State Route 87 near Winslow re-opens as Tinder Fire continues to burn

State Route 87 was reopened about 30 miles south of Winslow, the Arizona Department of Transportation announced.

Road blocks on the east side of the highway where home loss was most prevalent remained in place, according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

The road had been closed throughout the week due to the Tinder Fire, which forced 22 miles of the highway to close from milepost 290 at Clints Well to milepost 312 near Elks Park Picnic Grounds.

ADOT advised drivers to use caution in the area. Firefighting operations remain ongoing.

The Tinder Fire had grown to an estimated 12,628 acres and was about 48 percent contained as of Friday at 4 p.m, when the highway was re-opened.

Over the next four-and-a-half hours, firefighters managed to increase the contained area to 66 percent, though the size grew to 13,109 acres.

More than 574 personnel including 12 crews, six helicopters, 36 engines, six dozers and three water tenders were helping battle the fire, according to InciWeb.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also declared a state of emergency, freeing up $200,000 in state funding to help with the wildfire.

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