As more than 500 firefighters battled massive flames across the Southwest, helicopters buzzed overhead with buckets of water for the first time on Thursday. Over the past week, at least half of a dozen wildfires raced across Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico and AccuWeather forecasters warned that the spring winds combined with little precipitation and warm weather would only help fuel the fires.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated due to wildfires burning across the Southwest. In Arizona, part of the Coconino National Forest, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument outside of Flagstaff, and other popular lakes and monuments have closed. Fire restrictions went into effect Friday for National Park Services in New Mexico.
Nearly 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff, the home of Northern Arizona University, the Tunnel Fire has exploded in size since igniting on Sunday as a small fire. As of Saturday morning, the Tunnel Fire has burned more than 21,000 acres and is 3% contained.
The Type 1 Incident Management Team from the Pacific Northwest arrived Friday morning. At least 371 personnel and firefighters have been deployed and more than 750 households have been evacuated, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Doug Ducey.
On Thursday, Ducey declared a state of emergency for the fast-growing fire, which will clear the way for state funding for evacuations, shelter, repairs, and other expenses, although the declaration can not be used to reimburse home and business owners for their losses from the fire. About 30 homes have been burned and roughly 109 other properties have been impacted, but it is unclear to what extent.
Aerial attacks with helicopters finally resumed after being halted for most of the week due to strong winds. Officials warned the aerial attacks would likely be halted again on Friday due to strong winds in the forecast. A 10-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 89, which connects Flagstaff and far northern Arizona and communities on the Navajo Nations, remained closed on Friday, and officials warn it will be closed for the next several days, according to InciWeb.
