Coconino

 Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Storm Activity: The National Weather Service is forecasting increased thunderstorm activity with a particularly increased chance of significant rainfall Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Thunderstorm cells missed the Museum burn scar today. 

Sandbag Operations: 3,200 sandbags were produced and delivered to both the stations and to supply sandbagging placement operations for the elderly and disabled.  

On Friday, July 9, at 8 am, the Arizona State Land Department and the Department of Forestry and
Fire Management rescind recreational closures on State Trust Land in all 15 counties and place some areas back into Stage II restrictions.

As of 6:00 a.m. today, July 6, Coconino County has moved back to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in coordination with the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests.

This decision was made due to the cooler temperatures and recent rainfall which has reduced the risk of wildfire.

Even with the rain and lower temperatures, Coconino County remains in a drought and therefore fire danger remains. The following restrictions apply on County public lands, as well as private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County:

1.    Campfires and open fires

2.    Fireworks

The Coconino National Forest will reopen to the public beginning 6 a.m. July 6.

Recreation technicians ask for patience as they work to remove gates, locks and barriers throughout the coming days.

The Snake Fire, located about

Fire behavior on Monday was less erratic than the previous day.  The Rafael Fire was active with considerably less growth than the day before.  At 24,064 acres, the Rafael fire spans the Prescott, Kaibab, and Coconino National Forests as well as the Yavapai and Coconino County lines. Reconnaissance from the air is the best approach for fire managers to assess fire management strategies in the remote terrain in and around Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. Steep canyons walls and dense vegetation are driving the options for fire management.

Last night, fire personnel began a firing operation starting at the intersection of state routes 260 and 87 near the communities of Strawberry and Pine. Crews plan to spend today holding and improving this line. Firefighters and equipment continued to construct and improve the community protection line around Strawberry. Structure protection crews worked to protect values at risk and assess hazards in the communities of Strawberry and Pine. Crews were inserted into Hardscrabble Canyon to construct direct line on the fire.

The Snake Fire, located about 7 miles west of Clints Well on the northern edge of West Clear Creek is currently 45 acres, and firefighters have lined approximately 80 percent of the fire.

Air and ground resources, to include two engines, a Hotshot crew, dozer, and helicopter are keeping the fire from growing atop the ridge of West Clear Creek. However, parts of the wildfire have creeped down into the canyon, so air resources from the Backbone Fire are supporting the suppression of the Snake Fire.