‘GO’ evacuation order to be lifted for Tunnel Fire burning near Flagstaff

PHOENIX – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office announced on Saturday it is lifting the “GO” evacuation order for residents living along Highway 89 in Flagstaff cause by the Tunnel Fire, according to authorities.

Neighborhoods will return to “SET” status starting at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The Tunnel Fire Incident Management Team determined the status and condition of the fire at this time is no longer an imminent threat to the neighborhoods along the highway, according to a press release.

A smattering of rain Friday morning has helped crews in their battle against the Tunnel Fire that is burning near Flagstaff.

Light rain and graupel began falling over the 21,087-acre blaze in Coconino County between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

“It will definitely slow the fire down,” Tunnel Fire team spokesman Dick Fleishman told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

There could be enough moisture to keep the helicopters on the ground for the day, Fleishman added.

Choppers went up Thursday and dumped water on the blaze, while firefighters fanned out across blackened landscape in Arizona’s high country, digging into the ground to put out smoldering tree stumps and roots.

No more rain is in the forecast for the weekend, but more wind is.

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff predicted winds in the area would grow stronger throughout Friday, with early morning gusts at 20-30 mph but by evening up to 40-50 mph.

Strong, southwest winds will increase this morning across AZ, with higher gusts downwind of the higher terrain. Strongest gusts across eastern areas where a High Wind Warning is in place. Winds will become westerly later this evening, before becoming light overnight. #azwx pic.twitter.com/zuQdSbkmcc

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) April 22, 2022

Containment was 3%, InciWeb reported.

“We get through these three days of wind without a large blowout, you’ll see that containment number go up pretty dramatically,” Fleishman said.

Winds will be changing directions, he said, pushing from the north Saturday and the northeast Sunday.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared the fire a state of emergency on Friday, a move that will provide response and recovery aid to affected communities.

The fire forced evacuation of 766 homes and burned down 30 homes and two dozen other structures, the Coconino Sheriff’s Office said.

Popular lakes and national monuments closed in Arizona — including Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument outside Flagstaff because the wildfire moved directly over it, blackening trees, and burning tools and vehicles in a maintenance yard, monument spokesman Richard Ullmann said.

Just over 370 personnel have been assigned to the fire.

A Type 1 Incident Management Team from the Pacific Northwest will take over fire operations Friday.

Cause of the wildland fire is under investigation.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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