A wildfire in the state of Arizona has nearly tripled after strong winds raised a towering firewall in front of a tourist and university town that tore apart two dozen structures and drove thousands of people from their homes.
Flames up to 30 meters (100 feet) raced through an area of scattered homes, dry grass and Ponderosa pine trees on the outskirts of Flagstaff, while gusts of wind up to 80 km / h (50 miles per hour) pushed the fire over a major highway.
Firefighters faced strong winds and dry conditions as they battled the blaze, which authorities said late Tuesday threatened to destroy hundreds of homes as it moved northeast to the Sunset Crater National Monument.
“I can’t stress enough how fast this fire is moving,” said Tru Brown, a fire officer at the Coconino National Forest, during a news conference. “I can’t stress how important it is to leave the fire zone.”
A strong wind raised a towering wall of flames in front of a city in northern Arizona [Coconino National Forest via AP]
The fire forced more than 2,000 residents to flee 760 homes in Coconino County, said Patrice Horstman, chairman of the county’s supervisory board.
The blaze, known as the Tunnel Fire, covered an area of about 6,474 hectares (16,000 acres) about 23 km (14 miles) north of the Arizona town of Flagstaff, firefighters said.
“It’s good that it’s not focused on a very populated area and it’s focused on less fuel,” said Coconino National Forest spokeswoman Brady Smith. “But depending on the intensity of the fire, the fire can still move through the slag.
Approximately 200 firefighters battling the blaze will face gusts of 48km / h (30 mph) and very dry air on Wednesday and Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
“The combination of gusty winds and low humidity could lead to a rapid increase in the size and intensity of the fire before first aiders can control it,” the fire watchdog said in a statement Thursday.
#BREAKING: #TunnelFire has exploded to 16,000 acres and is still in 0% retention amid strong winds in the area. There are evacuation orders due to the forest fire that burns north of Flagstaff, Arizona.pic.twitter.com / HoFHhjC712
– Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) April 20, 2022
The fire started in the afternoon of February 17. Investigators still do not know what caused it and have not yet caught some of the fire.
Firefighters and law enforcement officers went door-to-door telling people to evacuate, but had to withdraw to avoid closure, said Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll. He said his office received a call about a man who was trapped in his house, but firefighters were unable to reach him.
“We don’t know if he got away or not,” Driscoll said.
Various organizations have worked to set up shelters for evacuees and animals, including goats and horses.
The scene was too familiar to residents, who remember rushing to pack their bags and escape a decade ago when a much larger forest fire broke out in the same area. “It was different this time, right there in your backyard,” said Katie Walmer, a resident.
Firefighters rushed to contain the “tunnel fire” in Arizona [Cheryl L Miller-Woody via AP]
She and her husband grabbed their three dogs, but left a few cats behind as they faced what she described as a “wall of fire.”
Earlier in the day, a wildfire closed US Route 89, the main road between Flagstaff, Northern Arizona and Navajo communities. The strong wind landed an airplane that could release water and a fire retardant on the fire.
Like other southwestern states affected by climate change, Arizona is experiencing an early start to the fire season. Dry grass and bushes, along with scattered pines, ignite the fire, officials said.
An elderly couple died at their home last week as a wildfire swept through Ruidoso, New Mexico, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to flee the mountain town.
The red flag warnings covered much of New Mexico on Wednesday, indicating that conditions are ripe for wildfires.
Add Comment