Fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning December 16 through December 20, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department has declared a No Burn Day for Thursday, December 12 due to elevated levels of PM10 (dust).

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Spread from animals to humans is unlikely; overall risk to community members remains low

Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is working closely with state and federal partners to respond to detection of avian influenza in a small number of animals that are part of a zoo collection in Litchfield Park. Overall risk to the public and zoo visitors remains low.

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) has confirmed that H5 avian influenza has been detected in wastewater sampling. The specimens were collected at the Rio De Flag Water Reclamation Plant and the Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant. The source of the virus is suspected to be from chickens and wild birds, however other sources cannot be ruled out. There are no reports of human or animal H5 cases in Coconino County.

Small nonfarm businesses in three Utah counties and neighboring counties in Arizona and Nevada are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration.