Slide fire update: The Slide fire in Oak Creek grew by about 2,000 acres Friday night and early Saturday morning as crews conducted firing operations along the north side of the fire to remove fuel along a power line that supplies electricity to Flagstaff. Night time firing operations were especially The fire was listed this morning as having burned 10,609 acres. Containment is listed at 5 percent. Today, according to the Forest Service, firefighters are preparing a 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 burnout 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. Current resources included approximately 975 personnel, including 36 crews, 46 engines, three air tankers, nine helicopters, two air attack planes, and other resources are working the fire. No injuries have been reported. The following roads have been closed: · Highway 89A from Sedona to Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff · Forest Road (FR) 535 at Highway 89A · FR 533 at Highway 89A · FR 231 (Woody Mountain Road) at Rogers Lake · FR 527 and 530 (west side; Volunteer Canyon area) · Casner Mountain is closed to all vehicles 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.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 19:39:04 +0000