Latest news with #OakRidgeFire
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Part of our culture': Navajo Nation's Oak Ridge Fire response includes livestock
A flock of sheep is gathered in a pen as they wait for a much-needed haircut from a group of Diné volunteers during a shearing event held on July 4, 2025, at the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds to help sheep evacuated from the Oak Ridge Fire. (Photo by Shondiin Silversmith/Arizona Mirror) As the Oak Ridge Fire continued to spread southwest of the Navajo Nation capital last week, families living in the fire's path not only scrambled to save what they could from their homes, but many also had to rescue their animals and livestock. Even as the fire grew, a majority of Navajo families living in the immediate evacuation homes refused to leave because they did not want to abandon their livestock. 'It was really heartbreaking,' Navajo Nation Council Delegate Brenda Jesus said. She represents the St. Michael's and Oak Springs chapter and has been on the ground helping the impacted communities since the fire started. For many families on the Navajo Nation, livestock is their livelihood. They rely on their livestock to support their family. 'I'm not leaving if I can't take my livestock. I'm not going to leave my livestock behind, ' Craig Tsosie, vice president of St. Michael's Chapter, said he was told by many families during the peak of evacuations after the fire started on June 28. Tsosie said that the only way many families in evacuation zones felt comfortable leaving their homes was if their livestock also got out. The Navajo Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Fish & Wildlife, Navajo park rangers and Resource Enforcement have been on site in Window Rock since the fire began and have been actively assisting families who need their livestock evacuated. The Department of Agriculture announced on its Facebook page that the Dean Jackson Arena on the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds was open to evacuated livestock as of June 28. The department established a livestock evacuation team that families affected by the disaster could contact to coordinate evacuation assistance. Veterinary staff were on-site at the fairgrounds to monitor the animals as they arrived. The livestock were fed and watered daily. Tsosie said he was glad that the Department of Agriculture stepped up and mobilized to work with families to save their livestock. 'They provided trucks, trailers and they were limited on their end to what they could do,' he said. 'They couldn't be everywhere at once.' Tsosie said many of the teams working to evacuate livestock were out on the ground in Hunters Point, Oak Springs and St. Michael's, helping owners load their livestock into trailers at all hours of the night. There were days when he was out until 3 a.m. Even as they worked to evacuate livestock, Tsosie said there was some frustration from the community, potentially due to the long wait times or miscommunication. He said he hopes people understand that it was whole communities that were impacted and needed assistance. 'It wasn't just a couple of people,' he added. 'Everybody in those fire zones that were getting evacuated needed livestock evacuated along with them.' As of July 4, the department had evacuated 39 cattle, 236 sheep, 27 chickens, 21 goats, 16 horses, seven dogs, four hogs and two turkeys, according to the Navajo Nation President's Office. As a way to help the sheep and owners impacted by the Oak Ridge Fire, a group of volunteers banded together at the Dean Jackson Arena on July 4 to give a flock of sheep a much-needed haircut. 'A lot of families are going to receive their sheep back better than they brought them in,' Tsosie said of the sheep shearing provided by the volunteers. During the summer months, sheep are sheared to help them handle the heat and stay healthy. Sheep have thick wool, and unshorn sheep often experience extra stress and potential health problems during hot summer temperatures. 'They're reliant on their shepherds to shear them,' Diné shepherd Nikyle Begay said. If they don't get sheared, they could potentially get flystrike, a condition where flies lay their eggs within the sheep's wool. 'Maggots will work their way into the sheep's skin, infecting the sheep and basically eating it,' he said. To help keep the sheep healthy and ease some of the stress from the owners, Diné shepherds Jay Begay from Hard Rock, Arizona, and Nikyle Begay from Cornfields, Arizona, put a call out on social media for volunteers to help them shear the sheep impacted by the Oak Ridge Fire. With more than 200 sheep evacuated from the fire, there were a few flocks that were not sheared for the summer. 'Many flocks are shepherded by elders who probably had (shearing) planned for the summer, but instead, they were displaced by the fire,' Nikyle said. 'We just wanted to ease whatever worries they might have and offer our services.' Working with the Navajo Department of Agriculture, they were able to arrange a shearing event for the sheep. 