Tag Archives: Valle

Bert fire continues to restore forest

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Kaibab Forest Service photo

Kaibab Forest Service photo

VALLE — The Bert Fire on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest continues to increase in size daily and is expected to follow this pattern until annual monsoon precipitation arrives. The lightning-caused fire started May 28, 2016.

The fire, located ten-miles southeast of Valle near Ebert Mountain, has grown to almost 3400 acres. Smoke will continue to be visible from Highways 180 and 64 and from the community of Valle. Volume will fluctuate from day to day depending on weather and fire activity. Predominant winds are pushing most of the smoke away from Valle, but some will continue to drift into Valle and Flagstaff.

The Bert Fire is moving through pinyon juniper woodlands and is reducing tree stand density meeting the desired objectives to restore historic grasslands.

Kaibab National Forest photo

Kaibab National Forest photo

Thief compromises Bert Fire operations and public safety

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image013VALLE — On Tuesday morning a firefighter assigned to the Bert Fire on the Kaibab National Forest discovered the theft of essential emergency safety equipment taken from the scene of the Bert Fire southeast of Valle, Arizona.

Sometime during the night hours of Monday June 6, an electronic safety message sign that was placed on highway 180 was vandalized and multiple power batteries were stolen from inside of the unit. The sign board which displayed illuminated safety messages for travelers was rendered inoperable. The messages were designed to alert drivers of approaching hazardous conditions including smoke and fire personnel working in the area.

Officials would like to remind the public of the importance of safety when conduction fire operations that are near or within rural areas and adjacent to busy highway corridors. These types of careless actions can elevate danger and reduce the ability to provide for public safety of both firefighters and motorists. U.S. Forest Service law enforcement is currently working with the Coconino County Sheriff’s office and would encourage anyone with information related to this crime to contact the sheriff’s office at 928-774-4523 or USFS Law Enforcement at 928-635-5642.

Bert Fire remains active reaching 1531 acres in size

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WILLIAMS — The lightning caused Bert fire has grown to 1531 acres in size and continues to benefit the landscape while effectively meeting objectives. Yesterday crews successfully completed a burn out operation that was designed to protect resource values that included the Highway 180 corridor and the Arizona Public Service power line.

“As with all fires we manage in the forest, protecting life, public safety, and property is our first priority” said Danelle Harrison, district ranger on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. “Although we recognize the amount of smoke increased yesterday, the benefits of securing these values at risk was essential for us and will likely reduce the number of days smoke will linger in the long term.”

Winds are predicted to remain out of the northeast throughout today and then reverse direction. Smoke is expected to disperse to the southwest on Saturday and then move off to the northeast on Sunday.  Fire managers are preparing for the changes in weather patterns and will adjust operational plans accordingly. Minimizing smoke impacts remains a top priority.

To view recent spherical panoramas and photos of the Bert Fire and the area in which it is burning, visit http://bit.ly/BertFire2016.

Bert Fire continues steady growth while improving forest health

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WILLIAMS — The lightning caused Bert Fire continues to be active and is being allowed to burn naturally to improve forest health on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. At more than 213 acres in size, the fire is growing steadily while providing significant resource benefits, and fire managers anticipate that trend will continue given the drier weather pattern in place.

“The Bert Fire is doing exactly what we hoped it would,” said Quentin Johnson, incident commander for the Bert Fire. “It is backing through forest that needs to burn within the historic fire return interval. This frequency of fire on the landscape helps maintain a healthy environment, and we are seeing the kinds of effects we want. The fire is cleaning up accumulated fuels and improving the overall condition of the forest.”

Today, crews will continue with preparation work that will include securing Highway 180. A burn out operation will likely occur south of the highway over the next two days and will be visible from the corridor. A burn out operation is used to create a safe “blackline” which is effective in stopping the advance of an approaching fire and keeping it within a designated area. Motorists are asked to use additional caution when driving through the fire area and reduce speeds when appropriate.

As the Bert Fire continues its steady growth, smoke will be more obvious from surrounding areas. While smoke has largely been pushed toward the southeast away from developed areas, it is likely that increasing fire activity will lead to a more noticeable column over the coming days.

Warmer conditions allow Bert Fire to grow while meeting objectives

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bert-fire-1VALLE — With warmer and drier conditions, the Bert Fire on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has increased to 130 acres in size and is expected to grow larger over the next several days. Fire officials have identified a planning area within which to allow the fire to move safely to the south and west of Ebert Mountain near the point of origin in order to reduce hazardous fuels and improve grassland conditions.

Today, crews will continue preparation work which will include securing roadways, archaeological sites, range fences, power lines and any other potentially fire-sensitive resources within the established boundaries for the fire. Some techniques used will involve removing burnable materials away from these features as well as conducting burn out operations along roadways to stop fire as it approaches. Among several objectives identified, managers have recognized a predefined planning area for grassland restoration within the fire area.

“This is a unique opportunity for us to enhance this grassland restoration project area using fire as an effective tool,” said Deirdre McLaughlin, lands and minerals staff officer for the Williams Ranger District.

