Firefighters Battle Expanding Oak Ridge Fire in Navajo Nation
A significant wildfire named the Oak Ridge Fire has prompted the evacuation of over 350 residents from their homes near Window Rock on the Navajo Nation. The fire has rapidly expanded to nearly 10,000 acres with no containment in sight as of Monday night.
The explosive spread of the fire has been attributed to strong easterly winds, which have intensified the blaze, sending flames soaring nearly 200 feet through the mixed pinion pine and ponderosa forest. The fire’s swift movement was highlighted by its ability to cover a distance equivalent to two football fields in mere minutes, traveling six miles in just a few hours on Monday evening.
Anne Reid, a spokesperson with the Complex Incident Management Team 2, explained the challenges posed by such conditions. She remarked, “There’s no way you’re going to stand in front of it like Moses parting the seas there. You’re going to get fire personnel out of the way, you’re going to get the community members out of the way of that fire, get them to a safe location until you can re-engage on that fire with more reduced fire behavior.”
Reid also mentioned that the strong winds can hinder firefighting efforts by grounding aircraft used for dropping retardants and water on the fire. Additionally, fire managers are preparing for potential thunderstorms, which could introduce even more unpredictable weather patterns as the week progresses.
Currently, hundreds of firefighters are engaged in combating the blaze, though the cause remains under investigation.
—
Read More Arizona News