'This is a way for us to help without being in the way and helping the best way we know how,' Nikyle said, adding that when they put out the call, the response was immediate. The response, Nikyle said, is because because they are part of a great community of shepherds, fiber artists and those who admire sheep. Shearers from across the Navajo Nation showed up to help give haircuts to nearly 80 sheep, each of them taking one animal at a time throughout the day. Traps and plyboards were laid out on the dirt floor in different areas of the arena for volunteers to use to hand-shear the sheep. The sheep varied in size, from small lambs to full-grown rams. The volunteer shearer would take a sheep, tie off the legs if needed, and hold the sheep down to be sheared using sharp shearing scissors. After the volunteers were done shearing, the wool was collected and saved in bags for the owners. A total of 18 volunteers showed up to help with the sheep, Nikyle said, and 10 stayed throughout the day. 'Sheep are an integral part of our culture,' Nikyle said. 'They've always been; they've made their place within ceremonies and everyday life.' For more information about the event and the shearing work, Nikyle can be reached on Instagram at Navajo Shepherd. Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@ SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Oak Ridge Fire on Navajo Nation burns 10,814 acres, is 26% contained
One week since the Oak Ridge Fire first ignited on June 28, it has scorched 10,814 acres and is 26% contained. Early July 5, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs made her way to the Navajo Nation for a quick visit with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Speaker Crytalyne Curely, first responders and other Navajo leadership to get updates on the Oak Ridge Fire. 'Today, I visited Navajo Nation and met with the brave first responders who have been on the frontlines battling the Oak Ridge Fire. I'm grateful to them for their tireless efforts to protect residents, homes, and land. We will continue to coordinate closely with our federal, Tribal, and local partners as they work to contain this fire. My administration stands ready to support the Navajo Nation and ensure that those impacted by this fire have what they need to recover,' Hobbs said in a news release. A Navajo Nation public information officer told The Arizona Republic the meeting was closed to the public and media. Additionally, Hobbs' communications team did not respond to The Republic's request to attend the visit. When the Oak Ridge Fire ignited a week ago, the Window Rock Unified School District and the Navajo community of Fort Defiance swiftly opened the high school's event center to shelter evacuees and provide support to those in need. A few days later, as strong winds pushed the fire toward the Klagetoh area near Ganado, the Ganado Unified School District also opened its doors to those displaced. Officials announced that both evacuation shelters will close at 5 p.m. on July 5 as they are no longer needed. July 5 will continue the warming and drying trend that started late July 3. Temperatures were expected into the mid 80s with humidity dropping to 10% to 15%, with winds reaching 15 to 20 mph from the west. Humidity was expected to have poor recovery at night. No thunderstorms were expected to develop. Fuels in the area remained extremely dry and highly flammable. The Navajo Nation was under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, which ban activities such as trash burning and field clearing. Officials urged the public to use extreme caution with towing, smoking, and any use of fire, according to the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team. "Keep in mind that there may be visible smoke on the fire as relative humidity goes down and the fuels begin to dry out from the weekend's weather," said Tyler Chesarek, of planning operations with the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team. The team issued an advisory noting that residents in nearby communities may see a noticeable increase in smoke July 5 coming from the southwest flank of the Oak Ridge Fire. The rise in smoke was due to a low-intensity burnout operation being carried out by fire crews. It was a planned and strategic effort — not a sign of new fire growth. The fire's perimeter had held steady for about three days, and no major expansion was expected. Crews planned to complete the operation by day's end. Curley thanked the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team Type 2, Navajo Nation Rangers, and all Navajo Nation fire crews for their collective efforts. 'We have over 600 firefighters on scene, and we're grateful to the Southwest Incident Management Team Type 2 for expediently creating fire lines to protect our people as fire raged close to residential areas, senior centers, schools, and even our backyards,' Curley said. Feds seeking to prosecute: Humans caused thousands of Arizona acres to burn in spring This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo leaders brief Hobbs on Oak Ridge Fire
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Evacuations underway for Navajo community members living near Oak Ridge Fire
