Sandbags hold water back from this house on Stardust, south of Moonbeam (Courtesy: Deborah Lee Soltesz) (Click photo to enlarge)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– Less than 48 hours after flash floods affected the neighborhoods around the Schultz Fire burn area, another storm produced heavy rain and flooding northeast of Flagstaff.

Several flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service this afternoon, with an Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory lasting into the evening hours.  The flood advisory expired at 8:15 pm.

The National Weather Service preliminarily issued a Flash Flood Warning at 11:30 am Thursday, which expired at 1:15 pm.  NWS radar indicated heavy rain from a thunderstorm in the area.  The warning was issued after reports of between one-half and one inch of rain falling between 10:30 and 11:30 am, with more on the way.  At the time, rain was falling mostly upstream from Timberline Estates and Hutchinson Acres.

Standing water along Stardust, south of Moonbeam at around 4:30 pm, July 22, 2010 (Courtesy: Deborah Lee Soltesz)

The already-saturated ground from Tuesday’s flooding and lack of vegetation in the burn area allowed for excessive runoff from area thunderstorms. Flood waters made their way across US 89 to Doney Park, especially near Moon Beam Drive and Lunar Street. Coconino County officials urged people to stay clear of the area while crews cleaned up after the flooding subsided.

U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona (Flagstaff/Dist. 1), issued a statement regarding the flooding. She says that she will work hard with FEMA and local authorities over the coming weeks. “I will be working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the coming days to determine if there is anything to be done to better protect our families. I will also be cooperating closely with city and county officials as they seek a disaster declaration and to ensure they get the support they need,” said Rep. Kirkpatrick.

Aftermath of the first flash flood on July 20th, at Campbell Ave. and Crisp Hill Road. Heavy rain Thursday caused additional flooding in the Timberline Estates and Doney Park areas. (Courtesy: Stephanie McCarthy)

A public meeting will be held at Sinagua Middle School Friday at 6:30 pm regarding the flooding. At the meeting, representatives from Coconino County, Summit Fire Department, the State Department of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Forest Service will provide presentations on their respective areas to update and inform residents, according to a release from Coconino County.  Residents will be able to ask questions from the different representatives after the formal presentations.

Coconino County officials are asking residents who have suffered flood damage inside of their homes to call the Schultz Fire/Flood hotline at 877-679-8390.  County damage assessment teams will use that information to help determine if the area qualifies for state and/or federal assistance.

Flagstaff Fire Department heavy rescue truck at Stardust and Moonbeam, July 22, 2010 (Courtesy: Deborah Lee Soltesz)

The floodwaters rushed through a pair of subdivisions north of Flagstaff, forcing dozens of residents to flee their homes. The water carried large boulders, ash and other debris through the communities, knocking down fences and creating a muddy mess.

Coconino County sheriff’s officials said the girl — identified as Shaelyn Wilson — fell into a wash south of White Vulcan Mine, a pumice mine north of one of the subdivisions. Her younger sister notified other family members, who performed CPR until medics arrived.

Authorities said Shaelyn was later found near a highway and was covered in mud as she was pulled from the water. She was unconscious during resuscitation efforts and taken to Flagstaff Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

“Despite our best efforts, we were unsuccessful in saving the patient,” said Summit Fire Department spokesman Charles Kwiatkowska

Two wildfires over a single weekend in Flagstaff last month forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes. Firefighters worked painstakingly to ensure no homes were burned, and no major injuries were reported, said Coconino County Sheriff Bill Pribil.

“To lose a child at the end of this is devastating,” he said.

Heavy rains was also sweeping through parts of southern and south-central Colorado, flooding streets and creating traffic problems. Southbound lanes of Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs were shut down Tuesday evening after a five-car collision that included a horse trailer.

The National Weather Service said more than 2 inches of rain fell Tuesday afternoon in areas of Flagstaff that were charred last month by a 15,000-acre wildfire. Authorities determined the wildfire was sparked by an abandoned campfire that wasn’t properly extinguished.

Vegetation in the wildfire area is scarce, allowing water to flow quickly over the landscape.

The U.S. Forest Service is overseeing efforts to prevent flooding in the area with straw mulch. Residents have used sandbags, concrete barriers and straw barriers to help keep water from reaching their homes.

Bob and Teresa Linhart have used all three methods of flood and erosion control around their homes. But the floodwaters rose above the 3-foot barriers Tuesday and knocked down chain-link fences on their property. Teresa called Bob at work Thursday terrified but decided against leaving her home because she had so little time.

She later told her husband, “you won’t have any trouble getting in the yard because there’s no fences,” he said.

“I’m anxious to get home and see how far down some of my property went,” he said from the tailgate of his truck at a parking lot off the highway.

Neighbors have put together contact lists to check in with others in case of flooding and some bought weather radios. County emergency officials sent word to 900 residents Tuesday, urging them to seek higher ground. It wasn’t immediately known how many residents evacuated, but the sheriff’s office said a shelter was being set up at an elementary school.

Authorities said they would work Wednesday to assess the damage.

