Sedona Fire Chief Kris Kazian
Good Morning Sedona:
Today, our community woke up to a blanket of smoke covering the area. This is due to the shift of winds and a weather inversion. We expect this condition to lift out of the area by late morning and have a likelihood of continuing to follow this same pattern for the next week or two.
We want to be clear – the fire has not gotten any closer to the City of Sedona or Village of Oak Creek, as it continues to burn in a northern direction. At this time, the fire is anchored at the northern end of Slide Rock and primarily has not crossed the roadway of Highway 89A. At the time of this update, there have been no structures lost in the fire and we have no reported injuries.
We expect to see heavy utilization of aerial resources and there will be over 800 firefighting personnel on the fire lines working day and night shifts to get containment on the fire. The difficult terrain, wind patterns, and dry conditions have led to some extreme fire behavior making management of the fire difficult.
We are currently planning a community meeting in the next day or two. Time and location are yet to be confirmed, but we will make sure we get that information out as soon as we know the details. We want to make sure we are communicating things effectively and everyone knows what is going on. Having good information on the situation and what is being done helps create peace of mind for all.
For now, I can tell you, we have a highly qualified and dedicated Type 1 Incident Management Team assigned to the fire and they will work tirelessly to get resolution on the fire as quickly as possible. 
We will be working with ADEQ to closely monitor the air quality measuring station operated by ADEQ located at Fire Station 4 in Uptown for the health and safety of our community. We recommend closing windows utilizing the air conditioning to minimize impact into your home. If you have any medical issues related to the smoke, you should limit your exposure and call 911 if there are any issues needing emergency services.
We encourage you to utilize the website and social media outlets listed below to keep up to date on official information that may be beneficial to you and your family.
We have been inundated with requests to help. We are so amazed at the outpouring of support to our firefighters and our community. At this time we are happy to say, we have plenty of water, Gatorade, protein bars, beef jerky, etc. We want to honor those who want to help, and are setting up an account at the National Bank of Arizona to accept donations to establish a Community Wildland Prevention fund. The proceeds we receive will go directly back into our community as a way to reduce the wildland risk to our community so we can help minimize future devastating wildland fires.
We want to be proactive in this effort and allow everyone who wants to help have a positive and effective way to help our community. As soon as the donation account is established, we will provide that information.
Sedona Fire District is at full staffing with our personnel and protecting our community as we typically do. We also continue to have units working in the suppression of the Slide Fire and the management system is in place.
It is important to us for the community to know we are ready to continue to provide you all the services you need during this incident. SFD personnel have been working around the clock the last few days to handle all of the emergencies as well as supporting the Slide Fire incident. Please feel free to contact me directly if there are any concerns about anything related to the fires or the response to wildfires.
We have a great relationship with all of our partner agencies and we will continue to work together to make our community prepared and safe every chance we get. Hope to see you at the meeting when details are finalized.
Sedona is an incredible place and we are honored to serve you!
Sedona Fire District – 928-282-6800
www.sedonafire.org
For the latest information on the Slide Fire, contact the Joint Information Center at 928-679-4173, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Website for Slide Fire Updates http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/3/
Facebook www.facebook.com/slidefireinfo
Twitter: @CoconinoNF
Flickr (photos and maps): www.flickr.com/coconinonationalforest
For the best Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!
Hundreds of firefighters are pouring into Arizona to help fight the Slide Fire. The fire has burned over 4500 acres and was 0% contained as of the Wednesday evening news. We received an email on how you can help:
Steve Nelson has received word that the wildfire crews in our area fighting the Slide Fire could use goodie bags with any combination of waters, gatorades, chocolate, power bars and or socks! They are in need of encouragement and good spirits!
You can drop bags at Station #1 (2860 Southwest Drive Sedona, AZ) or the Visitor Center! Please share everywhere!
Did you notice where Chief Kazian, who by the way does an excellent job and is at least twice as good an administrator than our previous chief, states:
” At this time we are happy to say, we have plenty of water, Gatorade, protein bars, beef jerky, etc. We want to honor those who want to help, and are setting up an account at the National Bank of Arizona to accept donations to establish a Community Wildland Prevention fund.”
Don’t get in the firefighters way during a fire.
Sirs,
I would like to know why there were no burning restrictions when this fire started? I learned today that people had big bonfires going in the canyon a day before this fire started and why was that allowed?
