FLAGSTAFF — City of Flagstaff elected officials and staff have been closely following the events surrounding the Tunnel Fire and are deeply saddened by the fire’s impacts on families and neighborhoods in the area.
The City has played a supporting role in addressing this catastrophic event. After receiving a request for assistance, City of Flagstaff Fire Department units, in addition to units from Summit Fire and Medical District, Highlands Fire District and other first responders were on scene to fight the fire and defend values at risk. Forty-five members of the Flagstaff Fire Department responded to the Tunnel Fire over several days, including a significant number of firefighters who voluntarily arrived to assist during unscheduled workdays. On a typical day in the City, 22 personnel are assigned to emergency response. Other support from the City has included the provision of police officers to assist with traffic control and security in the impacted area, landfill access and dumpsters for waste disposal, the availability of the North Reservoir Filtration Plant as a helicopter dipping site and assisting with initial planning for the Type 1 Incident Management Team.
I am proud of our Flagstaff residents for stepping up to help our neighboring communities. Our city staff, going outside city limits to help, did an exemplary job of service and support in the face of a tragic event.” – Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy
The Tunnel Fire is located outside of City limits and accordingly does not fall within the jurisdiction of the City of Flagstaff. The United States Forest Service has indicated in public meetings that the cause of and response to the fire will be thoroughly investigated in hopes of identifying actions that can be improved in future fires.
The City of Flagstaff is committed to supporting its regional partners as response to and recovery from the Tunnel Fire continues.
Please refer to Coconino County’s Tunnel Fire webpage (www.coconino.az.gov/2894/Tunnel-Fire) and to Inciweb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8068/) for up-to-date information on the Tunnel Fire.