers – delay big painting projects
• Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air

Be Air Aware!

Stay informed and be a part of the ADEQ air quality challenge. Together we can make a difference to improve air quality for everyone in Arizona by following three simple steps. | Learn More >

BACKGROUND

High Pollution Advisory (HPA) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to exceed the federal health standard.

Health Watch (HW) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to approach the federal health standard.

Particulate Matter Fact Sheet | View >

Ozone Fact Sheet | View >

FIND THE FORECAST

ADEQ Hourly Air Quality Forecast | View >

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Update:

An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), also known as a “drone,” briefly impeded aerial operations on the Museum Fire yesterday. The UAS, reported in the southeast portion of the fire area, caused helicopter operations to stop and relocate. Operations were moved from the Flagstaff City Reservoir, north of the fire, to Schultz Tank where flights could safely resume.

The ability to drop water and retardant via aircraft is critical to fire suppression efforts. UAS incursions not only endanger the lives of pilots and firefighters, but also reduce the capacity of the Incident Management Team to protect the communities of Flagstaff and Summit. Regardless of your motivation, flying a drone near a wildland fire is putting someone else’s life in danger. Your hobby is not worth another person’s life.

Terrain:

Today, crews continue to engage the fire directly where it is safe to do so and use indirect tactics in areas of rugged terrain. There are islands of heavy fuels burning within the perimeter and smoke columns will be visible. Firefighters have contingency lines in place and now can get closer to the fire as they work to increase containment along the north and east perimeters.

Weather:

Thunderstorms will again be present but are expected to drop minimal precipitation. Drying trends and increased temperatures are predicted into the weekend and bring the potential for increased fire activity. Structure preparation is complete in the communities nearest the fire and those areas will continue to be closely monitored.

As a part of the Team’s commitment to provide support with planning and evaluation of post-fire watershed impacts, crews will be installing weather stations on Mount Elden today that will remain after the fire to assist local emergency managers in monitoring for flood potential.

Community Meeting:

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff will be hosting a second flood mitigation community meeting today at 6:30 pm at Cromer Elementary School (7150 Silver Saddle Rd). For the most current “Ready, Set, Go” status of communities, call the Coconino County Call Center at 928-213-2990, staffed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.

Fire Information:

Origin: 1 mile north of Flagstaff, AZ

Jurisdiction: Coconino NF

Start Date: July 21, 2019 

Size: Approximately 1,927 acres

Percent Contained: 12%

Personnel: 679

Cause: Under Investigation 

Resources:

Fire Info Line: 928-288-2484, 7am – 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6450/

Facebook: Museum Fire Information

Twitter: @MuseumFireInfo

Smoke Outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks

Evacuation Map: coconino.az.gov/207

The Castle Fire remains moderately active along the northeast perimeter of its predetermined planning area. Thunderstorms are having minimal effects on the area where firing operations are being used to enhance and widen the existing control lines. Portions of the Castle Fire have not received precipitation, which has led to favorable conditions for continuing burning operations. 

This wildfire is playing a vital role in functioning as a natural disturbance within the ecosystem by reducing excessive fuel (vegetation) accumulations that currently exist across the forest floor.

The lightning-caused wildfire was detected on July 12th and has grown to 910 acres. It remains active within a well-defined planning area. The Castle Fire is located about 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon.

Yesterday, slightly cooler weather coupled with increased humidity moderated fire behavior slightly, however the fire grew an additional 50 acres in size. Firefighters utilized firing operations and equipment, including masticators and bulldozers to continue prep work around the entire perimeter of the planning area.

Fire managers expect the Castle Fire to remain active, even with the possibility of precipitation, as predicted over the next few days. The long-term forecast calls for dry weather to follow, which will likely cause the fire to regain momentum and continue to gradually spread throughout the planning area of 19,632 acres.

As an added safety measure for both public and firefighters, a temporary Closure Order is now in effect for the Castle Fire area:   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/

The Castle Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure.

CASTLE FIRE OVERVIEW

• Discovery Date: July 12, 2019.
• Cause: Lightning.
• Location: Approximately 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.
• Current Resources: Three crews, ten engines, a helicopter, a dozer, a chipper, two water tenders, four masticators, and miscellaneous fire management personnel. Total personnel: approximately 180.  
• Current Size: About 910 acres within a 19,632-acre planning area.
• Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to be visible from both the north and south rims of Grand Canyon National Park, Jacob Lake, Highway 67, Highway 89A, and Fredonia. 
• Current Closures: Kaibab National Forest managers have implemented a temporary Closure Order for the Castle Fire area in order to provide for public and firefighter safety.  For specific information about the Closure Order, please visit:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
• Recent and Current Operations: Wildland fire crews plan to continue improving roads and other designated perimeters within which the fire can move. Current weather conditions may influence the use of firing operations which may be conducted as needed in order to strengthen control lines.

Kaibab National Forest information is available through the following sources:

• Castle Fire Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab 
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF 
• Flickr: http://bit.ly/KaibabNFPhotos

The Museum Fire Flood Area Community Meeting for Doney Park, Timberline/Fernwood and any unincorporated area around HWY 89 North, will be held 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 at Cromer Elementary School, 7150 Silver Saddle Rd, Flagstaff.

