SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE : Fire officials say the Slide Fire has reached nearly 11,000 acres and as many as 1000 firefighters are working the blaze this weekend.
Last night crews performed firing operations along the north side of the fire to remove fuel along a power line which supplies electricity to Flagstaff. Night time firing operations were especially effective because lower temperatures, higher humidity, and calmer wind moderated fire behavior.
Much of the terrain in the canyon is steep and rugged, making conditions unsafe for firefighters. An outstanding example of the good work being done by firefighters was the treatment applied to the switchbacks on Highway 89A Thursday night and Friday. Hotshot crews built a containment line across the switchbacks, and brought fire downhill, burning out the west side of Oak Creek Canyon to the bottom. This low intensity backing fire removed fine fuels and ladder fuels, preventing fire from running upslope, and consuming forest vegetation in its path.
Today, firefighters are preparing line on the southwest side in anticipation of additional burnout operations. Along the northern perimeter crews will patrol and continue mop up of last night’s firing operations, while preparing for more burn out operations tonight. Chipping crews will chip brush and slash along the east side of the fire. Along the eastern flank, mop up of last night’s firing operations, monitoring, and structure protection will be the priorities for the day. Aircraft will support ground forces with water drops, and with PSD (perforated spherical device) firing operations.
Structure protection will continue in the Kachina Village and Forest Highlands areas.
Containment: 5%
Location: Originated just about 4 to 5 miles north of Sedona, just north of Slide Rock State Park.
Date Reported: Tuesday, May 20 at approximately 4 p.m.
Cause: Human caused, under investigation
Structures Threatened: Approximately 300 structures, private homes, vacation resort cabins, and a Forest Service lookout tower. To date no structures have been lost.
Injuries: No injuries reported.
Current Resources: Approximately 975 personnel including 36 crews, 46 engines, three air tankers, nine helicopters, two air attack planes, and other resources.
Closures:
- Highway 89A from Sedona to Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff
- Forest Road (FR) 535 at Highway 89A
- FR 533 at Highway 89A
- FR 231 at Rogers Lake
- FR 527 and 530 (west side; Volunteer Canyon area)
- Casner Mountain is closed to all vehicles
Evacuations: Evacuations remain in place in Oak Creek Canyon from Slide Rock State Park to Sterling Springs Hatchery. Coconino County issued a pre-evacuation notice to residents of Kachina Village and Forest Highlands subdivisions. Residents are advised to be prepared to evacuate. County Emergency Management encourages those in the affected neighborhoods to begin packing important items they may need for several days. These items include prescriptions, important papers, any special dietary needs and pets. No new evacuations are in place at this time.
Because of the many questions Arizonans and tourists have about the Slide Fire burning south of Flagstaff in the Oak Creek Canyon area, officials have created this FAQ sheet. Flagstaff Business News says ‘thank you’ to all the efforts being made on behalf of fighting this fire.
- Has there been an evacuation notice given? The only evacuation notice given is for the residents within Oak Creek Canyon north of Slide Rock State Park. There has been a “Pre-Evacuation” notice given to the residents of the Kachina Village and Forest Highlands neighborhoods.
- How do I receive emergency notifications by phone or email in the event of an evacuation or other extreme event? Go to the County Website atCoconino.az.gov/emergency and enroll in the County’s emergency response system: CodeRed.
- Where do I go if I get an evacuation notice? The American Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter at Sinagua Middle School is located at 3950 E Butler Avenue in Flagstaff. Sinagua Middle School is located near Interstate 40 and the Butler Ave Exit. If traveling East on Interstate 40, take a right on Butler Avenue.
- Can I bring my pets to the shelter? The emergency shelter does not have the capacity for pets, however, the County Public Health District has arranged shelters for pets and livestock. The Coconino Humane Association (526-1076) located at 3501 E. Butler Ave in Flagstaff will take small pets such as dogs and cats. Olsen’s Grain (526-3556) located at 11705 N. Hwy. 89 (near Timberline and Summitt Fire) will take larger animals.
- What should I bring to the shelter? Space will be limited at the shelter for personal items. Please bring any important documents, prescriptions and any special dietary foods needed. See the County emergency preparedness website www.coconino.az.gov/emergency for any further tips on how to prepare for an evacuation notice.
- How will friends and family know that I am safe if I am evacuated?Residents are encouraged to register at the Red Cross shelter or online atredcross.org/safeandwell.
- Can I volunteer or donate? Volunteers are encouraged to register by email to the United Way of Northern Arizona at volunteer@nazunitedway.org or call Carol Dykes at 928-773-9813 (day) or 928-853-7134 (evening). They can also text to 95577.
Donations of money can be made directly to the Red Cross by going toredcross.org or people can go to the shelter at Sinagua Middle School where there are donation envelopes. There is no current need for donations of clothing or household goods.
Donations can also be made to the local Salvation Army atsalvationarmyflagstaff.org
- There is a lot of smoke in my neighborhood. Are there associated health risks involved? The County Public Health Services District will issue a Smoke Advisory if and when indicated by air quality measurements. The Public Health District advises the public that if they feel ill as a result of wildfire smoke to please take necessary precautions. Some tips for those who feel ill would be to stay indoors, use a HEPA filter, limit your activities and contact your health care provider for additional instructions.
Please see http://az-coconinocounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6531for further prevention tips. You can also find air quality standards at the Arizona Department of Air Quality (ADEQ) website at: http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx.
- Is there a Slide Fire hotline to call or a place where can I get regular updates? Residents are encouraged to call the hotline at 928.679.4173 to speak with a live volunteer for up-to-date fire information (Please do not call “911” at this time for fire information).
People are also encouraged to follow the County’s webpage atwww.coconino.az.gov, the County’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coconinocounty or twitter account at https://twitter.com/CoconinoCounty.
The Type 1 Incident Team has also set up incident website at:http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3874/ and Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SlideFireInfo.
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