Governor Doug Ducey today issued a State of Emergency declaration for Navajo County, where local, state and federal fire professionals continue to fight the Cedar Fire. The declaration will release state dollars to assist with local response and recovery efforts and ensure appropriate state agencies are at the ready should they be called upon.
The Cedar Fire is burning 10 miles south of Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low, and is currently 20 percent contained. The community of Forestdale has evacuated. Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, McNary, Hon-dah and Cedar Creek are under pre-evacuation notice. Governor Ducey surveyed the fire Friday and met with fire professionals on site for a briefing.
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State Representative Bob Thorpe stated, “I am concerned with the uncooperative weather and continued growth of the Cedar Creek fire, however I’m pleased that Governor Ducey declared a State of Emergency for Navajo County, which is part of my Legislative District 6. I was impressed with the Type I team and the local, state, and Federal resources and the personnel, who I met with last Thursday in Show Low. As a former Arizona firefighter, this time of the year always makes me nervous, as temperatures and winds increase as we await the monsoon rains. Unfortunately, with those rains also comes dry lightning, which causes wildfires. In that our dense, overgrown forests are prime for catastrophic crown fires, we must react to all fires quickly and attempt to control their size and limit their impact. I ask all of our citizens to pray for the firefighters, first responders, volunteers and for those impacted by the fire, such as those mostly older citizens I met with at the Snowflake High School Red Cross evacuation center.”
Governor Ducey is authorized under A.R.S. § 26-303(D) to declare a state of emergency, which can be used to reimburse eligible emergency response and recovery costs. The declaration directs the following actions:
a. Declare that a State of Emergency exists in Navajo County due to the Cedar Fire, effective June 15, 2016 and continuing; and
b. Direct that the sum of $200,000 from the general fund be made available to the Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to be expended in accordance with A.R.S. § 35-192, A.A.C. R8-2-301 to 321, and Executive Order 79-4; and
c. Direct 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. Authorize the Adjutant General to mobilize and call to activate all or such part of the Arizona National Guard as is determined necessary to assist in the protection of life and property throughout the State.
Navajo County has established a call center to field questions from the public. The public can call the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System at 928-333-3412 for evacuation and shelter information.
Navajo County residents are encouraged to sign up with the emergency notification system at https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612436#/login to receive alerts from the county.