Brins Fire Update

Date: June 19, 2006, 5:00 p.m.

Update on Brins Fire Evacuations and Closures

Evacuations: The evacuation order for the following communities continues:

• Oak Creek Canyon from Midgely Bridge to the fish hatchery in Sterling Canyon (this includes homes, businesses and Forest Service campgrounds)
• North end of Soldiers Pass Road (everything north of Casa Contenta)
  
• Upper part of Jordan Road (everything north of Navahopi)

The evacuations will be re-evaluated following today's operational period.

Evacuation Center Locations:

Big Park Community School
25 W. Saddle Horn Road
Oak Creek Village, Ariz.
(This location is for people evacuating south of Slide Rock.)

NAU Field House
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Corner of Knoles Drive and McCreary, next to the University Union
(This location is for people evacuating north of Slide Rock.)

Closures:

• U.S. Highway 89A is closed through Oak Creek Canyon. It will remain closed through this afternoon. The closure will be re-evaluated following today’s operational period.
• Trail/Road Closures Related to Brins Fire:
  
  • Forest Road 152 off of Dry Creek Road (access road into Vultee Arch) is closed. (The county road known as Dry Creek Road is open.)
    
  • All trails off of Forest Road 152 are closed. Those trails are: Brins Mesa, Devil's Bridge, Secret Canyon. Also, the road to VanDeren Cabin is closed.
    
  • The North Urban Trails System is closed. That system includes Jordan Trailhead, Soldier Pass Trailhead, Sugarloaf Trailhead, Thunder Mountain Trailhead and all trails connecting from those trailheads.
    
  • Kelly Canyon Road west of I-17
    
  • The south end of Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231) where it intersects with Forest Road 535
    
  • Forest Road 237 at Kachina Village
    (NOTE: Some of these road closures are related to smoke impacts.)

Date:  June 19, 2006, 7 a.m.

Brins Fire Contact Numbers:  928-204-6750, 928-606-7490, 928-606-7561, 928-606-7578 
Website:  www.nazteam.com

Fire Name:  Brins Fire

Time/Date Started:  Sunday, June 18, 2006

Location:  Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest; The Brins Fire is burning within the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.  The fire is about 1 mile north of Sedona.

Cause:  Unknown; under investigation

Fuels:  Brush, grass, ponderosa pine

Size:  3,000 acres

% Contained:  0 %

Resources Committed:  2 Type 1 crews (hotshot crews), 1 Type 2 crew, 4 helicopters (1 heavy, 2 medium, 1 light), 4 air tankers, 21 engines, 3 water tenders.  Total personnel = approx. 210 personnel assigned

Estimated Cost to Date:  Unknown
Predicted Weather:  Hot and dry conditions will continue.  Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s with relative humidity levels in the single digits.  Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Structures:  No structures have been lost.

Evacuations:  The following communities have been evacuated: 

• Oak Creek Canyon from Midgely Bridge to the fish hatchery in Sterling Canyon (this includes homes, businesses and Forest Service campgrounds)
• North end of Soldiers Pass Road (everything north of Casa Contenta)
• Upper part of Jordan Road (everything north of Navahopi)

An evacuation center has been set up by the American Red Cross at West Sedona School for residents from north Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon south of Indian Gardens.  Evacuees from north of Indian Gardens should go to the Northern Arizona University Field House in Flagstaff.  For emergency and shelter information, please call the Coconino County Emergency Operations Center at 928-679-4175.  Animal control officials are working to accommodate pets taken to the evacuation centers.

Closures:  U.S. Highway 89A is closed through Oak Creek Canyon.  It will remain closed through this afternoon.  The closure will be re-evaluated following today’s operational period.  

Summary:  Extreme fire behavior was observed yesterday due to hot, dry weather and steep, rugged terrain.  Flame lengths reached 50 to 70 feet.  The fire burned on Brins Mesa and northeast across Wilson Mountain.  In a couple of areas, the fire dropped off the east side of Wilson Mountain.  Today, firefighters will be focusing on structure protection in the evacuated areas, anchoring the heel of the fire, and assessing areas near the head of the fire where line can be constructed. 

Sedona businesses remain open.  Visitors to the area should access Sedona via state Route 179 through the Village of Oak Creek or from Cottonwood via U.S. Highway 89A.

Cooperating Agencies:  Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Safety, Sedona Fire Department, Sedona Police Department, Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross

Restrictions:  Fire restrictions are in effect on Coconino National Forest.  The restrictions prohibit activities that could cause a wildfire. 

• Campfires—including charcoal fires—are prohibited in all areas, including developed campgrounds.  Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters are allowed. 
• Operating a chainsaw is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.  These restrictions apply to both personal use with a firewood permit and commercial operations.

Also prohibited:

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or developed recreation site.
• Welding.
• Using an explosive.
• Operating any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arrester.
• Operating a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads, except when parking in an area cleared of vegetation, and except in the Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area north of Flagstaff.
• Fireworks are always prohibited on national forest lands. 

Violations are punishable by a fine of not more that $5,000, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.  These restrictions will remain in place until enough precipitation falls to decrease fire danger.  For further information about fire restrictions on the Coconino National Forest, visit www.coconinoforest.us or call 928-527-3600.  The latest fire restriction information on public lands across Arizona can be found at www.azfireinfo.com and http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/ or by calling toll-free 1-877-864-6985.

Current Brins Fire Page

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