Firing operations continue on Cecil Fire; beginning on Still Fire

Heavy smoke impact to Sedona, Flagstaff anticipated throughout remainder of week

Both the Cecil and Still fires are lightning-caused wildfires being managed to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health as guided by Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Due to the accumulated fuels in the fire areas, both wildfires will generate significant smoke during planned firing operations.

We recognize smoke can be impactful and inconvenient for area residents and visitors. Managing these fires and reducing the hazardous fuels in these areas of the forest under the current weather conditions will temporarily produce heavy smoke impacts, but it will also reduce the amount of fuel on the ground and help protect communities from high-intensity wildfires. If a future wildfire starts in this area, it will be more manageable and it will result in fewer overall smoke impacts to the communities.

The Coconino NF is a fire-adapted ecosystem, which needs incremental fire to maintain forest resiliency.

For current information on smoke, visit the Fire and Smoke Map via airnow.gov.

Cecil Fire:

The Cecil Fire was reported at 500 acres Wednesday morning, and firing operations are slated to continue today and possibly Thursday. The Cecil Fire is planned to grow to 2,100 acres by the end of this week’s management actions.

Fire managers do not plan to conduct firing operations past Thursday morning due to a forecast increase in wind speeds. Crews will spend the weekend securing lines around the fire’s perimeter.

Resources assigned to the Cecil Fire include two Hotshot crews, two engines, one engine crew, one hand crew, a water tender and miscellaneous overhead. More resources have been ordered to the fire to help with planned operations.

Smoke will remain highly visible from the Flagstaff and Sedona areas as well as along 89A. Smoke may settle into the Oak Creek Canyon area during the evening.

There are no structures at risk, and – while there is no closure order in place – forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area while firefighters work.

The Cecil Fire was first reported Sept. 18 and is burning in Ponderosa pine.

Flagstaff residents and Coconino NF visitors can check InciWeb for fire updates throughout the coming days.

The Still Fire has been slowly smoldering since Sept. 14 and was reported at 6 acres yesterday evening.

Firefighters have been conducting firing operations today and will continue with those operations tomorrow following several days of containment line preparation work. Fire managers aspire to treat 300 acres of land today.

There are no structures threatened by the Still Fire, which is burning through pine litter.

Roughly 35 personnel are assigned to the Still Fire, including three engines, one Hotshot crew, one fuels crew, a dozer and miscellaneous overhead.

Forest visitors and motorists can expect smoke impacts in the Blue Ridge communities and along Highway 87. The Arizona Department of Transportation will be assisting motorists along Highway 87 during firing operations for public safety. Motorists are asked to remain cognizant of firefighting operations and to expect traffic delays.

The Still Fire is in the Blue Ridge urban interface, in an area that has been slated for upcoming fuels treatments including prescribed fire.

The management of the Still Fire will help reduce hazardous fuels, such as dead and down trees, and work to protect infrastructure, property and resources both south and west of the nearby Blue Ridge communities, including the C.C. Cragin watershed.

There are no road, trail or area closures in effect at this time.