Arizona wildfire slows but still threatens homes
PHOENIX — Some residents of the scenic northern Arizona city of Williams spent Saturday away from their homes as a prescribed burn that grew out of control threatened the town known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon.”
Punky Moore, a Kaibab National Forest spokeswoman, said the Twin Fire had scorched about 1,000 acres, or more than 1½ square miles, by Saturday evening and was still burning forest undergrowth and Ponderosa Pines on Bill Williams Mountain.
Moore credited air tankers with slowing the fire’s spread. “We experienced less fire intensity today, less fire behavior, less growth,” she said.
Parts of Williams, about 120 miles north of Phoenix, were still threatened because of strong winds.
Moore said the conditions could compromise how much the aircraft can be used Sunday. “We’re keeping a pretty close eye on the winds,” she said.
Hand crews planned to spend Saturday night making fire lines along the northeast side of the fire. Moore said that was the area of a lot of fire activity Friday.
Drivers along Interstate 40 in the Williams area were advised to use caution and slow down because of thick smoke.
Mayor John Moore said 64 homes were evacuated and he’s hoping residents won’t have to stay away too long.
“As soon as it’s safe, they can return to their homes,” he said.
The fire started out as a deliberate, pre-emptive burn to rid the forest of undergrowth and protect Williams from wildfires.
“They got into it and some embers started shooting up,” the mayor said. “They had spot fires and they lost control of it.”
The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the Williams Elementary Middle School. Residents can call 928-635-5653 or 928-635-5635 for information.
On The Net:
Twin Fire information: www.inciweb.org/incident/1909/
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