Category: Public Safety

Grand Canyon National Park temporarily closes North Rim due to White Sage Fire

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2025 • Comments Off

GRAND CANYON — Effective immediately, Grand Canyon National Park has temporarily closed the North Rim until further notice due to the White Sage Fire near Jacob Lake, Ariz. The White Sage Fire is located on BLM lands and is not currently burning within Grand Canyon National Park.

Due to the fire’s progression toward Jacob Lake, which is now under evacuation orders, all visitors on the North Rim are required to evacuate immediately. State Route 89A to Fredonia is closed. State Route 89A east toward Lees Ferry and Page remains open to traffic towards Lees Ferry. North Rim day use is also closed until further notice.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: July 7-11, 2025

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2025 • Comments Off

Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim

The Dragon Bravo Fire, located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, continues to show moderate fire activity as it burns in a remote area south of the Basin near the W1 Road. Sparked by lightning on July 4, the fire has grown steadily over the past few days and is currently estimated at approximately 120 acres.

Crews responding to small wildfire near A1 Mountain west of Flagstaff

by Community Contributor • July 10, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Firefighters are responding to a small wildfire located near A1 Mountain roughly 6 miles west of Flagstaff.

Resources assigned to the Soggy Bottom Fire include six engines, a water tender and two hand crews.

The fire is between 5 and 7 acres with a moderate rate of spread through grass and timber.

It was first reported at about 2:30 p.m. (Wednesday, July 9) and its cause is under investigation.

Prairie Dog Die-Off reported in the Townsend Winona area

by Community Contributor • July 8, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) received a report today of a prairie dog die-off in the Townsend Winona area, northeast of Flagstaff.

A sudden die-off of prairie dogs and rodents can be an indicator of plague, an infectious disease that can affect humans and animals. The bacterium that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, is transmitted from the bite of infected fleas or by coming into contact with infected animals. Individuals can also become infected through exposure to sick pets.

Coconino County response to EMS service disruption in Fredonia

by Community Contributor • July 7, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County officials are taking swift action following the recent disruption of ground ambulance services in Fredonia and the surrounding communities in the County’s northwest and north-central regions.

The disruption occurred after the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) determined that Kane County, Utah EMS units are not certified or legally authorized to operate within Arizona.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) news updates for June 2025

by Community Contributor • July 3, 2025 • Comments Off

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes news updates for June 2025

by Community Contributor • June 30, 2025 • Comments Off

Office Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes

Hutton Ranch Road – Rio de Flag Crossing Project completed

by Community Contributor • June 27, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — A project to build a new and improved Rio de Flag crossing culvert at Hutton Ranch Road has been completed.

The $548,000 Hutton Ranch Road – Rio De Flag Culvert Crossing Project will improve transportation in and out of the Hutton Ranch neighborhood when the Rio de Flag is flowing. The project, which broke ground in late March, features a 3×20-foot cast-in-place concrete arch culvert under Hutton Ranch Road at the Rio de Flag crossing along with new fencing, guardrails, water inlet & outlet protection, and a paved surface over the culvert.

Firefighters to begin work on fuelbreak project to help protect community in Oak Creek Canyon

by Community Contributor • June 27, 2025 • Comments Off

SEDONA — Firefighters will begin a hand thinning fuelbreak project tomorrow around the community of Indian Gardens in Oak Creek Canyon which will complement previous fuels treatments in the area and increase defensible space around public and private land.

This shaded fuelbreak project will help fire managers establish control lines for future fire management decisions and expand the areas between homes and vegetation. In turn, this will help reduce the threat of a wildfire damaging or destroying homes and allow firefighters to safely defend the Indian Gardens community.

Commander Cathy Allen announces retirement from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office

by Community Contributor • June 27, 2025 • Comments Off

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office announces the retirement of Commander Cathy Allen, effective June 25, 2025, following a distinguished 39-year career in public service and administrative leadership.

Commander Allen began her tenure with the Sheriff’s Office in 1987 as a Financial Management Analyst and steadily advanced to become the Commander of Administrative Services. In this role, she provided oversight to civilian teams in Support Services and Administrative divisions and led major initiatives including grant administration, intergovernmental agreements, contract law enforcement in outlying communities, and budget development. Her leadership contributed to a nearly 200% increase in the civilian workforce, significantly enhancing the department’s operational support functions.