Evacuations were ordered for people living in the Navajo communities of Hunters Point and Oak Springs area late June 29 as the Oak Ridge Fire ravaged the area for the second night, burning over 6,292 acres and having no containment. On the morning of June 30, the BIA Complex Incident Management Team — a coordinated group of federal and state wildfire agencies — assumed command of the Oak Ridge Fire and the incident command center. They confirmed the fire grew to 6,292 acres from 1,800 the previous day. The Oak Ridge Fire, which Navajo Nation police say was sparked by wood haulers on June 28, quickly grew in size, threatening nearby homes, utility lines and gas infrastructure. During a June 29 evening briefing, Rex Kontz, deputy general manager of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, informed officials that a 115kV power line running through the fire zone had to be shut down. He said Navajo communities, including Burnside, Klagetoh, Chinle and Ganado, are being powered through rerouted sources, which has created additional challenges for maintaining stable electricity. NTUA, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, is the only utility company that services a majority, if not all, of the Navajo Nation. "We are asking everyone to conserve power," Kontz warned, adding the backup power source is at risk of overloading. If that happens, power to nonessential business services may need to be shut off until the fire is under control. "What we are worried about is, it's summertime and air conditioners use a lot of power." Since the fire began, a major concern has been the safety of the El Paso Natural Gas plant, located near the evacuated communities of Hunters Point and Oak Springs. In his latest update, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren stated that in Oak Springs, the "go" evacuation order applies to residents living west of mile marker 12 on Navajo Route 12 up to the El Paso gas station. Residents north of the station remain in a 'set' evacuation status. "There is significant danger in this area, and residents need to begin relocating to a shelter or with family and friends outside the affected zone," Nygren stated. On the second day of the fire, the Commission on Emergency Management declared a state of emergency due to the Oak Ridge Fire, requesting additional Navajo Nation resources to address both current and potential wildfire impacts. Fire restrictions were also increased from stage 1 to stage 2, with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signing off on the declarations. Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit all open flames, including campfires and charcoal use, even in designated recreation areas. Smoking is only allowed inside enclosed vehicles or buildings. The use of firearms, air rifles and exploding targets is banned outside of lawful hunting. Additionally, under stage 2 fire restrictions, operating chainsaws or other internal combustion engines between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., as well as welding or using open-flame torches, is strictly prohibited. During the briefing, the Apache County Sheriff's Office stated that if deputies or officers spot anyone transporting wood during these restricted hours, they are authorized to stop the individual, seize the wood, and deliver it to the St. Michaels Chapter House for distribution to elders during the winter. The state of emergency addresses the severity of the Oak Ridge Fire, ongoing regional drought conditions, and the existing Navajo Nation Fire Restriction. According to the declaration, Navajo Nation will activate available emergency resources, including funding for personnel, equipment and other necessary support to restore and sustain critical community infrastructure. All Navajo Nation divisions, departments, programs, and chapters are directed to initiate emergency response coordination, allocate resources, and implement response measures in collaboration with federal, state, and tribal partners to meet the needs of affected communities. 'The Commission on Emergency Management, in unified coordination with our Nation's emergency response agencies and local leadership, has declared this emergency to prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities impacted by the Oak Ridge Fire. This declaration enables critical resources and operational support to be activated immediately,' said CEM Chair Marcarlo Roanhorse. 'We express deep appreciation to the firefighters, law enforcement, emergency personnel, and volunteers working on the front lines. As a Commission, we stand ready to support our Nation through this challenging time with diligence, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to public safety.' For the past two days, the official evacuation shelter was available at the Bee Hółdzil (meaning 'stronghold') Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, home to Window Rock High School and Tsehootsoi Medical Center. As of noon on June 29, 15 families were staying at the shelter. It remains unclear how many more sought refuge there after evacuation orders were elevated to 'go' later that evening. The event center is also serving as a donation drop-off site. Items requested during the briefing included children's pull-ups (sizes 4T & 5T), kids' shoes (sizes 8, 10, 11), men's shirts (XL & 2X), pillows, baby wipes, toiletries, personal hygiene products, towels, nonperishable food items and washcloths. Also requested were clean kennels. Another concern was the safety of animals and pets. To help, the Division of Diné Education