Papa Fire east of Flagstaff prompts travel alerts and closures

The Papa Fire has already turned the east side of Flagstaff into a short-fuse travel problem, with firefighters working a 135-acre blaze about 13 miles out on Coconino National Forest. Crews were using a direct extinguishment strategy to keep the perimeter as small as possible, and the public was being told to avoid the fire area entirely.

That matters fast for anyone headed toward northern Arizona trailheads, dispersed campsites or backroad drives. The forest said no communities or homes were threatened in its June 9 update, but the fire area includes gas pipelines and a Western Area Power Administration line, which raises the stakes for access and safety even when the flames are still relatively contained. Travelers should expect smoky air, detours and temporary limitations around the affected backcountry routes before they ever reach the trailhead.

The fire started June 8 around 2:30 p.m., during Red Flag Warning conditions across the High Country. Public information updates that afternoon first described the fire as roughly 1 acre, moving north and northeast through grass and timber at a moderate rate of spread, with one hotshot crew, one hand crew, six engines, one dozer and one water tender on scene. Later that day, it had grown to about 100 acres and more resources were being sent, including 11 engines and two water tenders.

By June 9, the response had expanded to three hotshot crews, two hand crews, two water tenders, two dozers, eight engines and overhead support. Cooler temperatures and lighter wind slowed fire activity overnight, but crews were still spending the day holding and strengthening lines ahead of stronger winds later in the day. The cause remained under investigation.

For northern Arizona summer travel, this is the kind of fire that changes plans before it forces a big evacuation. KJZZ reported the impacted area was far enough from communities or structures that evacuation looked unlikely, but that does little to help a hiker, camper or scenic driver who gets boxed out by smoke or access restrictions. Coconino National Forest had already moved into Stage 1 fire restrictions on May 21, a reminder that the region was already in a tight fire posture before the Papa Fire broke out east of Flagstaff.