This meeting is for residents and property owners with questions about potential flooding due to the Museum Fire.

The County’s Flood Control District will present information about flood risk, mitigation and be available to answer questions. Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation will be available at the meeting.

The meeting will also be broadcast live on the Coconino County Facebook page (facebook.com/coconinocounty).

For any question, please contact the Coconino Call center (928-213-2990).

Firefighters made progress building fireline by hand and tying in with dozer lines on the south and west perimeters of the fire today. Crews are using direct tactics and looking for opportunities for strategic firing operations to accomplish containment goals. Air resources continued to apply retardant to cool existing hot spots. Cooler temperatures and moisture assisted with keeping fire behavior to a minimum during this operational period, however, warmer, drier weather is forecasted in the coming days. Smoke will continue to be visible in the area due to smoldering timber within the fire perimeter.

The Coconino Sheriff’s Office lifted the Elden Lookout Road evacuation this afternoon and allowed residents back into their homes. Fire officials have determined that the area is safe for residents only, however, the conditions and status of the fire could change at any time, resulting in a return to evacuation (GO) status. The Museum Fire Coconino National Forest closure order remains in effect for members of the public. Visit Inciweb at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6450/ to view a map of the closure area.

Areas in pre-evacuation (SET) status include: Elden Lookout Road, West of Weatherford Rd, North of 180, Peak View Country Store, Magdalena, Kelly McCoy, Forest Hills, Valley Crest, Locket Meadows, Mt. Elden Lookout Estates, north and west of Hwy 89 and Silver Saddle, Hutcheson Acres, McCann Estates, Timberline communities, Little Elden Springs, Black Bill Park, Wupatki Trails and Pine Mountain Estates, West of Hwy of 89 from Railhead north to Townsend-Winona, including the KOA Campground and Christmas Tree Estates. For the most current Ready, Set, GO status of communities, call the Coconino County Call Center at 928-213-2990, staffed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has been ordered to work with local emergency responders to begin assessments of the affected landscape. BAER Teams are staffed by specially trained professionals: hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, vegetation specialists, archeologists, and others who rapidly evaluate the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization treatments to prevent further damage to life, property and natural resources.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones are prohibited from flying over the fire area. Even a tiny drone can cause a serious or fatal accident if it collides with firefighting aircraft. Flying a drone over a wildland fire is breaking the law and shuts down crucial air suppression tactics.

Origin: 1 mile north of Flagstaff, AZ

Jurisdiction: Coconino NF

Start Date: July 21, 2019 

Size: Approximately 1,887 acres

Percent Contained: 12%

Personnel: Estimated 600

Cause: Under Investigation 

Fire Info Line: 928-288-2484, 7am – 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6450/Facebook: Museum Fire Information

Twitter: @MuseumFireInfo

Smoke Outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks

Evacuation Map: coconino.az.gov/207

Due to the Museum Fire, the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County are urging the public to take precautions during this Monsoon season.

Officials are asking residents to take the following steps and to ensure they are aware of available services during potential flooding events:

1. Streets flood quickly. A car can float in as little as a foot of water. Do not attempt to cross flooded areas. Respect all traffic barricades.
2. Please call 911 to report a flooding emergency.
3. Do not walk through flowing water. The current in just six inches of water can sweep you off your feet.
4. Seek high ground
5. Do not let children play near creeks or streams when water is rising.
6. Do not leave trash cans, trash, or debris in any area subject to flooding. Items will float in floodwaters and clog storm drains and stream channels.
7. Residents can self-fill sandbags at two different locations:
   • Joel Montalvo Little League Fields at the corner of Spruce St and 1st Avenue
   • Aztec Street near Frances Short Pond.

7. Pre-filled sandbags are available from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the Coconino High School South Parking Lot.
8. Watch this video from Coconino County to learn how to properly use a sandbag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc0q1xWpm8k
9. Officials encourage residents to purchase flood insurance for the protection of their homes. More information on the purchase of flood insurance is available at www.floodsmart.gov or by contacting their insurance agent.
10. The City of Flagstaff operates a small network of radio-telemetered gauges that transmit rainfall and stream flow information in real-time (as it occurs).  If you would like to see this information for the various locations in the City, plus the rain gauges in the Schultz burn area, go to:  www.flagstaff.az.gov/raingauges
11. To view forecasts, watches, and warnings issued by the National Weather Service for northern Arizona, go to: www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/.

Members of the media are invited to participate in a tour of the Museum Fire fireline July 25.

Please meet at the Fort Tuthill Media Staging Area, located at the northern intersection of Hwy 89A and Fort Tuthill Loop at 9:00 am. Escorts will leave promptly at 9:30 am.

Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required to participate. This PPE include:

-NFPA 1977 compliant flame resistant pants

-NFPA 1977 compliant flame resistant, long-sleeved shirt (yellow recommended)

-Helmet with chin strap

-Leather work gloves

-Leather boots that are at least 8" high, lace up with lug type sole.

Due to narrow roads and the lack of turnarounds in the area, those participating will be traveling with their escorts. No non-incident vehicles permitted.

The tour is expected to take 2-3 hours.

For more information contact 928-288-2438.