Category Archives: Flagstaff

Flagstaff Police Department seeking information on possible arson

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FLAGSTAFF — On 5/24/2022 at approximately 1403 hours, reports of a wildland fire north of the tracks, north of the Railroad Springs Neighborhood was reported to emergency personnel. US Forest Service, Flagstaff Fire, Flagstaff Police, and CCSO personnel were dispatched to the area.

The Flagstaff Police Department is seeking information related to individuals possibly involved in the incident. Witnesses described observing a juvenile to young adult aged white or light skinned Hispanic male subject wearing a white t-shirt leaving the area and entering a White Dually Pickup Truck, unknown make/model, leaving the adjacent access roads in an eastbound direction.

If you have any information about the possible identity of this person, please contact the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Three Severely Injured in Weekend All-Terrain Vehicle Roll-Over

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FLAGSTAFF – On May 21st, 2022 at 1:35 pm, a Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) crash involving 3 people on Forest Service Road 240 east of Munds Park.

Upon arrival, the deputy assisted medical personnel who were already on scene treating the three patients. An adult male sustained severe head trauma, an adult female sustained hip and back injuries, and a 4-year-old boy being treated for an eye and lower body injuries. After initial treatment and assessment of injuries all three subjects were transported by Ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Center. At the time of this release, all patients are in stable condition.

Initial investigation indicated the grandfather was operating an ATV with the grandmother and their 4-year-old grandson on board. Indications are the grandfather lost control of the ATV, rolled, which ejected the occupants causing the injuries. None of the riders were wearing protective gear.

This matter is still under investigation by CCSO, and no further information is available.

Off road vehicle regulations and safety information can be found on the CCSO’s website,
https://www.coconino.az.gov/1991/OHV-Guidelines.

V-Bar-V Heritage Site reopens following construction

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FLAGSTAFF – The V-Bar-V Heritage Site, located on the Coconino National Forest’s Red Rock Ranger District, has re-opened following several months of construction work and site improvements.

The heritage site now includes an American Disabilities Act-accessible viewing platform, a new security fence and a seating area.

“We are excited to improve the accessibility and security of the petroglyph panel in a way that honors this sacred place and is respectful of the American Indian Tribes who still use and protect these areas today,” said District Ranger Amy Tinderholt. “We hope that the public will visit the site to learn about past and current traditional cultural practices.”

The petroglyph panel at V-Bar-V is considered the largest and best-preserved in the Verde Valley and features more than 1,000 individually pecked and incised images.

The Beaver Creek-style petroglyphs at the site are known to represent the Southern Sinagua Culture from between 1150 and 1400.

Regular hours for V-Bar-V are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Monday. Pets are not allowed.

The V-Bar-V Heritage Site is located 2.8 miles east of the junction of Interstate 17 and State Route 179 on Forest Road 618. Watch for the entrance on your right less than one-half mile past the Beaver Creek

Reservations are not required, but V-Bar-V is a fee site, so a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass is required for admission.

ATV Fatality Near Forest Lakes

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FOREST LAKES – On May 8, 2022, at about 1:00 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s  Office received a report of a missing 8-year-old child from a campsite near Bear Canyon Lake. Due to the remote location, Sheriff’s Deputies, DPS Troopers, and Forest Service personnel responded to the call. While responding, a second report was made that the juvenile had been located and had been involved in an accident.

The subsequent investigation revealed the Mesa area family had been camping near Bear Canyon Lake when the child went missing. The child had reportedly taken the family’s ATV. The family immediately reported the incident to the camp host and began looking for the missing child. A short time later family members located the ATV and the child down a steep embankment. The child was not breathing and was transported by private vehicle to a location where they met with medical personnel. The child was pronounced deceased on scene.

The investigation is ongoing by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information is available at this time. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Forest Service for their assistance.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to wear recommended safety equipment and follow all applicable state and federal laws regarding the safe use of ATVs while recreating. Please visit the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office website for more information.

Plan for lane restrictions on SR 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff May 10-12

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The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising motorists to plan for daytime lane restrictions on State Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff starting Tuesday, May 10, as crews perform guardrail repairs north of Grasshopper Point.

The following restrictions are in place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, through Thursday, May 12:

  • SR 89A will be restricted to one lane only with alternating north- and southbound travel at various locations between mileposts 376 and 384.
    Flaggers will assist drivers through the work zone.
  • A 14-foot vehicle width limit will be in place.
  • Drivers should be prepared to stop, proceed with caution and watch for maintenance personnel and equipment.

As a reminder, portions of SR 89A in Oak Creek Canyon are currently reduced to one lane only with alternating north- and southbound travel between Pumphouse Wash Bridge and Oak Creek Vista (roughly between mileposts 387 and 390) as part of the SR 89A Oak Creek Canyon Improvements project that is underway.

Armed robberies in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – On 05/07/22 at approximately 9:30 PM, an unknown suspect entered the Family Dollar at 3494 E Route 66 and displayed a handgun to the clerks and demanded money.  The suspect then left the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  A video canvass was completed, and the pictured vehicle was observed leaving the parking lot of the shopping complex around the time of the robbery.

