Tunnel Fire: Crews Progressing, Evacuees Returning, Winds Increasing

COCONINO COUNTY, AZ — The Tunnel Fire continues to burn in Cococino County in northern Arizona this week, though crews appear to be making progress against the blaze.

The county remains in a state of emergency, which was declared by Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday, but containment is trending in the right direction.

However, weather forecasts calling for increased winds this week — including 40 mph winds on Thursday — have crews scrambling to continue securing fireline.

According to Coconino County, fire crews had increased containment of the Tunnel Fire to 15 percent on Monday, which was an improvement over 3 percent the previous day.

On Sunday, residents were able to re-enter previously evacuated neighborhoods and U.S. Highway 89 was re-opened.

Residents returning to the area were advised to use caution by InciWeb, a U.S. clearinghouse for wildfire information.

"Caution is advised as there will be increased traffic as firefighters continue patrolling and mopping up areas of heat," InciWeb wrote. "The landscape is very dynamic immediately after a fire and travel within the fire area can be hazardous. Examples of hazards include fire weakened trees that may fall without warning, loss of ground vegetation can loosen rolling debris and rocks and ash pits from stumps may look benign, but will hold hot ash for quite a while and can cause severe burns if stepped in. As interior islands of vegetation burn and large logs and stumps smolder, smoke will be present."

According to Coconino County, some 430 personnel were working to contain the fire on Monday, which included eight crews, 23 engines, five dozers, one air attack plane and two helicopters.

"Firefighters continue to mop up, patrol and secure existing fireline while constructing new fireline to the northeast portion of the fire," the county reported.

The fire began on April 17, to the northeast of Flagstaff. As of Monday, the fire had burned more than 21,216 acres.

While progress has been made with the Tunnel Fire, other fires continue to burn in Arizona and parts of the southeast.

The Crooks Fire, which has been burning 11 miles south of Prescott since April 18, had burned more than 7,871 acres and was 16 percent contained as of Tuesday morning. However, containment had dropped from 22 percent due to quickly spreading flames, according to 12 News.

Officials' estimated containment date is May 4.

Meanwhile, in Bisbee, located in Cochise County 90 miles southeast of Tucson, residents have been evacuated due to a wildfire in that area, according to KGUN.

According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the blaze is estimated to be between 100 and 150 acres. Close to 50 crew members have been assigned to the blaze, KGUN reported.

CNN reported that New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Saturday that half of the state is facing issues related to 20 active wildfires. Lujan Grisham said 16 of the state's 33 counties were battling flames.

Perhaps most notably, two active wildfires in the state —Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak — had combined into one fire, according to New Mexico Fire Information.

As of Sunday, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires had burned a collective 54,004 acres and were considered 12 percent contained, according to officials. Nearly 500 crew members are fighting the blaze.