in Window Rock offered space for evacuees to stay with their pets, but some individuals chose to remain in their vehicles with their animals rather than shelter inside the events center. Animal control will also be housed there in the facility, and free vaccination for cats and dogs will be provided for evacuees' pets. The owner and pet must remain on site. Cots and dog and cat food are available. Navajo Nation Council Delegate Dr. Andy Nez, who represents the communities of Ft Defiance, Sawmill, Crystal and Red Lake, said during the briefing that he was contacted by veterinarians who volunteered to assist evacuees' pets experiencing smoke inhalation and other related health issues, and they are located at the Division of Diné Education. Nygren urged the public to be cautious of GoFundMe pages claiming to raise money for the fire, noting that the Navajo Nation does not have an official fundraiser for it. The call center for services and information related to the Oak Ridge Fire is 505-422-7382. The Navajo Nation Fairgrounds is available for evacuated livestock. Contact 928-270-8062 or 928-270-2254 to coordinate drop off. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Evacuations underway as Oak Ridge Fire burns 2,000+ acres on Navajo Nation
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Oak Ridge Fire at 1.8K acres, 0% containment near Window Rock in eastern Arizona
A wildfire that ignited near Window Rock remained at 0% containment on the morning of June 29. The Oak Ridge Fire was reported June 28, roughly 4 miles south of Summit Road, in the community of St. Michaels — about 10 minutes west of Window Rock — according to a Facebook post from the Navajo Nation Police Department. The fire was reportedly sparked by wood haulers, according to Navajo Nation police. As of the afternoon of June 29, the seemingly small fire had burned at least 1,800 acres with 0% containment, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region. As of June 29, there were no reports of injuries or deaths. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren posted on Facebook that the evacuation status remained at "ready" and encouraged residents to remain vigilant regarding the fire's status and to evacuate if possible as a precaution. Nygren added that the Bee Hółdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance is the official evacuation shelter for families and donations could be dropped off there. Suggested donations include: Ziplock bags to distribute dog and cat food. Hair brushes or hair ties. Feminine hygiene products such as pads, tampons, and wipes. Plates, forks, utensils, bowls, spoons, forks, napkins, cups, gloves. Blankets, cots. Toiletries such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, lotion, soap and toilet paper. Prepared food. Snacks (cookies, fruit cups). Diapers, wipes and formula. Nygren added that the road to Oak Ridge remained closed and urged people to avoid the fire zone, as some had created public safety concerns by doing so. Livestock were being relocated to the Window Rock Fairground with Navajo Forestry, Fish and Wildlife and park rangers assisting. Those with livestock who need additional information can call 928-270-8062. The Commission on Emergency Management was scheduled to meet with Nygren at 11 a.m. and was expected to implement stage 2 fire restrictions for the Navajo Nation. Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell. (This story has been updated to add more information.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oak Ridge Fire at 1.8K acres, 0% containment near Window Rock
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oak Ridge Fire near the Navajo Nation capital in northern Arizona burns nearly 2K acres
Shawn Bia sat with his family inside the Window Rock Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, sharing a meal they were given as they worried about their home, located just five miles from the Oak Ridge Fire. Bia, along with his wife and their six children, managed to evacuate to the events center, where volunteers and staff from the Navajo Nation's executive and legislative branches were setting up cots for other evacuees. The fire, when it began June 28, was located roughly 4 miles south of Summit Road in the community of St. Michaels—about 10 minutes west of Window Rock. "I was going to haul some water, and I saw a plume of smoke. Just a small plume, I didn't think anything about it, but when I came back it stopped so I thought it was a small brush fire," said Bia, who lives 4 to 5 miles west of the fire. "I went back down a second time, and coming back up it was a lot started getting larger and then it became a big black puff of smoke. I couldn't see the sun at all. The haze and red light was all around us." As of the early afternoon on June 29, the seemingly small fire had burned at least 1,800 acres with 0 percent containment, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wildland Fire Management. Sergeant Erwin Toddy, of the Navajo Nation Police Department, had initially reported the fire and said there were no reports of injuries or damages Lt. Tyler Lynch of the Navajo Nation Police Department reported that wood haulers were believed to be responsible for starting the blaze. Toddy said authorities had identified