Flagstaff Area: Rock Canyon Fire Forces Evacuations as Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Hit North Kaibab

Fire grows to more than 2,200 acres near Arizona-Utah border

The Rock Canyon Fire burned more than 2,279 acres as of June 17, prompting officials to order evacuations for campers and recreators near the Arizona-Utah border. The lightning-caused blaze was first detected the afternoon of June 15 on Bureau of Land Management land, roughly 9 miles south of U.S. Highway 89 and 9 miles west of House Rock Valley Road.

Officials said the fire was 5 percent contained as of June 17, according to the federal wildfire tracker InciWeb.

Campers and recreators ordered out

The fire head reached within 3 miles of House Rock Valley on the evening of June 16, when evacuations began. The orders covered both BLM and Kaibab National Forest lands.

Strong winds on June 16 pushed the fire eastward rapidly. The blaze moved into the burn scar of last summer's White Sage Fire, but officials said the fuels in that area did not slow the progression.

"Due to the increased fire risk in the area, the U.S. Forest Service announced it would implement Level 2 fire restrictions across the North Kaibab Ranger District beginning this Thursday, June 18," according to reporting from St. George, Utah news outlets covering the northern Arizona fires.

A Type 3 Incident Management Team, Color Country Team 3, took over operational control on June 16. The team is using aviation resources and ground crews to fight the fire.

Stage 2 fire restrictions begin Thursday

The Kaibab National Forest announced that Stage 2 fire restrictions will begin at 6 a.m. Thursday, June 18 on the North Kaibab Ranger District, according to a press release issued June 16.

Stage 2 restrictions prohibit:

• Building, maintaining, or using any fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal, coal, and briquettes, even in developed recreation sites. The only exception is stoves or grills fueled solely by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG.
• Smoking, except 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 flammable material.
• Blasting, welding, or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
• Operating generators, chainsaws, or other internal combustion equipment during industrial operations or firewood gathering between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless the generator has an approved spark arrestor and is in an area cleared of flammable materials within 3 feet.

Violations could result in mandatory court appearance, fines, and jail time, according to the Forest Service order.

The Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts remain under Stage 1 restrictions, which went into effect on June 11.

Second fire threatens structures near Grand Canyon-Parashant

A second lightning-caused blaze, the Dellenbaugh Fire, is burning in the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument south of Mount Dellenbaugh. The fire has burned approximately 724 acres with 0 percent containment, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

The Dellenbaugh Fire threatens two agency administrative buildings, a historic ranch, and private property, officials said. Fifty firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service responded to that blaze.

A smaller fire near Flagstaff is contained

A half-acre fire on Mormon Mountain, about 18 miles southeast of Flagstaff, was also sparked by lightning on June 15. The Coconino National Forest reported the Mormon Fire was 100 percent contained by 9 a.m. on June 16. No infrastructure was threatened.

Combined, roughly 100 personnel from multiple agencies are assigned to the two larger fires, with additional resources expected, according to KTAR News reporting.

What Flagstaff residents should know

The Rock Canyon Fire is burning on the Kaibab Plateau, the same high-elevation region that surrounds Flagstaff. Smoke plumes from the fire were visible from the Kaibab Plateau and surrounding areas, and officials warned that smoke may pose health risks for those with respiratory conditions.

Residents and visitors in the Flagstaff area should monitor the Kaibab National Forest alerts page for updates on fire restrictions and closures. Restrictions typically remain in effect until the area receives significant, widespread precipitation.

For more information:

• Kaibab National Forest fire restrictions and alerts
• BLM Arizona fire restriction information
• Coconino County fire restriction information