Tunnel Fire Update – Saturday April 23, 2022 – 9:00 a.m.
Release Date:
Contact(s): MEDIA Line 928-224-8306
Tunnel Fire Quick Facts |
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Start Date: April 17, 2022 |
Approx. Size: 21,164 ac. |
Resources: |
Cause: Under Investigation |
Containment: 3% |
9 Crews |
Incident Commander: |
Total Personnel: 334 |
18 Engines |
Randy Johnson Pacific Northwest Team 3
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Location: 14 Miles Northeast of Flagstaff, AZ |
5 Dozers 1 Air Attack Plane 3 Helicopters |
The following press release was written by the Pacific Northwest National Incident Managment Team.
Current Situation: Winds are expected to shift, coming from the north and northeast today and tomorrow. Firefighters are positioned to respond.
Today’s Activities: Fire crews continue working on the spot fire on 89 Mesa. Fireline construction with bulldozers and hand crews is ongoing around the edge of the fire between O’Leary Peak and Black Mountain. Crews continue to patrol and mop up hot spots in the Timberline Estates and Wupatki Trails subdivisions, as well as along the southern flank of the fire along Forest Road 545. To contain the fire’s east edge, crews will also build fireline line in Strawberry Crater north from Forest Road 545.
Pacific Northwest Team 3 transitioned with the outgoing Northern Arizona Type 3 incident management team this morning. The two teams have been working together since Thursday afternoon to ensure a smooth transfer.
Evacuations: Information about evacuations, structures that have been burned, and when evacuation levels may change, 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.
U.S. Highway 89 is closed from near milepost 425 (Campbell Road intersection) to 445. Officials are assessing conditions daily and the reopening of the highway is dependent on fire activity. Please contact AZ 511 for the most up-to-date status of U.S. Highway 89.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8068/
Facebook: U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest
Twitter: twitter.com/CoconinoNF