Representative David Cook is calling for action in response to a significant public safety issue at Fossil Creek in Gila County.
Cook, Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has reached out to Congressman Eli Crane and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, urging immediate action to improve road accessibility for rescue operations.
Cook is calling attention to the ongoing crisis involving numerous rescues and fatalities in the area. Cook is also offering support for a solution to the problem proposed by the Gila County Board of Supervisors and previously supported by former Yavapai Apache Nation Chairman Jon Huey.
Fossil Creek, a popular recreation area just west of Strawberry, has been the scene of a large number of distress calls and emergency situations.
In his letter to Kelly, Cook notes that a “significant number of individuals have faced life-threatening situations, resulting in numerous rescues and unfortunate fatalities.”
“Between 2015 and 2022, over 800 individuals required rescue or medical attention, with seven tragic fatalities. Recent data from 2023 indicates an additional 23 missions in Gila County, extracting 42 individuals, further underscoring the severity of the situation,” writes Cook. “Unfortunately, the closure of Fossil Creek during various periods due to flash floods, fire restrictions, and wildfires has only mitigated the true extent of the problem, with the potential number of rescues exceeding 1,000. These numbers come from the Gila and Yavapai County Sheriff Departments.”
According to Cook and many experts, the problem was created by the closing of the Childs-Irving power plants over two decades ago. In 2005, Arizona Public Service company (APS) closed the Childs-Irving power plants, and in 2008, APS removed the diversion dam and access roads, “drastically increasing rescue mission durations.”
Currently the area is accessed from Forest Road 708 (Fossil Creek Road) off Arizona State Route 260 east of Camp Verde, which is 22 miles (35 km) by paved highway and unpaved road from the creek, according to the Forest Service. At times, the Service closes parts of Forest Road 708 because of weather, health, and safety concerns.
“Presently, it takes 5 to 7 hours and more than a dozen rescuers to extract victims, significantly diminishing their chances of survival. Whereas before this only used to take 90 minutes. Gila County Sheriff Adam Sheperd has expressed grave concerns not only for public safety but also for the well-being of his deputies and rescue personnel engaged in these arduous missions,” writes Cook.
Cook is supporting a proposal by the Gila County Board of Supervisors to repair the eroded stretches of the roads to allow access for search and rescue personnel using small UTV-style vehicles.
Cook says the proposal “would reduce the extraction time back down to a manageable 90 minutes, substantially improving the chances of survival for victims.”
Cook notes that the “Yavapai Apache Nation supports this proposal, as it aligns with their need for improved access to the Upper Springs area for prayer and ceremony. However, despite initial approval from former Chairman Jon Huey in 2021, progress on the project was halted by the Backbone Fire in July 2022. Subsequent attempts to resume the project were met with rejection from Chairwoman Lewis in 2023.”
“I urge you to intervene in this matter, advocating for immediate negotiations between the Yavapai Apache Nation and Gila County to resume and complete the road improvement project,” writes Cook. “Furthermore, I implore you to insist on the urgent improvement of these roads to enable swift rescue agency access, thereby eliminating this prolonged public safety crisis.”
Cook claims that “Gila County is prepared to undertake the roadwork promptly, and their proposed solution addresses both the safety concerns and the accessibility needs of the Yavapai Apache Nation. Your assistance in facilitating cooperation between the involved parties is crucial to resolving this critical issue.”