Daily Archives: July 8, 2015

Unleashed pit bulls attack and kill small pet

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Flagstaff Police Department photo.

Flagstaff Police Department photo.

FLAGSTAFF — At approximately 2:37 today, Flagstaff Police Department responded to a call of gunshots in the 4000 Block of Lake Mary. The caller described a subject shooting at dogs in the open field.

Upon arrival Officers located the subject who had discharged the firearm. Also located at the scene were four pit bull dogs who had been running loose, and an elderly man who was walking two smaller dogs on leashes. Officers discovered the four pit bulls had been running unrestrained in the area and had attacked the smaller dogs described as pugs.

The elderly man had been walking his two dogs in the open field just to the north of the Circle K when two of the pit bulls attacked his dogs.

The pit bulls were clustered together, but only two attacked the leashed animals. The man who did the shooting stated he was parked at the Circle K at Walapai and Lake Mary, and observed the confrontation between the animals.

He then left his truck and attempted to break up the dog fight with a large stick, and noticing this was not working went back to his truck and retrieved a firearm which he used to shoot the attacking two pit bulls. The two pit bulls sustained wounds and were transported to the vet by animal control and were later put down due to their injuries.

One of the elderly man’s dogs also died from the wounds from the attacking pit bull. The other dog on the leash was injured as well and taken to the vet. The elderly man also sustained injuries to his hand from trying to intervene.

The owners of the four pit bulls were identified and stated the dogs had been inside their apartment, although they had left the door unlatched and believed the dogs escaped. The two remaining pit bulls were located and safety restrained at their home.

This incident remains under investigation and we will work with the city attorney and or the county attorney’s office on any applicable charges.

The Flagstaff Police Department would like to remind the public to comply with the City of Flagstaff’s leash law. The Flagstaff Police Department recently issued a warning that it is increasing enforcement of leash laws.

Overnight paving work on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley continues

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Overnight paving work resumes tonight and Wednesday, July 8 and 9 on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley, weather permitting. Work will take place on the south end of the project at the new Deep Well Ranch Road roundabout.

Motorists traveling on SR 89 for the next two nights between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. should allow extra travel time through the work zone. A detour will be in place redirecting traffic in both directions onto the new Deep Well Ranch Road to Ruger Road. Delays of up to 20 minutes at a time are expected. Flaggers and law enforcement will be present to guide motorists through the detour safely.

Beginning Saturday, July 11 through Tuesday, July 14 crews will place rubberized asphalt throughout the project between 4 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Access into the businesses along the northbound side of the project will be impacted for up to 20 minutes at a time and motorists will be stopped until the paving crew passes the driveway.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Another short afternoon rain leads to another ten-percent chance

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640-Rain15-07-07-8WILLIAMS — Williams received another short duration of intense rain this afternoon. It cleared up leaving a beautiful afternoon. While tomorrow was predicted to be clear, it appears, now, that there is a 10%-chance of rain and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. in Williams and Flagstaff. Friday is predicted to be clear. The chance of rain picks up again Saturday and runs through next week.

Mason Fire expected to grow as drier conditions return to northern Arizona

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TUSAYAN — Kaibab National Forest fire managers expect the 450-acre Mason Fire that is being managed to achieve resource objectives on the Tusayan Ranger District to grow more rapidly over the next few days as drier conditions return to northern Arizona.

Mason is one of four lightning-caused wildfires being managed as part of the Jar Complex to improve forest health, allow fire to play its natural role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce the potential for future high-intensity fires.

Today, firefighters will conduct management ignitions at strategic locations within the planning area established for the Mason Fire in order to protect fire-sensitive resources, reinforce predefined boundaries to fire spread, and create areas burned at low intensity ahead of the main fire in order to reduce the potential for any rapid, higher-intensity fire progression during windy, dry conditions.

Specifically, firefighters will use drip torches to burn fuels west along Forest Road 304 from the existing fire area to FR 2733 and then potentially south along FR 2733. FR 2733 serves as the western perimeter of the 16,100-acre planning area established for both the Mason and Old fires. The planning area is located about 7 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower. The Old Fire, which is also being managed to benefit forest resources, remains at about five acres in size but is also expected to become more active given the local drying trend.

“Prior to human settlement in this area, lightning would have caused fires during monsoon season that would have then spread unimpeded until they were rained out or moved into areas of sparse fuels,” said Tusayan District Ranger James Simino. “Managing these naturally-caused fires helps us mimic those historic conditions, which is critical to preventing high-intensity, potentially destructive fires during months like May and June when rain isn’t typically associated with them.”

A road crew is continuing to haul gravel, blade, and make other improvements to heavily-used roads in the fire area. Motorists using forest roads 301, 301A, 302 and 320 are asked to use caution due to the presence of heavy equipment for the road improvement work and firefighting trucks and personnel.

Smoke from the Mason Fire is becoming more prominent as it continues growing and becoming more active. Due to prevailing winds, smoke will largely be pushed toward the northeast, making it visible from Desert View in Grand Canyon National Park and from Cameron, Ariz. Smoke from the four fires may eventually become more visible from other areas including the Town of Tusayan, Highway 64 and Highway 180.

Oath Keepers plans meeting to organize Community Preparedness Teams

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a22de8_7e7df60d14a74d7d8368f167f9729975.jpg_srz_p_271_271_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srzFLAGSTAFF — The Oath Keepers organization is holding a meeting in Flagstaff at the La Quinta Inn at 2015 South Beulah Boulevard tomorrow, July 9, at 6 p.m. The meeting is to introduce the concept of Community Preparedness Teams.

These teams are being organized to train to respond to emergencies that might arise within a community. They are not meant to replace CERT and other search and rescue teams already in place. They are meant to augment them, if desired. When properly trained, they can be used by local law enforcement officials, such as additional security during city festivals and events.

There are several teams concepts designed to respond to respond to natural or man-made disasters. They are also forming teams to respond to possible attacks from terrorist elements such as the drug cartels and groups such as ISIS. The discussion will cover a number of teams preparing to meet community needs in a disaster.

One of the teams, for example, is Emergency Medical. They will train in various levels of medical proficiency. The first is combat lifesaver which is useful for first aid of severe trauma victims, such as at an auto accident. Their next levels are EMT and medic/paramedic. You can find out more at the CPT link of their web site.

Jim Arryo of Chino Valley—Arizona Chapter Vice President and State CPT Director—explained the concept in an interview with Gianluca Zanna on KTOX radio.

(The full interview including an interview with Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers here.)

Oath Keepers was originally organized to get military, police and other people who take oaths to keep their oath to the Constitution. Their membership mainly consists of veterans, active duty military, police and sheriffs, and other civilians who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. It is not limited to those categories, however. It is open to all citizens who feel a need to assist in preparing their community for disaster. Even people with physical limitations are useful. An elder person can cook and a person in a wheelchair can still operate a radio, for example.

If you have never served or feel like you might like to learn new skills, you can learn more and have your questions answered at this meeting.