Firefighters Make a Big Stride in Boundary Fire Containment

WILLIAMS – Monday afternoon, forecasted isolated thunderstorms brought gusty winds and light precipitation to the Boundary Fire. Crews made a big stride today securing private property parcels and fire lines which increased containment from 18% to 30%. Cloud cover and increased relative humidity allowed fire to move along the ground, promoting healthy consumption of dead and down fuel returning nutrients to the soil.

In the morning, minimal but noticeable smoke may impact the following communities of Flagstaff, Baderville, Tuba City, Cameron, Timberline/Doney Park, and Bellemont. Smoke will disperse east of Flagstaff towards Leupp and hazy smoke will be drifting near Doney Park and Timberline as temperatures increase throughout the day. For more information on smoke and air quality, visit www.azdeq.gov.

Smoke will continue to impact US 180, especially at night. US 180 has reopened north of Flagstaff between mileposts 236 and 248 after visibility along the highway has increased due to reduced smoke impact from the Boundary Fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Though the road is open for travel, there will be lower speed limits through the affected area as firefighting operations continue and personnel and equipment enter and exit the highway. While the smoke impact has lessened enough to safely reopen US 180, ADOT personnel will continue to monitor visibility conditions along the highway.

US 89 remains open and may see light smoke impacts during the day. Interstate 40 may experience impacts in the evening and at night. The forest service advises drivers slow down and use caution when driving through these areas.

Bellemont Burglary and Assault Investigation

BELLEMONT – On December 30, 2016 around 12:00 am, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an assault and burglary in the Bellemont community west of Flagstaff, AZ. A female manager of the Bellemont McDonalds had just returned to her residence and entered her garage when two men broke in through the side door to her garage and assaulted her attempting to steal a box containing several thousand dollars. The suspects had sprayed the victim with pepper spray and tried to choke her.

When another person at the residence heard the noise and came to the garage door, the suspects fled on foot. The suspects are described as two men who were dressed in dark clothing with white bandanas. Their faces were covered, but one was described as tall and thin and the other as shorter and of a stocky build.

Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Troopers from Arizona Department of Public Safety in attempt to locate the suspects. It is believed that the suspects had knowledge of the money being carried in the box, targeting the victim specifically. The case is still under active investigation.

If you have any information regarding this incident or the suspects, you are asked to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at 928- 774-6111.

Springs Fire travels south into Wild Horse Canyon

640-2015_08_17-09.40.26.272-CDTWILLIAMS — The Spring Fire—which has grown over 6,000 acres despite monsoon conditions—has spread into Wild Horse Canyon and is expected to burn itself out there. The Summit Mountain Trail (#68) continues to be closed until Sept. 30 or until Closure Order 07-15-01-F is rescinded. The trail was closed on July 30 due to the Springs Fire activity.

Yesterday fire personnel continued to monitor the Springs Fire after fire activity increased, due to drier conditions, following a week of monsoon weather. Crews reinforced Forest Road 746, a designated perimeter road, with burn out operations. Fire managers expect the lightning-caused wildfire to reach its pre-established southeastern boundary within the next several days.

Today they will continue to monitor and reinforce Forest Road 57A and Forest Road 746, as the fire activity moves slowly towards the south around Wild Horse Canyon. As the wildfire reaches these designated perimeter roads, it is expected to burn out on its own, as fire managers have been planning since the discovery of the naturally-ignited Springs Fire in early July.

Smoke impacts to both Wild Horse and Sycamore canyons and father south are possible as the Springs Fire continues to slowly back through the area.

The Parks and Bellemont communities may also notice smoke over the next several days, as the wildfire burns through the remaining portion of the planning area established for its natural spread. As the wildfire reaches pre-determined perimeter roads in the coming days, fire activity and smoke production are expected to decrease significantly.

Flagstaff and Williams get predicted rain

64015-06-13-08Flagstaff and Williams received their predicted rainfall this afternoon. Rain, however, was heaviest along the I-40 corridor between Bellemont and Parks Road.
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More rain is predicted tomorrow. The forecast there after is mostly sunny with some clouds through next weekend.