two persons of interest but did not provide details on how the fire was ignited, and the BIA Wildland Fire Management said they were investigating how it was started. "Somehow fire erupted and they immediately packed up their stuff," said Toddy. "When we got there, it was approximately half an acre but when the wind came in it just started to take off." In the midafternoon of June 29, as smoke blanketed communities near the fire, the Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management voted to declare a state of emergency for areas impacted by the Oak Ridge Fire. The declaration called for the deployment of Navajo Nation resources to address both current and future wildfire impacts. The commission also approved measures to tighten restrictions on fireworks use, officially elevating fire restrictions from stage 1 to stage 2. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren was expected to sign these new restrictions. During a midnight briefing, Nygren implored the public to follow fire restrictions. 'I encourage all our Navajo people to respect and honor our fire restrictions,' said Nygren. 'I also encourage you all not to haul firewood, drag chains, or even light fireworks during this ongoing drought, which creates the perfect scenario for preventable fires.' BIA Wildland Fire Management official Johnson Benally reported there were about 55 firefighters out on the scene. It was listed that BIA had one type 3 incident commander; one taskforce leader; four type 6 fire engines; one 20-person type 2 hand crew; two wildfire suppression modules; one type 2 helicopter; multiple air tankers and one air attack fighting the fire. There were other resources ordered to assist. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority announced it was closely monitoring the fire and was prepared to minimize the impact of any potential power outages. While NTUA successfully rerouted power the day before, there was still a risk of system overload that could lead to an outage. NTUA urged residents to reduce electricity usage in their homes and conserve as much power as possible to help keep the system stable. El Paso Natural Gas Company reported that residents are also under a 'ready state' evacuation alert. Navajo Route 12 near El Paso Gas was being monitored as the fire's eastern boundary. If the fire crossed the 1-mile buffer zone, families in the area will need to evacuate immediately. 'Fire is not only a destructive force—it is also an essential part of our ecosystem,' said Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley. 'We must engage with fire respectfully to support the efforts of our first responders, who are putting their lives on the line to protect us. We ask residents to work with local public safety agencies, be prepared to evacuate if needed, and take all necessary precautions. The safety and wellbeing of our people must remain our top priority.' The Navajo Nation Council continued to urge residents to follow all fire restrictions and to avoid travel near affected areas, including State Route 264 and Route 12, to allow emergency personnel full access. The public was reminded that drone flights were strictly prohibited in and around the fire area. Unauthorized drone activity endangered firefighting aircraft and ground crews. Bia said that as they were evacuating, the family loaded as many pets as they could into their van. However, some—like their dogs—jumped out during the process. The remaining pets had to stay outside the events center in the van. "We couldn't catch all of them," said Bia about his family's pets and animals. "Hopefully they will be OK. We have Ferraris, rabbits, guinea pigs and inside cats and dogs." With animal control in Fort Defiance at full capacity, the need for kennels quickly became apparent. Lt. Lynch said officials were looking to the nearby border town of Gallup to see if its humane shelter could accommodate evacuees' pets. Nygren's office reported that Navajo Forestry, Fish and Wildlife; park rangers and resource enforcement were all on site assisting evacuees with livestock. The Department of Agriculture continued to evacuate animals and provide water and feed. Livestock were being relocated to the Window Rock Fairgrounds, which were open and available as a staging area if needed. Donations were being accepted at the Bee Hółdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance. The Window Rock Fighting Scouts Events Center was now the primary emergency evacuation shelter for residents evacuating due to the fire. The facility was equipped with showers and locker rooms. The Navajo Nation Office of the President staff, executive branch and Window Rock Unified School District Staff were all on site to provide resources and support. Donations needed: Blankets, cots. Diapers/formula/wipes. Plates, forks, utensils, bowls, spoons, forks, napkins/cups/gloves. Prepared food. Shampoo/toothbrushes/towels/lotion/soap, toilet paper. Snacks (cookies, fruit cups). Nygren also cautioned the public to be wary of GoFundMe accounts claiming to raise funds on behalf of the Navajo Nation. He clarified that the Navajo Nation has not established an official GoFundMe for this fire. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo Nation wildfire burns 1.8K acres, 0% contained