Smoke from the Bert Fire may become prominent as it increases in activity and continues to grow, and will be visible from the surrounding communities and highways. Winds are expected to be northwest moving smoke away from developed residential neighborhoods and be pushed toward the southeast with good ventilation. The public is urged to use caution while driving along Highway 64 and Highway 180 during the cooler early morning hours when smoke may be lower due to inversion. No closures are currently anticipated in the area of the fire.

The Bert Fire, discovered May 29th was caused by lightning and has grown to approximately 130 acres. It is located near the junction of forest road 144 and highway 180 approximately 10 miles southeast of the community of Valle.

Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4751/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Man Booked on Two Counts of attempted Homicide, Second Degree

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300-larry-mcgowanVALLE — 67-year-old Larry Thomas McGowan was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility today on two counts of attempted homicide.

On Friday, May 27 around 5:15 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic assault in progress at a residence in Valle, AZ. The suspect left the residence on foot prior to arrival of the deputies.

The victim sustained multiple injuries from being struck with a baseball bat, and she was air lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center. The victim reported that in defense she fired two shots at the suspect. It was later determined that neither shot hit the suspect. An additional witness / victim also sustained injuries during an attempt to report the crime.

Deputies and a K9 Unit searched for the suspect for approximately two hours on the evening of the incident. They tracked him to a location approximated 1/2 – 1/4 mile from the residence. When they located him, the suspect had several stab wounds which are still under investigation. He was air lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center for his injuries.

This case is currently under continued investigation.

Emergency Response Training for teens this Saturday

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Sheriff-Patch005WILLIAMS/PARKS/TUSAYAN/VALLE — Sergeant James Steng of the Coconino County Sheriff’s office will be holding a training course starting this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CERT, Community Emergency Response Team grew out of the natural desire to help others during and after a natural disaster. The first people on most scenes after a disaster are survivors who want to help.

The primary objective of Teen CERT is to teach young citizens how to keep themselves, their family members and their fellow students safe before and during a disaster and how to assist them during the aftermath of a disaster. Teens will learn how to best prepare for a disaster and how to assess the scene after a disaster. They will also learn how to conduct a search and rescue operation and how to suppress small fires.

The advantage of this type of training is that it is something a teen can carry throughout their lifetime. FEMA even sponsors online training courses one can take to further their education.

The training sessions will start this Saturday, January 9, 2016 8 am to 5 pm. The next session will follow the next Saturday, January 16, 2016 8 am to 5 pm and finish with a last session on Saturday January 23, 2016 8 am to 12 noon.

Interested teens who would like more information or who wish to register for this training are asked to call Sergeant James Steng at (928) 679-8735 or (928) 607-6470.

Star gazing in Williams and flights in Valle this weekend

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WILLIAMS — Two events are featured this weekend in Williams and Valle.

The Coconino Astronomical Society will be holding their monthly Star Party at the Glassburn lot area across from the laundry and Rod’s Steak house. These Star Parties allow you to view the stars and planets through your own telescope or with telescopes set up by the society. The Star Party season is coming to a close, so you need to get to one before they end. The party starts at about 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9 on Friday.

The Valle Airport Thunder Over Flagstaff begins early with a pancake breakfast at 6:30 a.m. until 10. The rest of the day at Valle Airport is checking out the car show and the various planes of history that fly in. You can also check out the Planes of Fame museum. Prices are included in the flier attached.
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US 180 narrowed to one lane north of Flagstaff beginning Monday

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US 180 will be narrowed to one lane between Flagstaff and Valle (milepost 250 to 265) starting on Monday (Aug. 3) through Thursday (Aug. 6) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The restriction is required to allow Arizona Department of Transportation crews to perform maintenance work on the roadway.

During maintenance operations, heavy delays can be anticipated. A pilot car will allow for alternating travel through the work zone. Please allow for extra time for travel time and exercise caution while moving through the area. Drivers should consider using I-40 and SR 64 as alternate route for travel.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Emergency Management Present Community Emergency Response Team Training

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coco-sheriff-300pxThe Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Emergency Management Division will present a (three) day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class at the High Country Fire-Rescue Station located at 6593 High Country Lane off of Highway 64. More than fifty CERT classes have been delivered to urban, rural and reservation communities throughout Coconino County.

The class will be held at the High Country Fire-Rescue Station beginning Friday, January 23, 2015 from 6 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday January 25, 2015 from 8 am to 5 pm. This training session is offered to all community members free of charge.

CERT Classes are offered by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and upon successful completion each participant will receive a Community Emergency Response Basic Certification and a back pack containing basic community emergency first responder gear to include Reflective Vest, Hard Hat, Eye Protection, Gloves, A four in One Tool and a CERT Field Response Guide.

Successful participants who wish to serve their community will be invited to join a team in Coconino County and will receive additional in-service training and will assist their local First Responders during Emergency and Non-Emergency events. CERT Team members in Flagstaff meet monthly for additional training. CERT Volunteers have been utilized during responses to Wild Land Fires, Flooding, Tornados, Heavy Snow Storms and many other natural disasters. CERT Volunteers have served in a variety of capacities to include staffing road blocks, assisting with neighborhood evacuation notification, staffing joint information call centers, assisting with Incident Command Centers, distributing neighborhood safety information and in many other areas. Community members who would like additional information or who wish to register for the basic training that will be conducted at the High Country Fire-Rescue Station are encouraged to call the Community Programs Office of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.
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