Kaibab National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions to begin Friday, June 27 on the North Kaibab and Tusayan Ranger Districts

by Community Contributor • June 27, 2025 • Comments Off

WILLIAMS — Due to increasing fire danger, Stage 1 Fire and Smoking Restrictions will go into effect beginning 8:00 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2025, on the North Kaibab and Tusayan ranger districts.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, the building, maintaining, attending, or using fire, campfire, or stove fire including charcoal and briquettes outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites is prohibited. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

City of Flagstaff — Beulah Boulevard Roundabout to close for striping operations

by Community Contributor • June 26, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation, are set to begin striping operations along Milton Road, University Drive, University Avenue (future Fresquez Avenue) and the new roundabout along Beulah Boulevard starting Monday, June 30. On Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, the new roundabout along Beulah Boulevard will be fully closed to all traffic to allow crews to perform striping operations. The roundabout will reopen by Friday, July 4.

City of Flagstaff flood control project receives national and statewide recognition

by Community Contributor • June 24, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff received three awards last month from national and Arizona state organizations for the Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements Project at US Hwy 180. The project, which was completed in Fall 2024, saw the installment of a box culvert under US Hwy 180 and was the last piece of post-wildfire mitigation in the Schultz Creek corridor, an area that received over seven floods in 2022 after the Pipeline Fire. The full suite of projects has completely mitigated the post-wildfire flash flood threats in the impacted watershed, protecting over 200 homes, an elementary school, and critical facilities.

Protesters crowd downtown Flagstaff as part of nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ rally

by Community Contributor • June 20, 2025 • Comments Off

Editor’s note — Story / photos courtesy of www.MosaicNAZ.org

See more photos at www.MosaicNAZ.org:

• Protesters crowd downtown Flagstaff as part of nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ rally

• ‘No Kings Day’ — Signs of the Time

FLAGSTAFF — With some local media reporting a crowd topping 3,000, Flagstaff residents and Northern Arizona visitors alike turned out in mass for one of the largest rallies in the city in recent memory during the “No Kings Day” mass protest held Saturday, June 14 in front of Flagstaff City Hall.

The large crowd came in spite of near mid-summer temperatures approaching 90 degrees, and added personal safety vigilance as a result of deadly political violence earlier in the day in Minnesota. The protest nationwide was organized by the 50501 movement with the local effort hosted by Indivisible Northern AZ.

Opponents of the Trump administration crowded the sidewalks from starting at Wheeler Park and Humphreys Street along Route 66 around the curve to Milton Road, filling the grassy area up to the Flagstaff City Hall sign. A sizable crowd of protestors also filled the opposite side of the street up to the Flagstaff Train Depot. When they were’t waiving signs, soliciting supportive horns from passing vehicles, the protesters joined in drum performances, chants and listened to speeches from local political leaders.

“No Kings Day is one of the largest days of protest in American history,” Indivisible Project national leaders stated in a media release. “From deep red small towns to our largest cities, millions of people turned out to make clear that the American people will not bow to fascism.

Bill Williams Mountain watershed (closed as of June 18)

by Community Contributor • June 19, 2025 • Comments Off

WILLIAMS — Due to increased fire danger and for public safety, the Kaibab National Forest has implemented a temporary area closure on Bill Williams Mountain watershed, located just south of the City of Williams. (The closure began on June 18) and is due to the area’s susceptibility to uncharacteristically severe wildfire and the post-wildfire flooding that would potentially result.

In general, the perimeter of the Bill Williams Mountain watershed temporary closure area includes Forest Road 122 to the south, Forest Road 108 to the west, County Road 73 (aka “South Road”) to the east, and Interstate 40 to the north. Details, including a map of the closure area, will be available on the Kaibab NF website at www.fs.usda.gov/r03/kaibab

Coconino County Comprehensive Plan 60-day review open through July 18, 2025

by Community Contributor • June 19, 2025 • Comments Off

Reminder! Add your comments by July 18, 2025
The 60-day review is at the halfway point! There are still opportunities to attend an open house, visit with staff, and join a webinar. See the schedule below.

Coconino County to Enter Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Wednesday

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — With the potential for continued warm, dry, and windy conditions throughout Northern Arizona in the coming days, Coconino County will expand fire restrictions in alignment with area National Forest decisions.

Restrictions will go into effect this Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The City of Flagstaff is also entering Stage 2 fire restrictions on Friday.

County fire restriction stages are:

City of Flagstaff — Stage 2 Fire Restrictions start at 6 p.m. June 18

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff will enter Stage 2 Fire Restrictions at 6 pm. on Wednesday, June 18.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions include the following new restrictions:

The use of fire pits and other open flame devices without an on/off switch is prohibited.
The use of charcoal and wood-fired BBQs are prohibited throughout the city, including at private residences and campgrounds.
The use of propane and gas BBQs with an on-off switch are still allowed throughout the city.

Stage 2 fire restrictions begin Wednesday evening on Coconino National Forest

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest will implement Stage 2 fire and smoking restrictions beginning 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 as the threat of unwanted wildfires increases due to hot, dry and windy weather conditions.

