Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Conditions for the Monument Fire in Cochise County have taken a turn for the worse with 50-60 mph winds today. Tanker planes have been grounded.
Latest from the Sierra Vista Herald. City using reverse 911 to notify residents of evacs:
3 p.m. Mandatory evacuations established
According to the most recent information released by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department Sunday afternoon the following MANDATORY evacuations issued Saturday will remain in effect until further notice:
West of Highway 92: Stump Canyon North to Ramsey Canyon
East of Highway 92: Ramsey Road east to Hargis Ranch Road/Hargis Ranch Road south to Hereford Road/ Hereford Road west to Highway 92
East of Highway 92: Three Canyons east to Oakridge Drive
2:30 p.m. Sheriff’s department orders new evacuations
As the 1:45 p.m. today the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department released an alert announcing the following closures and evacuation areas, including a warning to stay off Highway 92 in Sierra Vista.
Ramsey Road and Hereford Road are closed.
There is a pre-evacuation area from Lower Ranch Road to Highway 90.
The following evacuation is effective west of Highway 92: East Ramsey Canyon Road North to Yaqui.
The following evacuations are effective east of Highway 92: North to Camino Principal; East to Campobello South to Ramsey; Ramsey Road North to Lower Ranch Road East To the San Pedro River.
2 p.m. Soldiers ordered out of Garden Canyon
Soldiers clearing brush in Garden Canyon at site Papa and site Uniform were ordered to pull back at 1:30 p.m. as the Monument Fire escalates, according to Tanja Linton, public affairs officer for Fort Huachuca. The situation is a little daunting as high winds prevent air support from aiding fire suppression efforts today.
“We’re just hoping and praying,” she said.
1:45 p.m. Firefighters moved to new location
The Monument Fire is growing in intensity, coming down Miller Canyon and may have spilled over into Carr Canyon, a spokeswoman for the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team said at 1:35 p.m. today.
Terina Mullen said ground crews have been removed from the line in Miller Canyon to another holding point and the fire has not crossed Highway 92.
The winds are blowing between 45 and 55 mph.
Air support is being sought but the winds may prohibit use of air tankers or helicopters, she said.
The decision to use them if an air attack plane can fly over the area to assess if it is safe to use air assets, Mullen said.
1:15 p.m. Evacuations announced
Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Commander Buckner has provided evacuation and pre-evacuation update as follows:
• Reissued a reverse 911 pre-evacuation order going out to Ramsey Canyon north to Yaqui and East of Campobello.
• A new pre-evacuation order is being issued for Ramsey Canyon north to lower Ranch, west at Aquaduct, and east to the San Pedro River.
• Evacuation orders remain in effect for the area south of Ramsey Road.
There is a facebook page "Monument Fire AZ" to allow local residents affected by the fire to share the latest information on the fire with one another. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Monument-fire-az/152424388163732
The Sierra Vista Herald previously posted Information and help available to evacuees:
As of late late Wednesday night updates for the Monument Fire can be found on the INCIweb site at http://www.inciweb.org/
On the site, in the upper right corner select the state of Arizona. The page changes to Arizona incidents listed along the left side of the page, click on Monument.
This site will be updated as new information becomes avaliable.
Phone numbers for the public information at the Valley View Elementary School are: 520-366-0761 and 520-366-0760.
Other information and help sites are:
• Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for evacuation information — (520)-432-9500
• Sierra Vista Herald — http://svherald.com
• City of Sierra Vista — http://www.sierravistaaz.gov/
• American Red Cross — (520)-318-6740 or 1-800-341-6943
• New Frontier Animal Medical Center — (520)-234.5145
• Going to Grandmas — (520)-227.3629
• Sierra Vista Animal Hospital — (520)-458.8656
• Sierra Vista Riding Club — (520)-678.0360
• Lions Club Swap Meet, Highway 90 for RV owners — (520)-456.7816
• American Mini Storage for personal items and RVs — (520)-378.2688
Added today Pet care volunteers sought | The Sierra Vista Herald:
A call is being issued asking for volunteers to help care for evacuated dogs and cats at the New Frontier Animal Medical Center. There about 100 dogs and about 150 cats that are being housed. Annex No. 1 is in a shopping center across and just before you get to Donovan Dodge (Smith Chiropractor, Hair Zone). This location houses over 50 cats.
The other annex is at 4366 Industry way off the Bypass and two doors down from the Fed-Ex building. This location houses over 50 dogs. Both locations are open from 8 a. m. to 9 p. m daily as long as needed. People are being asked to take two hour shifts to help care for the animals. If you are not working consider helping. Call Renee Politi to schedule a shift at 458-7839 or e-mail rpoliti@cox.net.
Baja Arizonans can help our neighbors in Cochise County by contacting the above information numbers. If anyone has any additional resources for those affected by the wildfires, please post it in the comments.
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