Daily Archives: April 12, 2021

Sheriff’s Office Deputies Respond to Fatal Structure Fire at Rose Well Camp

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SELIGMAN – On 04/10/21 at 3:08 PM Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a report of an explosion at Rose Well Camp, north west of Seligman on the Boquillas Ranch. Reports indicated a ranch house had caught fire after the explosion and was spreading to adjacent structures and brush. Seligman Fire Department responded to suppress the fire.

Ranch staff from Rose Well Camp observed a column of smoke and responded to the camp to investigate. Upon arriving they found one of the camp houses engulfed in flames.

They observed a vehicle, belonging to the ranch staff member who lived in the house, parked near the south porch. While Seligman Fire personnel were extinguishing the flames, human remains were located in the burnt structure.

The fire spread to several adjacent structures, to include a historic hay barn, which was destroyed by fire as well. Once the fire was extinguished, detectives processed the scene and identified human remains which were later removed by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The cause of the reported explosion/fire and death of the unidentified human remains are being investigated by Sheriff’s Office Investigators and the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Man Arrested for Starting Wildland Fire in Blue Ridge Area

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BLUE RIDGE – On April 9, 2021 Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to Highway 87 near the Hwy 260 junction for a report of a wildland fire.

Upon arrival, the deputy interviewed a witness that said they were driving along the highway and saw a fire in the forested area. Upon seeing the fire, the witness stopped and attempted extinguish the fire.

During this process, the witness noticed a suspicious person, later identified as Adam Gilliam, a 29-year-old man from Oregon, near the fire.

Shortly after, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper arrived and detained the suspicious person.
During the deputy’s interview with Gilliam, he admitted to starting the fire with a lighter he had in his possession. Fire resources were able to successfully extinguish the fire, which was described as approximately 30 feet in diameter.

Gilliam was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for Illegal Burning of Wildland and Refusing to Provide a Truthful name.

Moonset Pit to Re-open on May 8 for Green Waste Disposal Benefiting Local Communities

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest, in cooperation with the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates is pleased to announce the reopening of the Moonset Pit on May 8 of this year for residents to dispose of green waste materials from private property.

The pit will be open on the following days this year from 8am to 2pm:

Saturday-May 8, Saturday-May 22, Saturday-June 5, Saturday-June 19, and Saturday-July 10.

Users will only be allowed to access and discard natural woody debris such as logs, limbs, branches, brush, needles, and leaves on these dates while staff is present. No bagged substances, lumber, construction material, household garbage or any other items should be deposited at the site.

The Moonset Pit serves the local area providing a location for the disposal of natural forest debris. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this facility to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire.

Moonset Pit is located just west of the Parks community on a dirt road east of Spitz Springs on the north side of old Route 66.

Personal Use Cinder Information: Personal use cinder permits are now available from the Williams Ranger District Office. People who wish to acquire a permit will need to call the district office first and make an appointment to come in. Due to the ongoing pandemic and preventive procedures currently in place, a specific set of guidelines will be required to obtain a permit that will require payment by credit card only.

Click here to learn more: Cinder Permit Requirements 2021

Cinders will only be available for collection on weekends to avoid safety conflicts with Coconino County mining operations.

There are personal use cinders also available to the public all days of the week at the Wright Pit located off Lillie J Ranch road in Parks and the W-Triangle Pit north of Spring Valley.

For information about obtaining permits or questions about all these services, please call the Williams Ranger District office at 742 S Clover Road in Williams. (928) 635-5600.

The success of this community provision is largely attributed to the volunteers of the Parks Area Connection and Sherwood Forest Fire Department who staff the pit on Saturdays during the open hours of operation. This annual service is also supported by the Kaibab National Forest and the Rural Communities Fuels Management Partnership.