Evacuations, road closures and structures being burned are all part of the Tinder Fire burning northeast of Clint’s Well and CC Cragin Reservoir. The fire broke out Friday afternoon and has since consumed over 8,000 acres. Strong winds and a Red Flag day pushed the fire into residential areas Sunday afternoon, resulting in the evacuation of several small communities north, east and west of Highway-87. Officials say some structures have been lost. The Red Cross established a shelter at Twin Arrow’s Casino and large animals are being taken at the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook. Highway-87 is closed from Clint’s Well north. A drone shut down fire operations Sunday morning; officials remind the public that there are temporary flight restrictions in place in wildfire areas. Crews spent the night protecting structures and stopping the fire where they could safely. Winds continued overnight and are expected to continue through Tuesday. These strong winds have kept aircraft from helping with the fire fight. A community meeting is being planned; a specific time and location has not been released. In response to the blaze, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors declared a State of Emergency, which will help with gathering additional resources. If the Governor signs the Declaration, then the State of Arizona will offer further disaster assistance through operational efforts and financial support to the County. What caused the fire is under investigation.
