SEDONA AZ – The Sedona Fire District (SFD) fire ban in effect for all portions of the fire district since May 23, 2011 will be lifted on Thursday, July 21, 2011. BOLT FIRE near Sedona (began July 11, 2011) UPDATE BELOW!
Recent rains along with higher humidity, increased fuel moistures, and the forecast for continuing monsoon activity have lowered but not eliminated fire danger in the fire district. SFD encourages everyone to be responsible when working with or around fire.
It is a great time to develop and create a “FIREWISE“ home. Follow these steps to protect your home from potential wildfire:
- Reduce flammable vegetation, trees, and brush from around your home.
- Remove dead trees and prune low-hanging branches.
- Cut grass and weeds regularly.
- Relocate wood piles and leftover building materials away from the structures.
- Keep your roof and yard clean of pine needles, leaves and debris.
For more information on how to protect your home, or to schedule a free wildfire assessment, please contact the Sedona Fire District at (928) 282-6800.
Breaking Local News Update! July 21, 2011–The Munds Park area south of Flagstaff, Arizona is the location of a growing fire caused by a lightning strike on July 11, 2011: Bolt Fire activity continues. Breaking News from US Forest Service —The Bolt Fire continues with steady progression northeast of Munds Park. The fire has been more active yesterday and today, producing noticeable smoke overnight in the Munds Park and Sedona areas. Fire managers are expecting similar growth and smoke production for the next several days, with a decrease in behavior later in the weekend.
Crews are managing the fire to reduce hazardous fuels as well as to protect and enhance wildlife habitat. Fire recycles nutrients into the soil, promoting the growth of grasses and other healthy vegetation, and reduces accumulated fuels that could lead to more intense fire under drier conditions.
In the evenings and early mornings, smoke will follow canyons and drainages into Munds Park, Sedona, and Walnut Canyon areas, and should lift and disperse as the morning warms.
Bolt Fire Facts
Behavior: Short flame lengths and steady movement across the forest floor.
Start Date: July 11, 2011
Location: Approximately 6 miles northeast of Munds Park, between I-17 and Lake Mary Road
Size: 430 acres
Road Closures: There are no road closures at this time, but travelers in the area should be cautious of fire crews and equipment.
Be Sedona FIREWISE!
Bolt Fire activity continues. Breaking News from US Forest Service–The Bolt Fire continues with steady progression northeast of Munds Park. The fire has been more active yesterday and today, producing noticeable smoke overnight in the Munds Park and Sedona areas. Fire managers are expecting similar growth and smoke production for the next several days, with a decrease in behavior later in the weekend.
The Point Fire, located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, exhibited little growth early in the week due to a period of higher humidity and cooler temperatures. Southeastern Arizona received 2 percent or less of normal precipitation for the first 6 months of the year. The record dry conditions were accompanied by higher than normal temperatures, sustained high winds through May and June, and extremely low relative humidity readings – all contributing to extremely volatile fire potential. Large fires began with the Horseshoe 2 Fire on the Coronado National Forest and the Wallow Fire on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest – both starting in May. The Monument Fire, another on the Coronado Forest, started in June. Now, many areas of the state are receiving monsoonal moisture, which can and will bring floods and other impacts to burned areas and surrounding communities.
The forecast for the weekend calls for drier, warmer conditions which are expected to increase the fire’s activity and lead, once again, to growth on the fire.
The lightning-caused Point Fire continues to be managed to achieve multiple objectives, including resource and protection objectives. The fire is estimated at 245 acres in size and continues to slowly burn, with flame lengths ranging from six to eighteen inches, in ponderosa pine and occasional small patches of mixed conifer.
Fire Facts:
Start Date: July 4, 2011
Location: Approximately 10 miles west of the North Rim developed area in the vicinity of Walla Valley and Point Sublime. The North Rim sits at approximately 8,000 feet in elevation.
Size: estimated at 245 acres
Management Objectives: The Point Fire is being managed to achieve multiple objectives.
Resource objectives for the fire include maintaining fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing hazardous accumulations of forest fuels and recycling of forest nutrients.
Protection objectives for the fire include protection of sensitive cultural resources and critical wildlife habitat areas.
Closures: In order to assure firefighter and visitor safety, the Point Sublime Road (also known as the w4 road) has been closed until further notice from its junction with the w1 road, out to and including Point Sublime.
Smoke impacts: Smoke from the Point Fire is expected to be visible from US Highway 64 as far south as Valle, South Rim viewpoints, the Rim Trail, US Highway 67, the North Rim entrance station and some North Rim viewpoints. Coordination with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is ongoing.
Updated maps and acreages for the Point Fire will be available by noon, Friday on InciWeb.
For more on Grand Canyon’s Fire Management program, please visit us on the Web.
United States Forest Service Management