Smoke from a newly discovered Cedar Creek fire on BIA Fort Apache Agency Will impact Linden, Summer Haven, US Highway 60 and Show Low areas. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2016

Navajo County Emergency Management will be implementing countywide Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.

Holbrook, AZ – The Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved the implementation of Stage 1 fire restrictions throughout the county during their meeting Tuesday morning. Navajo County will be joining the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Kaibab and Prescott National Forests and Apache County by entering Stage 1 restrictions at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Tonto National Forest entered Stage 1 restrictions June 9th.

“This is a coordinated effort to keep our communities and emergency responders safe,” Navajo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jason Whiting said. “These restrictions are meant to add another level of safety and awareness to our region.”

The following acts are prohibited until further notice:
• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire (unless noted in the exemptions below).
• Smoking outside of an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
• Use of any and all fireworks.
• Use of explosive targets.
• Use of tracer round ammunition.

Exemptions:
• Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
• Fires used only for the cooking of food or for providing warmth for human beings or recreational purposes (campfires and charcoal fires) in an area that is designated for that purpose and is barren or cleared of all debris.
• Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.
• Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
• Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• All land within a city boundary is exempted unless otherwise stated by city ordinance.
• Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
*An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.

“Fire restrictions are precautionary measures that help prevent human-caused wildfires and unnecessary dangers to firefighters,” Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Fire Management Officer Gary Strickland said. “Temperatures are expected to reach record highs with increasingly dry conditions, and this creates a very high fire danger for the region.”

There have been over 100 abandoned campfires throughout Navajo County since Memorial Day and 808 human caused fires throughout Arizona in 2016. This has already surpassed the 582 total fires from 2015.

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6/14/16 6:50 pm
State Highway 260 has been reopened in both directions at MP 292 near Black Canyon Lake.

6/14/16  5:11 pm

A serious motor vehicle accident has closed Highway 260 in both directions at Milepost 292 just inside Navajo County. The closure is estimated to last approximately 1 1/2 hours while emergency crews work to tend to those involved and clear the roadway. More information will be posted as it becomes available.