Clouds and wind are affecting the fire area (ADOT Traffic Cam Photo)
LATEST UPDATE HERE (OCTOBER 5TH, 6 PM)
10:00 PM UPDATE, OCTOBER 4: Personnel working the fire has nearly doubled since yesterday; 450 firefighters are currently working the fire. Fire still at 10-15 percent containment.
7:00 PM UPDATE, OCTOBER 4: Despite heavy winds throughout most of the day, the Twin Fire stayed at 1,000 acres. The fire is now listed at 10-15 percent contained. Fire crews were unable to attack the fire from the air, but they were able to make progress building line on the northeast side of the fire, keeping it from moving into the outskirts of Williams.
The Kaibab National Forest announced this evening that both Williams High School and Williams Elementary-Middle School will be closed Monday due to the fire. Williams Elementary-Middle School is being used as an evacuation center for residents on the southwest corner of town that have been evacuated.
The High Wind Warning for the Williams area (along with much of northern Arizona) will expire at 8 PM MST this evening, although the National Weather Service is predicting 10-20 mph winds overnight with gusts to 35 mph possible for Williams.
4:00 PM UPDATE, OCTOBER 4: The Kaibab National Forest’s Twitter site is reporting that businesses within the evacuated area are being allowed to re-open, although the homes in the affected area are still under evacuation order. The Kaibab Lake Recreation Area is closed to the public as it is now a staging site for firefighters. 250 firefighters are currently working the fire.
High winds in the Williams area have grounded air operations today, but the Kaibab National Forest reports that fire crews are making progress on the fire lines. Southwest winds have started small spot fires ahead of the Twin Fire, but fire crews have been successful with putting those fires out. –Update by Patrick Walker
12:00 PM UPDATE, OCTOBER 4- Bill Van Bruggen’s Type I Incident Management Team is now managing the firefighting efforts. The fire still sits about a mile southwest (MAP) of the town of Williams, and crews will continue with their objectives of “provid(ing) for firefighter and public safety, and minimize impacts to private and public property.”
Windy conditions may prevent air tankers and helicopters from fighting the fire today. An ADOT traffic camera from just west of Williams has shown some storm clouds move into the area, and National Weather Service reporting stations are showing winds across the area in the 25-35 mph range, with 50+ mph gusts.
No new evacuations have been ordered. The Red Cross is manning the evacuation center at Williams Middle School. — Update by Patrick Walker.
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