Verde Valley News – Tunnel Fire Morning Update – Monday April 25, 2022
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UPDATE: Sunday, April 24, 2022 – Morning
Current Situation: Evacuations have been changed to “SET” for all neighborhoods associated with the Tunnel Fire. Residents returning to the area are reminded that the conditions and status of evacuation levels could change at any time based on fire behavior.
Caution is advised as there will be increased traffic as firefighters continue patrolling and mopping up areas of heat. The landscape is very dynamic immediately after a fire and travel within the fire area can be hazardous. Examples of hazards include fire weakened trees that may fall without warning, loss of ground vegetation can loosen rolling debris and rocks and ash pits from stumps may look benign, but will hold hot ash for quite a while and can cause severe burns if stepped in.
As interior islands of vegetation burn and large logs and stumps smolder, smoke will be present. If you see smoke or fire please do not call 911 unless it is outside the fire perimeter or poses a threat. If you are unsure, please call 911.
Today’s Activities: Firefighters will continue to work within the Timberline Estates and Wupatki Trails Subdivisions. Crews are constructing line between O’Leary Peak and Black Mountain and may conduct burnout operations to secure fireline if needed. Crews will continue working the spot fire on 89 Mesa and construct fireline in the Strawberry Crater Wilderness area. Patrol and mop-up will continue along Forest Road 545 on the southern edge of the fire.
Evacuations: Information about evacuations is updated online at the Coconino County Tunnel Fire page. The County has also established a Coconino County Tunnel Fire Call Center at 928-679-8525.
Closures: The Coconino National Forest has instituted a Forest Closure Order for the area affected by the Tunnel Fire.
The closure for U.S. Highway 89 remains in effect until 1:00 pm today. Please contact AZ 511 for the most up-to-date status of U.S. Highway 89.
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UPDATE: April 23, 2022
Tunnel Fire Update – Saturday, April 23, 2022 – Morning
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UPDATE: April 22, 2022
Tunnel Fire continues to burn despite Friday’s rain and snow
TUNNEL FIRE OVERVIEW
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UPDATE: April 22, 2022
Critical fire weather tests lines around Tunnel Fire while containment slightly increases to 3%
Additional resources are allowing firefighting efforts to expand to the east on the Tunnel Fire 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff, while firefighters wait to see if established lines around many parts of the 21,087-acre fire hold up to today’s critical fire weather and strong winds.
Since the start of the fire, firefighting efforts have focused on protecting homes and property on the west side of the fire—namely Timberline Estates and Wupatki Trails subdivisions, as well as along Forest Road 420 (Schultz Pass Road).
Proving how challenging the weather and wind component is with this fire, last night at approximately 9 p.m. a spot fire began in Division Alpha in the area of 89 Mesa. Firefighters are working to contain the spot that is currently estimated at 100-150 acres.
With an increase in resources and arrival of the Type 1 Incident Management Team, firefighters will work to get a line around the entire fire. Firefighters will be working on constructing line near Black Mountain today, just east of O’Leary Peak and hand crews will begin constructing line in the Strawberry Crater Wilderness Area.
Though welcome rain fell this morning across many parts of the fire, strong winds forecast today and shifting winds out of the north and east forecast for Saturday and Sunday are still a major concern for fire managers. The fire is currently 21,087 acres and three percent contained. Fire managers are hesitant to call certain areas contained until these wind events pass.
The Coconino National Forest has instituted a Forest Closure Order for the area affected by the Tunnel Fire. U.S. Highway 89 is still closed from near milepost 425 (Campbell Road intersection) to 445, but officials are assessing conditions daily. The reopening of the highway is dependent on fire activity and closure allows quick and safe response for firefighters.
Current firefighting resources on scene include 371 firefighters, nine 20-person hand crews, five dozers, 30 engines, one air attack plane, two Type 1 helicopters, and one Type 3 helicopter.
Information about evacuations, structures that have been burned, and when people might be able to return is handled by Coconino County, which is posting updates online via their Coconino County Tunnel Fire page. The County has also established a Coconino County Tunnel Fire Call Center at 928-679-8525 that the public can call with questions.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office released a statement last night that an estimated 109 properties were impacted by the fire, including 30 residences that were burned and 24 properties with outbuildings destroyed.
All information regarding current firefighting efforts and the direction and activity of the fire is regularly updated on the Tunnel Fire Inciweb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8068/
TUNNEL FIRE OVERVIEW
Cause: Under investigation.
