Arizona’s Governor issued a Declaration of Emergency in response to the Yarnell Hill Fire burning near Prescott, between Yarnell and Peeples Valley. The Declaration makes available $200,000 from the General Fund to support emergency response and recovery efforts associated with the fire.
The Yarnell Hill Fire is burning west of State Highway 89 between Yarnell and Peeples Valley.
Yesterday, 19 members of the Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshot crew were killed when winds swept up trapping them. Flags across the state have been lowered to fly at half-staff.
Additionally, the blaze fire has burned hundreds of structures and continues to threaten numerous homes and local residents
The Governor’s Declaration authorizes the Adjutant General to mobilize the Arizona National Guard, as necessary, to protect life and property.
The Governor’s Declaration directs the following actions:
a. Declares that a State of Emergency exists in Yavapai County due to the Yarnell Hill Fire, effective June 28, 2013 and continuing; and
b. Directs the sum of $200,000 from the General Fund be made available to the Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to be expanded in accordance with A.R.S. § 35-192, A.A.C. R8-2-301 to 321, and Executive Order 79-4; and
c. Directs that the State of Arizona Emergency Response and Recovery Plan be used to direct and control state and other assets and authorize the Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to coordinate state assets; and
d. Authorizes the Adjutant General to mobilize and activate the Arizona National Guard as determined necessary to assist in the protection of life and property throughout the State.
Additionally, the State Forestry Division has ordered a number of resources be deployed in support of suppression and alleviation efforts, including approximately 22 aircraft with 50 personnel; 31 ground resources – including engines, water tenders and bulldozers – and 18 crews, totaling approximately 400 ground personnel; approximately 100 incident management team members; a Critical Incident Stress Team; and a Fire Investigation Team.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Safety has closed State Highway 89 between Date Creek Road South of Yarnell and Sorrells Ranch Road North of Peeples Valley.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant, which makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.
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