Arizona wildfire forces animal shelter, national monument evacuations
CNN Wire Staff
(CNN)– A wildfire raging near Flagstaff, Arizona, has grown to more than 5,000 acres, shutting down part of U.S. Route 89, and it is wholly uncontained, according to the Coconino County website.
The Schultz Fire ignited late Sunday morning. It has caused the Coconino County Sheriff's Office to evacuate at least 748 properties, including two residential neighborhoods, an animal shelter and the Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments. The sheriff's office is recommending that nearby residents put together evacuation kits.
The blaze spread so quickly, it caught some locals off guard.
"It's something that unless you've lived through it, I don't think you can imagine," evacuee Patti Vorhees told CNN affiliate KTVK as she packed up her pets and left. "You literally take your prescriptions, your animals and the clothes on your back."
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Arizona • Wildfires |
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This is so heartbreaking to watch, I can see the huge plumes of smoke out my front door. These beautiful forests and mountains are why I live in Flagstaff, but we all know the risks of living in the forest. Flagstaff is such a peaceful beautiful community. We will see the scars from this fire for years to come. The last fire like this was some 33 years ago on Mt Elden and the scars are still visible.
Having been raised in Arizona, it's sad to hear of this news. My hope is that it gets contained soon or some rain come to the area. My thoughts and prayers go out to the residents there.