Bill Williams mountain from I-40.

Bill Williams mountain from I-40.

Bellemont gets hit first

640-15-05-15-11WILLIAMS — A winter storm warning has been issued for northern Arizona as snow and fog is predicted overnight. There is an 80% chance of snow overnight in Williams with a possibility of up to 2-inches. There is a 20% chance of snow and rain Saturday clearing by Sunday. Flagstaff has a 10% better chance of precipitation over the same period.

It appears that Bellemont bore the brunt of the storm today with snow turning to mostly rain in Flagstaff. Snow started to fall in Flagstaff about 4 p.m.
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Williams received mostly rain and fog.

Bellemont gets the view

600px-Bow-02BELLEMONT – The flaky monsoons continue this weekend. Yesterday while Flagstaff was dumped on, Williams received little or no precipitation. In the middle Bellemont was treated to a spectacular view of a double rainbow. Our pictures unfortunately did not do it justice.

belllemont-rainbow-0905The monsoons are expected to continue throughout the weekend with Flagstaff and Williams receiving similar forecasts. There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms today rising to around 80% through Monday night. Tuesday the forecast drops back down to around 50%.

Winds are expected to be no more that ten-miles-per-hour throughout the period.
pot-o-gold

Serious accident on I-40 west near Bellemont

Photo by Brenda Carter

Photo by Brenda Carter


[See Update at FLAGScanner]
BELLEMONT – A serious three-vehicle accident occurred on I-40 west early this afternoon. Details are unknown at this time.

The accident apparently involved a semi and two vehicles. Traffic was detoured off of the freeway at exit 185 to the next on-ramp in Bellemont.

Williams resident Brenda Carter took these photos as she was caught in the traffic at about 1:15 pm. She said that there were no ambulances on the scene and it appeared that the clean-up operation had started.

Northern Arizona Gazette reminds drivers that the Labor Day holiday is coming next weekend and there will be many travelers on the highways. If you plan to travel, please rest well before your trip and do not allow distractions in your vehicle to allow this to happen to you.

Photo by Brenda Carter

Photo by Brenda Carter

Updated: 8:48 pm

Coconino Sheriff Deputies make arrest in Freeway Fire

Flagstaff, AZ—Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested twenty five year-old James Duncan an individual who is currently in transit and who is originally from Mississippi, for one count of Reckless Burning a Class One Misdemeanor. Investigators believe Mr. Duncan was responsible for a one acre fire named the Freeway Fire.

On Thursday, May 24, 2013 at about 1122 am the Sheriff’s Office received a call from dispatchers assigned to the Northern District of the Arizona Department of Public Safety regarding a hitch hiker who was believed to have stated the Freeway Fire.

The Freeway Fire was a one-acre fire on the north side of I-40 just west of the Bellemont rest stop.

According to the DPS Dispatcher one of their Officers had visual contact with a hitchhiker who matched the description of an individual who was seen smoking in the area where a wild land fire ignited. DPS dispatchers received a cellular phone call from a passing motorist who observed the suspect sitting on a log on the shoulder of the West bound lanes of Interstate Highway I-40 in the area of Mile-Post 181 and smoking a lit cigarette.

When the Deputy arrived he and the DPS Officer made contact with the individual. The caller returned to the area and identified the subject as the same person he observed sitting on the log and smoking the cigarette. During an interview with the subject he admitted to sitting on the log and smoking a cigarette but denied causing the fire. United States Forest Service Firefighters identified the point of origin of the Freeway Fire to be the log where Duncan was seated or in very close proximity to the log.

James Duncan was arrested for one count of Reckless Burning and transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility located in Flagstaff, Arizona.

High winds and dry conditions have caused red flag conditions in Coconino causing fire restrictions to be put in place in the Kaibab and Coconino forests starting today.