News & Alerts

Smoke from the Sheridan Fire, which is burning approximately 23 miles NW of Prescott, may be visible throughout Yavapai County.  Currently no communities have been identified as at risk.

Prescott, AZ, August 19, 2019-The fire area closure order that is in effect over the Sheridan Fire area is extremely important for firefighter and public safety. Firefighters and forest officials have been working closely with area permittees for access as needed, but we continue to see non-authorized individuals in the closure area. County Road 68, also known as the Camp Wood Road, acts as the northern boundary to the closure and remains open to local traffic at this time. Areas south of the Camp Wood Road within the Forest boundary is closed, while areas to the north of Camp Wood Road remain open. County roads on the perimeter of the closure remain open. A map and detailed description of the closure area is available on the Inciweb and on the Prescott National Forest website.

Sheridan Fire Overview-

Location-23 miles NW of Prescott, AZ on the Chino Valley District (T16N, R6W, S16)

Start Date: August 5, 2019

Size: 2,380 acres

Percent Contained: 0%

Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Pinyon-Juniper, Grass and Brush

Resources: Approx. 80 personnel including: 3-Engines, 1-Water Tender, 1-Handcrew, 1-Helicopter, 1-Hotshot crew

Current Situation: The fire continues to move steadily across the landscape in a remote and rural area south of the Camp Wood Road, and NW of Willow Spring in the Sheridan Mountain area. There are no homes or structures threatened.

For the most up to date information, please visit these credible sources:

Prescott National Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/

Twitter: @ PrescottNF

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

Arizona Fire Restrictions: https://www.firerestrictions.us/az/

Fire Information: (928) 925-1111

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6522/

For current information on fire and shooting restrictions please visit:  www.wildlandfire.AZ.gov or www.firerestrictions.us or call 1-877-864-6985.  You can also call the Bureau of Land Management-Arizona at 1-602-417-9241 and visit: www.blm.gov.

Origin Location: 16 Miles South of Prescott, AZ; Jurisdiction Prescott National Forest.

The Cellar Fire began on July 14, 2019 from a lightning strike.  Incident Commander: Southwest Area Incident Management Team, Incident Commander is Alan Sinclair

Cellar Fire-July 31, 2019 Morning Update:

Significant Events: Minimal fire behavior over the majority of the fire, with small hot areas interior to line to Blind Indian Creek drainage.

Acres: 7,512 acres; Percent Containment: 100%

Fuels:  Upper elevation: Ponderosa pine.  Lower elevation: Brush, Grass, and Chaparral.

For information on the Code Red alerts issued, you can visit the Sheriff's Office Facebook page for updates or call (928) 771-3321.  Please remember to access vetted resources.  A list of some good resources are located below.

For more information and updates please view the following websites:

Daily video updates are being posted on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/

Twitter: @PrescottNF

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

Arizona Fire Restrictions: https://www.firerestrictions.us/az/

Important Phone Numbers:

Phone Bank: 928-442-5103

Sheriff's Office: 928-771-3260

Forest Service: 928-925-1111

At approximately 11:35am, on July 4, 2019, reports of a fire burning in the grass and brush near Dewey were called in.  By 3:00pm, the fire was estimated at 150 acres.  Multiple agencies and resources are on scene.  Orme Road, South of Highway 169 is closed to the public.  Current information on this fire can be found on Yavapai County Emergency Management's Facebook, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Facebook and Twitter, U.S. Forest Service-Prescott National Forest, and #ormefire, which can be searched through both Facebook and Twitter. 

As of 11:00 pm, 6/21/19, Arizona DOT reports I-17 has reopened in both directions to traffic.  Please be aware of heavy backup and residual smoke in the area. 

More information will be posted as it is received.

Recently there have been multiple fires associated with the use of propane weed burners.  Please be aware that the use of propane weed burners around structures and in residential areas goes against the fire code.  

For More Information:  Please contact your local fire department or fire district.  