Authorities shut down a portion of U.S. 89 because of the floodwaters, and dozens of motorists waited alongside the road or in nearby parking lots for the water to recede.

Joan Piwetz had a truckload of furniture to unload when she arrived home. Before she was finished, she heard a loud roar from the rushing water.

She said she grabbed her purse and 4-year-old son, got in her truck and got out safely, crossing water 3 feet high as she drove away from the community. She honked at other motorists along the highway to warn them to turn back, she said.

“It was the scariest thing to see a black, raging river,” she said.

Piwetz left behind the family’s ducks and chickens, doubting they had much of a chance to survive. Standing next to her pickup truck streaked with mud, a bench still in the back, she said, “Thank good God for letting us escape.”

She said she and her husband have lived north of Flagstaff for five years and just purchased flood insurance after the wildfire. Unfortunately, the policy doesn’t take effect until next month.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley addresses the media from the fire media camp (Brandon Neuman/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– Day three of the Schultz Fire was a good one for both residents and firefighters.

Evacuees were allowed to return to their homes at around 8 am this morning.  Despite a few flareups, the fire only grew about 500 acres to 14,500 acres.  The fire is now 25 percent contained.

Firefighters worked hard to save Lockett Meadow today, and dropped ping-pong balls filled with flammable liquid to start a controlled fire designed to burn away fuels ahead of the fire and stop it from spreading into the Inner Basin.

Officials from the Type-1 Incident Command Team would not speculate how large the fire would grow to once the containment line was finished around the northern and western parts of the fire.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley spoke to the media about how the San Francisco Peaks are sacred not only to the Navajo people. “The mountain is sacred to 13 other nations,” Shirley said.  He also mentioned that the Navajo hot shots were quick to respond to the fire. “They were some of the first ones here.”

Shirley spent the afternoon touring the fire area and at the Emergency Operations Center in Flagstaff with local officials.

Below is the video of President Shirley addressing the media:

A Type-1 Helicopter heads towards the Schultz Pass Fire (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO UPDATE FROM THE FIRE LINES

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– Another warm and dry was in store for firefighters as they fought the 14,000 acre Schultz Fire north of Flagstaff.

The Schultz Fire is now listed at 20 percent contained.  Firefighters conducted burnouts last night on the south side of the fire, and worked to reinforce fire lines with bulldozers.  Winds have died down, and aerial attack is back underway.

US 89 was reopened this morning, but officials are reminding people that conditions could change in a matter of minutes.

Evacuations remain in place, but evacuated residents might be able to return to their homes as early as Wednesday morning.  Mount Elden Middle School, at Fourth Street and Cedar, is serving as the evacuation center.

As additional information becomes available, NAZ Today.com will bring you the latest.

Smoke from a hot spot rises as the fire begins to reach the main burning period for the day, mid- to late-afternoon, as seen from downtown Flagstaff at noon Tuesday. (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)

DPS and ADOT officials closed US 89 for the second straight day on Monday. (Brandon Neuman/NAZ Today)

TUESDAY’S LATEST UPDATE HERE

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– Despite high winds and grounded air tankers, firefighters were able to gain some containment on the Schultz Fire.

The Schultz Fire has been holding at 10,000 acres for most of the afternoon, and containment is now at 10 percent. Windy conditions and low visibility, along with the amount of fire traffic driving in the area, prompted officials to ask DPS and ADOT to close US 89 for the duration of the day following intermittent closures throughout the morning and early afternoon.

The fire is human caused, likely from an abandoned campfire. In a meeting with evacuated residents Monday night at Coconino High School, Coconino County Sheriff Bill Pribil asked for the public’s help in locating anyone who may have been camping or in the area when the fire started.  The Sheriff’s Office and Forest Service are advising people with information to call the Coconino National Forest’s Supervisor’s Office with their tips at 928-527-3600.

New fire restrictions will go into effect at 8 am Wednesday morning in the Coconino, Prescott, and Kaibab National Forests.  Campfires, charcoal, and coal or wood stoves will be restricted to developed campgrounds only, and smoking will only be allowed inside of inclosed vehicles and buildings, along with inside of developed campgrounds. However, the Forest Service says that pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters meeting safety specifications will continue to be allowed in these area.

Incident Commander Dugger Hughes told residents during the meeting that they will have to deal with smoke for the foreseeable future.  ”I’m sorry, there’s just nothing I can do about it,” he said to the audience.

800 firefighters are currently battling the fire.  756 buildings have been evacuated.  Overnight, crews will conduct burnouts and reinforce dozer lines on the south side of the fire.

Evacuees continue to be housed at the Mount Elden Middle School evacuation shelter.

The 8,800 acre Schultz Fire is spreading, and winds have grounded air tanker attack.  The evacuation order has been expanded to Timberline, south of Campbell, and Hutchinson Acres.  This is in addition to the evacuations that are already in effect.  To view the complete list of evacuations, click here.

In addition, pre-evacuation orders will be issued to residents from Forest Road 556 south to Silver Saddle.