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UPDATE: April 21, 2022
Helicopters, crews make progress with lines around fire
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UPDATE, April 21, 2022
Crews continue to focus on key areas to protect structures, keep fire from moving up steep slopes
Residences, buildings, and watersheds that drain near them are currently the main emphasis for firefighters battling the now 20,511-acre Tunnel Fire 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff.
Overnight crews continued cooling hotspots in the Timberline Estates and Wupatki Trail subdivisions, as well as worked to contain multiple spot fires on the fire’s western flank near Forest Road 420 (Schultz Pass Road). These efforts were instrumental in keeping the fire from burning up steep slopes toward Schultz Peak and may help to minimize post-fire flood impacts.
Crews will continue to work the western flank today as well as areas in and around the subdivisions in anticipation of a Red Flag wind event that is forecast to start at 11 a.m. Windy conditions are expected to continue into Friday, with a slight chance of moisture and higher humidity to accompany Friday’s winds.
In addition, hand crews have completed handline on the southern edge of the fire nearly to the Pinnacle Peak 345KV powerline and on the north edge of the fire below O’Leary Peak. They will continue looking at opportunities to extend these fire lines to the east throughout the day.
Current firefighting resources on scene include 179 firefighters, four 20-person hand crews, four dozers, 21 engines, one air attack plane, one Type 3 helicopter, two Type 1 helicopters and additional air assets on order. A Pacific Northwest Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will begin arriving, with plans to fully transition operations Friday morning.
U.S. Highway 89 is still closed from near milepost 425 (Campbell Road intersection) to 445, but officials are assessing conditions daily and may reopen it before the weekend. These decisions will be based on weather conditions that drive fire activity and whether or not it is safe for motorists to travel this stretch of highway.
Information about evacuations, structures that have been burned, and when people might be able to return is handled by Coconino County, which is posting updates online via their Coconino County Tunnel Fire page. The County has also established a Coconino County Tunnel Fire Call Center at 928-679-8525 that the public can call with questions.
All information regarding current firefighting efforts and the direction and activity of the fire is regularly updated on the Tunnel Fire Inciweb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
TUNNEL FIRE OVERVIEW
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UPDATE: April 20, 2022
Windy conditions challenge firefighters as Tunnel Fire grows to more than 19,000 acres
The Tunnel Fire 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff grew an additional 3,087 acres Wednesday for a total of 19,712 acres of fire driven by strong winds across the landscape in a northeast direction.
The Northern Arizona Type 3 Team is currently managing firefighting operations, and crews continued cooling hotspots and worked to keep fire outside of Timberline Estates and Wupatki Trail subdivisions. Crews encountered natural gas leaking from foundations, which added additional risk to suppression activities.
Firefighters had success on the western edge of the fire where they were able to limit extensive spreading, while a fire investigation team arrived today to begin investigating the fire origin and cause.
Forceful winds again limited the ability of air resources to support firefighting efforts, as strong up and downdrafts around the mountains kept aircraft from safely and effectively aiding in the firefight with retardant drops. Conditions are expected to become windier Thursday and Friday with gusts up to 50 mph in most of northern Arizona.
With the use of aircraft, it is imperative that private drones do not fly in and around the fire area. If a private drone is spotted in the area, all aircraft support will be grounded, which can be detrimental to firefighting efforts. Remember, if you fly, we can’t.
Current firefighting resources on scene include 260 firefighters, three dozers, 24 engines, one air attack plane, one Type 3 helicopter, and additional air assets on order. A Pacific Northwest Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will begin arriving Thursday, with plans to fully transition operations Friday morning.
U.S. Highway 89 is still closed from near milepost 425 (Campbell Road intersection) to 445 and will likely remain closed for the next several days due to firefighting operations.
Information about evacuations, structures that have been burned, and when people might be able to return is handled by Coconino County, which is posting updates online via their Coconino County Tunnel Fire page.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is estimating approximately 25 structures have burned in the Tunnel Fire so far, and more information will become available as responders and firefighters are able to access neighborhoods get a true count as to how many and what type of structures have burned. The County has also established an Coconino County Tunnel Fire Call Center at 928-679-8525 for evacuees with additional questions.
All information regarding current firefighting efforts and the direction and activity of the fire is regularly updated on the Tunnel Fire Inciweb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
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UPDATE: April 20, 2020
Tunnel Fire surges to more than 16,000 acres overnight due to strong winds
The Tunnel Fire 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff grew to 16,625 acres overnight and is still zero percent contained, as strong winds propelled the flames northeast over U.S. Highway 89 toward Bonito Park and the Sunset Crater National Monument area.