We live in the age of the Mega Fire.  Fires are bigger and more destructive than any other era in modern history.

Catastrophic wildfire impacts many aspects of life in Arizona: from the quality and sustainability of our water supplies to the safety and livelihood of people who live in mountain towns on the edge of our forests.

Join the National Forest Foundation for a screening of the award-winning short film Fire & Water: Restoring Arizona's Forests, produced by the Salt River Project and narrated by Emmy Award-winner Peter Coyote. 

Following the film, discover what a coalition of Arizona organizations, from federal agencies to nonprofits and private businesses, are doing to restore our landscape and protect our community, our forests, and our water from catastrophic fire.  Together, we can make a difference!

When: Thursday, June 13 6:00-8:00pm

Where: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Davis Learning Center (DLC), 3700 Willow Creek Rd., Prescott, AZ

Seating is first come, first served.

Panelists: Dennis Light-Prescott Fire Chief, Lori Singleton-President and CEO, Arizona Forward and Dale Dieter-Forest Supervisor, Prescott National Forest

Moderated by the National Forest Foundation.

 

Information is coming from the Blue Ridge Ranger District. 

This is a Type III Incident and the fire size is reported at 2,273 acres.

Smoke impacts into the Verde Valley.

Burn out operations will be ongoing for the next week.

Caution in the Clint's Well area remain as smoke is impacting sight distance.

Please be aware that tree cutting is happening along Route 87.

For more information go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6363/

Current sandbag locations as well as important links that can help reduce the risk of flooding.

Anywhere it rains, it could flood. Even if an area hasn’t experienced a flood in the past, does not mean it can’t happen in the future. Flood risk isn’t just based on history; it can also be based on rainfall, topography, flood-control measures, river-flow and changes due to new construction and development.

Current sandbag and sand locations within Yavapai county: (Must fill your own – Please bring a shovel)
– Yavapai County Public Works yard in Prescott – 1100 Commerce Drive, Prescott
– Yavapai County Verde Valley Public Works yard – 4000 West Cherry Road, Verde Valley
– Prescott Fire Station – 333 White Spar Rd, Prescott
– Prescott Fire Station – 1980 Club House Drive, near the airport, Prescott
– Prescott/Central Fire Station – 1700 Iron Springs Road, Prescott
– Central Arizona Fire Station – 4125 W. Outer Loop Rd, Prescott
– Central Arizona Fire Station PV – 8555 E Yavapai Rd, Prescott Valley
- Central Arizona Fire Chino Station 61 - 1133 West Road 3 North, Chino Valley
- Central Arizona Fire Paulden Station 63 - 250 West Sweet Valley Drive - Paulden
– Williamson Valley trailhead 308 – 347 across from Granite Oaks Dr. 7 miles North of Iron Springs Rd
– Yarnell Presbyterian Church – 16455 Table Top Way
– Mayer Fire Station – 10001 South Miami Street, Mayer
– Black Canyon Fire Station – 35050 Old Black Canyon Hwy, Black Canyon City
– Ash Fork – Church off Bullock Rd., Ash Fork
– Seligman Fire – Hwy 66 and 2nd Street
– Verde Valley Fire St 31, 2700 Godard Road, Cottonwood
- Cottonwood Public Works Yard - 1480 W. Mingus Ave
– Verde Valley Fire St. 36 at 895 First South Street, Clarkdale
– Verde Valley Fire St 32, 1120 S. Page Springs Road, Cornville
– Lake Montezuma – Sycamore Park
– Lake Montezuma – corner of Beaver Creek Rd & Lookout Point Rd
– Sedona Fire – Sedona Red Rock High School – 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona
– Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road
– Sedona Uptown Public Parking Lot, 260 Schnebly Road
– Sedona United Methodist Church, 110 Indian Cliffs Road
– Sedona City Maintenance Yard, 2070 Contractors Road
Please view the links below for more flooding information in Yavapai County. Along with safety tips and a sandbagging handout on how to stack sandbags properly to increase their effectiveness.