Under Stage 2 fire restrictions, the following are prohibited at all times forest-wide:

Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire (including charcoal and briquettes) anywhere within the Coconino National Forest, including developed recreation sites. This prohibition also includes smudge pots and wood stoves.
Smoking outside (with the exemption of smoking within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material).
Blasting, welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
Within specific areas of the Flagstaff Ranger District motorized vehicles will be prohibited on forest roads of the San Francisco Peaks area, Pumphouse Wash area and Marshall Lake area.

Children’s Action Alliance — (Resources) Protecting immigrant, citizen and mixed status families

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2025 • Comments Off

Children’s Action Alliance envisions Arizona as a state where all children and families thrive. When children live in fear, we are failing our children.

As federal immigration enforcement operations deploy tactics that raise legal, constitutional, and moral concerns, Children’s Action Alliance encourages partners to be informed and resourced to support the well-being and safety of immigrant, citizen, and mixed-status children and families in Arizona.

In preparation and response to federal actions, families and allies can seek and share valuable resources, including the following:

City of Flagstaff to begin repaving Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) trails in late June

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The City will be repaving and repairing asphalt-surfaced segments of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) from late June through September. The work will require the impacted FUTS trails to be fully closed while crews complete the work. Specific dates for the closures of individual trails will be shared once the information is available.

Impacted FUTS trails:

Update – Nighttime road closure at Riordan Dr. & Riordan Ranch St. scheduled for June 16 – 19

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The intersection of Riordan Dr and Riordan Ranch St will be closed overnight from June 16 – June 19, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Roads will remain open during the day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with no daytime construction. Access to businesses in the area will be maintained throughout the project.

Basin Fire northwest of Flagstaff 54% contained; firing operations complete and resources demobilizing

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The 9,145-acre Basin Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire located 20 miles northwest of Flagstaff, is 54% contained following several days of firing operations and securing.

Fire crews spent Wednesday finishing smaller firing operations on the interior of the fire. Several resources began the demobilization process Wednesday night as the fire winds down. Firefighters will continue patrolling the fire’s perimeter (on Thursday).

“We’re pleased with the results of the Basin Fire on the landscape,” said District Ranger Matt McGrath. “This kind of fire works to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and post fire-flooding to our surrounding communities and resources.”

City of Flagstaff — Lake Mary Road water leak update

by Community Contributor • June 10, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — At around 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, the City began receiving reports of water bubbling up out of Lake Mary Road in an area near Heckethorn Rd and the Sandy Canyon trailhead. There are two underground pipelines in the area; water from Upper Lake Mary and water from the Lake Mary well field. The City is working to determine the exact source and location of the leak.

Coconino County National Forest —Firefighters continue ignitions on Basin Fire north of Flagstaff

by Community Contributor • June 10, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Firefighters completed roughly 4,000 acres of ignitions today on the Basin Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire located 20 miles northwest of Flagstaff, that is being actively managed to improve forest health.

A closure order for the area surrounding the Basin Fire has been issued for public and firefighter safety.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3)’s 30th Anniversary Auction: Items ready to view

by Community Contributor • June 6, 2025 • Comments Off

Celebrate F3’s 30th Anniversary by bidding on our online auction!

Help us continue our work by bidding on our exciting, diverse, and unique items including special experiences (from guided tours to personal luxuries), gift baskets (from personal care to gardening) and gift certificates (from design services to doggy day care). Bid on food, wine, jewelry, and more.

Everything is donated by local shops, businesses, restaurants, and individuals who generously contributed to this auction.

Help us kick-off of our next 30 years of community work in Flagstaff!

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) news updates for week of June 2, 2025

by Community Contributor • June 6, 2025 • Comments Off

Gallego Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Obesity Epidemic ••• Gallego Fights to Protect Key Consumer Protection Agency ••• Gallego, Baldwin Introduce Bill to Prevent Companies from Ripping Healthcare Away from Striking Workers ••• Gallego Fights for Program That Saves Arizonans Hundreds on Their Utility Bills ••• Gallego, Colleagues Call for Additional Funding to Keep Communities Safe

FCD Director Lucinda Andreani earns award from American Society of Civil Engineer

by Community Contributor • June 4, 2025 • Comments Off

COCONINO COUNTY — Flood Control District Director Lucinda Andreani will be presented with the Centennial Celebration Impact Award in Public Safety from the Northern Arizona Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on Saturday, Jun. 7 at Lowell Observatory.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have worked with civil engineers on so many public safety projects for our communities,” Andreani said. “We have a remarkable team, and the success of our post-wildfire flood mitigation projects and our Forest Restoration Initiative is in great part due to the expertise and commitment of our civil engineers.”