Thousands ordered to evacuate as Pipeline Fire grows near Flagstaff, Arizona

At least 2 200 households near Flagstaff, Arizona were ordered to evacuate late Monday, June 13, 2022, due to threats posed by the growing Pipeline Fire.

Due to conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property, Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy signed a declaration of emergency for the Pipeline Fire, allowing him to govern by proclamation and impose regulations as needed.

The fire started on Sunday morning, about 10 km (6 miles) north of Flagstaff, producing a noticeable plume of smoke and forcing recreationists in the area to leave immediately, especially those in the area of Schultz Pass down to Ft. Valley Trailhead.

By 10:00 LT on June 13, the fire was estimated at 1 600 – 2 000 ha (4 000 – 5 000 acres) and was pushed more than 24 km (15 miles) by strong winds throughout the day.

A 57-year-old male was arrested by Forest Service law enforcement officers in connection with the wildfire and charged with natural resource violations. The subject was booked into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility.¹

 “The investigation into the cause of the Pipeline Fire is ongoing and, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot discuss any details of the investigation,” said Law Enforcement Patrol Captain Andy Pederson.²

Strong winds continued to move the Pipeline Fire toward the northeast throughout the day, as two additional wildfires the Haywire Fire and Double Fire started about 10 km (6 miles) further ahead.

Monday’s efforts were largely focused on evacuations and making sure people were out of the way, Incident Commander Aaron Graeser said at a news briefing. 

As of late Monday, officials report one destroyed structure.

Arizona submitted a request for the federal grant on Sunday, as the fire had the potential of impacting 2 100 homes in the areas of Doney Park, Timberline and Black Bill Park. Schools, cultural sites and other infrastructure could be impacted as well, according to FEMA.

Time lapse give you a whole new perspective… @CoconinoNF #pipelinefire #NAU pic.twitter.com/IFlvt1Ikbl

— Andrew Sánchez Meador, Ph.D. (@bi0m3trics) June 13, 2022

Time-lapse of the #PipelineFire from our office in Bellemont. You can see cumulus development above the smoke plume on occasion indicating very active fire conditions.

For all official updates on the Pipeline Fire, visit @CoconinoNF and @CoconinoCounty. pic.twitter.com/0yGus0mhuO

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) June 13, 2022

Pipeline fire, flagstaff Arizona pic.twitter.com/pesjA7Zs7y

— russd2 (@russdussell) June 14, 2022

We have some neat satellite tools to monitor active wildfires! Like this Fire Temperature RGB that allows us to identify where the most intense parts of the #PipelineFire and #HaywireFire are occurring. You can see this here and that it's calming as we approach darkness. #azwx pic.twitter.com/q60IS4NrIf

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) June 14, 2022

Views from the O'Leary Webcam at 360 Overwatch tonight at 8:28 p.m. give us an idea of just how far this fire has spread… from the peak to the valley below. The views we're accustomed to will be black come morning. This is why we obey burn bans! #PipelineFire #azwx pic.twitter.com/YRhcKbajpM

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) June 14, 2022

References:

¹ Pipeline Fire – InciWeb – June 12 and 13, 2022

² Pipeline Fire burns north of Flagstaff: What to know and the latest information – AZ Central – June 13, 2022

Featured image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers