Tunnel fire

The Coconino National Forest has reduced the size of the closure area for the Tunnel Fire to allow for increased access and recreation in areas that access Lockett Meadow and the inner basin via Forest Road 552.

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has completed its assessment of the Tunnel Fire areas, and the Flagstaff Ranger District has determined it is safe to reduce the size of the closure in that area. Information about the BAER results can be found on the Tunnel Fire BAER Inciweb page, including the Soil Burn Severity Map.

Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists recently completed their field data evaluation to produce the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map for the approximately 19,075-acre Tunnel Fire.

A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began surveying the fire-affected areas within the Tunnel Fire perimeter this past Saturday.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the neighborhoods along Highway 89 north of Campbell Avenue will be downgraded from “SET” to “READY” status. This includes the neighborhoods of Timberline, Fernwood, Lenox Park, Girls Ranch Road, Wupatki Estates, Antelope Hills, and the residences east/northeast of Moon Crater in Alpine Ranchos.

Containment on the Tunnel Fire increased to 43% on Wednesday evening due to firefighters' continued hard work to mop up and secure the fire’s perimeter in the Sunset Crater National Monument and Black Mountain areas. Critical fire weather caused increased fire behavior with pockets of smoke within the fire's interior, but was not a threat to the perimeter. Suppression repair work occurred along Forest Road 545 and in Sunset Crater National Park.

Firefighters continued to make progress on the Tunnel Fire Tuesday. As a result, containment of the fire increased to 30 percent. The near-critical fire weather conditions were less severe than anticipated, with only breezy southwest winds and cooler temperatures due to cloud cover that remained over the fire area for much of the day.

Containment of the Tunnel Fire increased to 20 percent on Monday evening as firefighters continued to secure the fire’s perimeter and remove any heat near the control lines. Fire crews remain engaged around the entire fire perimeter. On the south and southwest portions of the fire, crews patrolled the areas that have been determined to be contained and began returning equipment no longer needed on the fireline so that it can be refurbished and available for future use.

Fire crews’ diligence and hard work have resulted in an increase in containment to 15% on the Tunnel Fire. Yesterday residents were able to re-enter the previously evacuated neighborhoods. US Highway 89 was re-opened yesterday afternoon. Firefighters continue to mop up, patrol and secure existing fireline while constructing new fireline to the northeast portion of the fire.

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. 

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that we are lifting the “GO” evacuation order as of 9:00 AM Sunday morning April 24th, 2022, for the residents living in the neighborhoods along Highway 89. The Tunnel Fire Incident Management Team has determined that the status and condition of the fire at this time is no longer an imminent threat to the neighborhoods along Highway 89 and has recommended allowing residents back into their homes.