About 30 Firefighters Contained The Blaze That Burned 335 Acres

A drone is considered the culprit in a wildfire that burned some 335 acres near Kendrick Park in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, AZ.

The U.S. Forest Service said in a news release that at approximately 12:35 p.m. local time last Tuesday, several firefighter crews responded to a smoke report from a drone in an area north of Flagstaff. The response included several Forest Service engines, patrols, and a water tender truck dispatched from the Summit fire department.

Overall, the fire burned 335-acres of forest land before the forward progress was stopped that afternoon.

Approximately 30 firefighters worked in the grasslands to stop the progress of this wildfire. The Chapel of the Holy Dove was in the area of the wildfire, but firefighting crews were able to protect the building by using fire to burn the fuels between the spreading wildfire and the Chapel. The backburning successfully kept damaging heat and flames away from the Chapel.

Several Forest Service engines, patrols and a water tender truck from Summit Fire responded to a smoke report from a drone on fire north of Flagstaff at approximately 12:35. The fire began near Forest Road 514 & FR 524 intersection by a drone which caught fire upon landing. The fire was reported as 50-acres in size upon the firefighter’s arrival.

Coconino National Forest spokesman George Jozens said authorities are still attempting to identify the type of drone, and who was operating the aircraft at the time on the incident.

(U.S. Forest Service image)

FMI: www.fs.usda.gov