The Northern Arizona Type 3 Team is currently managing firefighting operations. Crews worked overnight building line on the western side of the fire, as well as worked to secure the fire’s edge for structure protection in the Timberline and Wupatki Trails subdivisions. Hand crews and bulldozers will continue working today to secure the fire’s western flank and in the subdivisions, as well as try to keep the fire from spreading up the steep slopes of O’Leary Peak.
Current firefighting resources on scene include some 260 firefighters, three dozers, 24 engines, one air attack plane, and one Type 3 helicopter. The team has also ordered two Type 1 helicopters.
Two air tankers were ordered yesterday but grounded due to very strong winds that surpassed safety and effectiveness thresholds for dropping retardant. Operators hope to utilize the Type 3 helicopter today in firefighting efforts and structure protection, and those of the Type 1 helicopters if conditions allow. Breezy conditions are expected today, becoming windier Thursday and Friday with gusts up to 50 mph in most of northern Arizona. Windy conditions above a certain level make dropping retardant ineffective and unsafe.
With the use of aircraft, it is imperative that private drones do not fly in and around the fire area. If a private drone is spotted in the area, all aircraft support will be grounded, which can be detrimental to firefighting efforts. Remember, if you fly, we can’t.
A Pacific Northwest Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will begin arriving Thursday, with plans to fully transition operations Friday morning. A fire investigation team arrives today and will investigate the origin and cause of the Tunnel Fire.
A community meeting for those in the Doney Park area affected by the fire is scheduled this evening at 5:30 p.m. at Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E. Butler Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. The meeting will be live streamed online, with a link posted later today on the Tunnel Fire Inciweb page.
U.S. Highway 89 is still closed from milepost 425 (Silver Saddle Road intersection) to 435 and will likely remain closed for the next several days due to firefighting operations.
Information about evacuations, structures that have been burned, and when people might be able to return is handled by Coconino County, which is posting updates online via their Coconino County Tunnel Fire page.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is estimating approximately 25 structures have burned in the Tunnel Fire so far, and more information will become available as responders and firefighters are able to access neighborhoods get a true count as to how many and what type of structures have burned. The County has also established an Emergency Call Center at 928-679-8525 for evacuees with additional questions.
All information regarding current firefighting efforts and the direction and activity of the fire is regularly updated on the Tunnel Fire Inciweb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
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UPDATE: April 19, 2022
Tunnel Fire grows to 6,000 acres, prompts evacuations
At zero containment, the Tunnel Fire located 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff has grown substantially due to high winds and spread toward the northeast at high rate, eventually moving across U.S. Highway 89.
Fire managers currently estimate the fire to be approximately 6,000 acres, and more than 200 firefighters and personnel are currently assigned to the fire.
Area evacuations have been ordered, and up-to-date evacuation information can be found via the Coconino County Tunnel Fire page. Evacuees can also call the Coconino County Emergency Call Center at 928-679-8525.
Structures threatened include the community in Doney Park near the fire, and we cannot confirm as of this news release whether or not any homes have been destroyed.
Current firefighting resources include five handcrews, 15 engines, and three dozers. Air tankers were ordered earlier this afternoon to aid in the firefight but were diverted due to high winds that surpassed wind thresholds for air resource purposes. Partner agencies such as Flagstaff Fire Department, Summit FD, Highlands FD, and state crews have also aided in intial and continued response.
A Type I Incident Management Team has been ordered and personnel, assets and resources from the team will arrive over the next two days.
U.S Highway 89 is closed between mileposts 425-435, so motorists traveling toward Page will need to find an alternate route.
For up to date information regarding the Tunnel Fire, please visit the incident page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
TUNNEL FIRE OVERVIEW
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April 19, 2022 – Tunnel Fire, located north of Flagstaff along Highway 89, at 100-plus acres and 0 percent containment
The Tunnel Fire, located north of Flagstaff along Highway 89 (35°18’14.4″N 111°35’20.4″W) is at 100-plus acres and 0 percent containment.
Fire is rapidly spreading in a northeast direction due to high winds with medium-to-high-range spotting occurring in timber and grass.
Area evacuations have been ordered, and up-to-date evacuation information can be found via Coconino County.
While closure orders have not yet been issued, the public is asked to avoid the northern portion of U.S.Highway 89 from Elden Springs Road to the forest boundary for safety.
Resources on scene include three Type 1 handcrews, two dozers, two water tankers and seven engines.
The fire was reported at 4:22 p.m. Sunday and its cause is under investigation.