Poor forest management by the Sedona Fire District and the Forest Service? No rain and no water due to drought and yet because Sedona wants tourists you allow open fires and cigarettes and fire starters to be used?
I heard from people that places in the canyon were not properly controlling how their customers used fire? Answering these questions and implementing changes are necessary.
No fires are needed at any time in our AZ forests. This isn’t the 1950s! Everyone has a fast food joint, a supermarket to pack in sandwiches, and processed foods to get them through a weeks camping trip! No fires!
Air Quality: As you noticed throughout the early morning hours, think smoke and haze filled the Verde Valley. The Sedona Fire Department said this will continue to occur for the for the duration of the Slide Fire. It is recommended that doors and windows are kept shut throughout the night to avoid smoke inhalation. Please visit phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx to view air quality statistics in Sedona provided by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
@ For Chief Kazian
I’m of the mind set that our fire chief is a wee bit busy to answer foolish questions. You ask “I would like to know why there were no burning restrictions when this fire started?” Unless you’re home bound or really live in another state or perhaps some cave, you obviously you have no clue, do you?
Anyone who’s driven on 89A west to Cottonwood can’t miss the big sign saying that NO FIRES are allowed. While I don’t do it often, 2 weeks ago, I drove to Flag and back and those colored signs advising the fire warnings are in the red zone. I would think that those 3 signs alone would advise any normal person that no open fires are allowed. But, since it appears that you’ll feel better blaming someone, go ahead and blame the fire chief.
When you write: “I learned today that people had big bonfires going in the canyon a day before this fire started and why was that allowed”. Why are you asking the fire chief, my I suggest you ask the USFS.
My question to you: why not have those people who told you about witnessing “bonfires” in the canyon go report it to the USFS. I’m sure that they would want to know. Yesterday, I heard that whomever it is that’s responsible for being so stupid and careless, WILL BE DOING SOME HEAVY PRISON TIME. One can only hope.
Watch this short video clip of Slide Fire in canyon –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAAPrBT3-dM
There is hope!
Who were the first responders at the scene when the fire started?
If there is a fire on USFS land does Sedona Fire Department start putting out the fire and apologize later or wait for the forest service to arrive? Just curious?
Of course if Sedona FD arrives they GO to Work protecting life and property… Silly question with some kind of ulterior motive in the asking I’m sure……
Just say Thank You and move along!!
Greetings readers,
We’re posting to provide some insight from the Incident Management Team’s perspective.
It’s unfortunate that even though camping and fires are ALWAYS banned in Oak Creek Canyon (outside of the developed recreation sites), the local fire organizations are constantly challenged by careless forest visitors who choose to ignore the regulations.
However, these agencies – municipal Fire Departments in Sedona and Flagstaff, Forest Service, and State and County organizations – understand this challenge and work together all year round to ensure that their emergency responses are seamless.
The fact that no structures were lost is because of the Sedona Fire Department’s quick response. Though municipal fire departments focus mainly on homes and wildland firefighters work in the forest, municipal firefighters will engage in the forest (if situations are safe enough) until wildland resources arrive. In addition, had the Forest Service not conducted the thinning treatments in the area, this fire would have behaved much differently. Were it not for the efforts of the fire departments and Forest Service prior to and during those first critical hours, we could all be in a much more devastating situation right now.
We are often asked why fires like this aren’t just “put out while it’s small.” Firefighter safety is always the #1 priority. Period. We won’t compromise their safety by putting them in a risky situation. Keep in mind, however, that most fires in this area are extinguished while they’re small. In fact, the public doesn’t hear about 90% of the fires because they’re contained so quickly. Much credit is due to local responders for those efforts.
An incident like this always stirs emotions, and everyone has some healing to do. We urge you all to continue to work together as a community to prepare for the post-fire effects of the Slide Fire, and please help each other and the local agencies prevent devastating wildfire by informing neighbors and visitors about the dangers whenever you have the chance. Every person in the forest has a responsibility to take care of it, and residents can do their part by creating defensible space around their own property. Being Firewise improves not only the safety of your property, but neighboring properties and nearby forest as well… not to mention the safety of the firefighters.
Thank you for all your support of the Southwest Incident Management Team. We’ve been honored to serve this community.