Sandbag Document – Sandbagging Handout
Yavapai Flood Control – http://www.ycflood.com
Flood insurance information, Flood Smart – https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/
Flood Preparation and Safety Handout – In English Sandbagging Handout.pdf 
In Spanish - Spanish Flood Preparedness Spanish How_To_Prepare_FLOOD_v9_.pdf

NEVER drive through flooded roadways. STOP! Turn Around Don’t Drown.
• Vehicles can be swept away by less than 2 feet of water.
• The roadbed may be washed out.
• You can lose control of your vehicle in only a few inches of water.
• Do not drive around a barricade. Turn around and go another way!

• Other tips – BEFORE A FLOOD TIPS
To prepare for a flood, you should:
• Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
• Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.

We highly encourage residents to sign up with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Emergency Notification System to be notified during emergency situations at: http://www.ycsoaz.gov/community/emergency-preparedness/ens/

For more information about being prepared, please contact 928-771-3321

For more information on local Fire Departments/Districts restrictions please contact them or visit their individual sites.

SUMMARY of fire bans being lifted
As of 8:00 AM Friday July 13, 2018, the fire restrictions for Yavapai County will be lifted.
This is being done in coordination with the Prescott National Forest announcement by Pete Gordon - Fuels, Fire, & Aviation Staff Officer (Chief 9):

The Prescott National Forest will be lifting both Stage 2 Fire Restrictions and the Area Closures effective at 08:00 AM on Friday, July 13th. This is based on the amount of rainfall accumulation in the last 5 days in conjunction with the forecast for continued monsoon rains.

It may take the Forest some time to physically remove the evidence of restrictions and closures with reduction in resources, weather, and road conditions, but rest assured the official action to remove the restrictions and closure will be effective at 0800 AM on Friday. https://www.fs.usda.gov/

Yavapai County Emergency Manager, Ron Sauntman stated, “Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management has worked to coordinate with our response organizations in an effort to achieve alignment that may impact response to wildfire incidents.” It is important to remember that some Fire Districts/Departments may choose to maintain some level of restrictions due to geography, identified threat, and lack of moisture. The Yavapai County Emergency Management office will continue to support these efforts through information management and coordination with those individual organizations.

Mr. Sauntman went on to state, “We must remain vigilant and consider that, although the immediate threat of wildfire is reduced, it is critical that we maintain awareness of this potentially dangerous situation. In addition, we now must focus on the potential flooding conditions that are present and will remain until the monsoon season has ended.”

Also, SOME State Land Fire Restrictions will be lifted.
From Department of Forestry and Fire Management: At 0800AM, on Friday, July 13th, state-owned and managed lands in Coconino County, south of the Grand Canyon, will reopen to recreation. However, state lands in Coconino County, north of the Grand Canyon, remain in Stage II Fire Restrictions.
The closure order for state-owned and managed lands in Gila County will also be lifted, but Stage I Fire Restrictions will be in place. Under Stage I, campfires are allowed in a developed campsite only.

Also on Friday, State Forestry will lift restrictions to Mohave County, south of the Hualapai Reservation. State lands in Mohave County, north of the reservation, are still under Stage II Fire Restrictions.  Until more widespread rain is received in northeastern Arizona, closures are still in place on state-owned and managed lands in Apache and Navajo Counties. Fire restrictions also remain in effect in Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, and Yuma Counties.
“Even though we are lifting some fire restrictions, we must not become complacent. Every day, our crews are chasing wildfires from lightning due to these monsoon storms. We do not need a human-caused fire to add to the mix. So please be cautious and use your best judgement.” said State Forester Jeff Whitney.
As always, target shooting and fireworks are never allowed on Arizona State Trust lands at any time of the year. For State fire restriction information go to www.dffm.az.gov

For more on other fire restrictions please visit: www.firerestrictions.us