On 05/09/22 at approximately 05:45 AM, an unknown suspect entered the Circle K store at 2718 N Steve’s Blvd and again displayed a handgun to the clerks and demanded money.  The suspect left on foot Northbound on Steve’s Blvd into the lower Greenlaw neighborhood of Flagstaff after the incident.  The suspect appears to be wearing identical clothing from the incident at Family Dollar from 05/07/22.

The suspect appears to be wearing a dark colored Carhartt brand jacket, and has a beanie, face mask, black pants and black shoes.  The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you have information about these crimes, please contact Detective Gilbert at 928-679-4120 or jdgilbert@flagstaffaz.gov. You can also submit your tip anonymously at Coconino County Silent Witness at 928-774-6111. Remember, we need your information not your name.

Elden Lookout Road, Rocky Ridge Trail closed for construction projects

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FLAGSTAFF — Approximately 5 miles of Mt Elden Road will be closed today till July 1 for construction associated with reducing sediment flooding from the Museum Fire and in order to keep the public safe during heavy construction activities.

This temporary closure prohibits motorized vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from using the Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557) and Trail #153 (Rocky Ridge Trail) in the closed portions identified in the order and map.

Those exempt from this temporary closure include participants with the Cocodona 250 Race, which was coordinated and planned well before this closure order was developed. Safety personnel will be placed along Elden Lookout Road to help keep participants safe during the time they use the road.

Coconino National Forest and the county have contracted an alluvial fan restoration project along three tributaries that are affected by the Museum Fire. Tiffany Construction and Natural Channel Design will be performing earth moving activities with heavy machinery to increase resiliency of the tributaries.

The earth movement is a safety concern for public and will require a short-term restriction while construction activities, such as building weirs, drop structures, and elevating the road, are completed. The goal is to restore portions of the watershed for revegetation and reduce sediment transportation downstream into the City of Flagstaff.

Burned Area Emergency Response team completes Soil Burn Severity map for Tunnel Fire

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FLAGSTAFF – On May 3, Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists, led by Brandon Waterman, completed their field data evaluation to produce the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map for the approximately 19,075-acre Tunnel Fire.

The map and the data delineate unburned, low, moderate and high SBS categories. The BAER team assessing the Tunnel Fire determined that approximately 4,774 acres (24%) of the fire is unburned, approximately 12,285 acres (67%) have low SBS, approximately 1,421 acres (8%) sustained a moderate SBS and only approximately 11 acres (<1%) were identified as having high soil burn severity.The SBS map product is an estimate of fire effects to soils, not fire effects to vegetation. SBS characterizes fire effects to the soil surface and below ground. Fire effects to vegetation would include an estimate of vegetation mortality which does not always correlate with degree of soil burn severity.

Moderate and high soil burn severity can alter or damage physical, chemical, and biological soil properties resulting in increased runoff, erosion, and negative effects to soil productivity. These soil properties include but are not limited to hydrophobicity (water repellency), soil organic matter content, soil pore space, soil cover (effective litter), and soil structure (including grade (degree of aggregation) and type (physical form).

Changes to these soil properties determine the degree of soil burn severity. Water repellency often occurs naturally in soils and it changes as a function of fire. It is frequently discussed as a post-fire effect. Fire can increase the strength and thickness—or depth—of water repellent layers in soil, considerably affecting post-fire water runoff and possibly extending time for recovery of the burned area.

The Tunnel BAER assessment team used remote sensing imagery with field-validated soils data to produce the final SBS map. The BAER team will use the SBS map as an analysis tool to estimate post-fire erosion with subsequent sediment delivery, stream flows and debris flow probabilities. The map is also being shared with cooperating agencies.

The Tunnel Fire soil burn severity map can be downloaded at the “Tunnel Fire BAER” InciWeb site (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8088/) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “Maps” tab.

As a reminder, The Coconino National Forest has instituted a Forest Closure Order for the area affected by the Tunnel Fire.

Coconino NF responding to 2-acre fire 8 miles north of Sunset Crater

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FLAGSTAFF – On May 2, Coconino National Forest resources are responding to the two-acre Antelope Fire, located eight miles north of Sunset Crater near Highway 89 (GPS coordinates 35°28’54.0″N 111°33’21.0″W).

The wind-driven fire was spreading at a moderate rate through grass-type fuels.

Resources at the scene included one Type 2 hand crew, four engines, one dozer, one water tender and miscellaneous overhead. An air attack resource had been ordered.

The fire was reported at 1:09 p.m. and its cause is under investigation.

No structures were threatened and smoke impact may have been noticed along Highway 89 and in the Doney Park area.

The fire was quickly contained and does not appear on the Incident Web Site.

Forest Service goes into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions May 5

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Beginning Thursday, May 5 at 8:00 a.m., Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions will be in effect on the Williams and Tusayan Districts (aka “South Zone”) of the Kaibab National Forest and the entirety of the Coconino National Forest.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest and state lands.Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Decisions about fire restrictions are based on a combination of carefully measured factors. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels, enduring drought, and available firefighting resources.

Additional restrictions could be forthcoming if conditions warrant. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area receives significant, widespread precipitation. Violations could result in mandatory appearance in a federal court, fines, or jail time. The public is reminded to always be extra cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of restrictions.

For information on all Arizona state and federal fire restrictions, including an interactive map, visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, Forest Orders, and general forest conditions can be found at fs.usda.gov/kaibab and fs.usda.gov/coconino.