Vast Tunnel Fire in Arizona
One Arizona wildfire tripled in size in less than 48 hours as favorable weather for flames bloomed across much of the Southwest, destroying at least two dozen houses and sending inhabitants fleeing.
Since it was originally reported late Sunday afternoon, the Tunnel Fire, which is burning across an area about 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff, has grown in size. The fire was estimated to be more than 6,000 acres on Tuesday afternoon, but with no control, it had grown to 19,712 acres by Wednesday afternoon, more than tripling in size. As of Wednesday, there was no containment report, according to KNAU Public Radio.
Officials declared a state of emergency for the swiftly spreading wildfire on Tuesday afternoon, telling the media that about two dozen structures had been destroyed and that nearly 250 more were still under threat.
As of Wednesday morning, 766 residences had been evacuated, indicating that more than 2,000 individuals had fled the fire, according to a spokesperson for Coconino County. To put out the fire, more than 250 first responders have been dispatched.
The flames forced the closure of a 10-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 89, which connects Flagstaff and far northern Arizona with Navajo Nation villages.
Officials were hopeful that structure damage would be limited as the fire moved northeast, away from the densely populated Flagstaff area.
The Associated Press quoted Coconino National Forest spokesperson Brady Smith as saying, “It’s fortunate in that it’s not headed towards a very populated region, and it’s headed towards less fuel.” “However, depending on the fire’s intensity, flames can still burn through cinders.”
People took to social media to share photographs and videos of the raging flames and rising smoke. Carolyn Potter posted photos of a fire that lit up the night sky
#tunnelfire at night. pic.twitter.com/3tWzjhQL6L
— Carolyn Potter (@CarolynPotter06) April 20, 2022
On Tuesday, a satellite loop showed the fire and smoke coming from it.
The Arizona Department of Transportation provided a different viewpoint, based on road closures caused by the fire. The foggy circumstances induced by the severe occurrence may be seen in this video taken from one of the shuttered mileposts on US-89.
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