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.

FILE-- This undated photo provided by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office shows unidentified people outside a sweat lodge where three people died after an Oct. 8, 2009 ceremony near Sedona, Ariz. The ceremony was led by author and motivational speaker James Arthur Ray, who sheriff's officials say is the focus of a homicide investigation. (AP Photo/Yavapai County Sheriff's Office)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The deaths of three people following a sweat lodge ceremony in northern Arizona were a tragic accident — not the result of criminal negligence, said attorneys for the self-help guru who led the ceremony.

Lawyers for James Arthur Ray outlined their defense in letters to prosecutors that were released on Wednesday. The attorneys said holding a sweat lodge ceremony is not inherently criminal or unsafe, and that Ray had no reason to believe anyone would be seriously injured or die.

“Mr. Ray did not force anyone to participate, prevent anyone from leaving or brainwash participants before the sweat lodge event,” stated a Dec. 1 letter signed by Ray attorney Luis Li.

Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk confirmed she received the letters but declined comment. Attorneys representing one woman who died and another who survived said the letters are well written but lack substance, and try to place the blame on others.

“He (Ray) put people in an enclosed area without water, without ventilation and put them in harm’s way,” said Lou Diesel, who represents one of the deceased. “There’s nothing they provided to suggest otherwise.”

Ray has become a self-help superstar by persuading people that his words will lead them to spiritual and financial wealth. He uses free seminars to recruit people to expensive seminars like the $9,000-plus “Spiritual Warrior” event aimed at conquering a person’s old self and being reborn as a new person.

The sweat lodge is the culminating event that symbolizes being in a mother’s womb. Nearly halfway through the two-hour ceremony, people began to show signs of weakness and three died. Eighteen others were hospitalized with illnesses ranging from dehydration to kidney failure.

Lawsuits filed after the deaths accuse Ray of negligence and fraud, among other things.

Authorities haven’t said what charges they might be seeking against Ray in a homicide investigation that threatens to topple his multimillion-dollar empire. But in late October, one detective told a witness that “we are going to be fortunate to get either reckless or negligent,” according to documents released Tuesday.

Authorities expect to turn over their investigation to prosecutors in the coming weeks.

Many of the more than 50 people who attended the five-day “Spiritual Warrior” retreat near Sedona first experienced a sweat lodge under Ray’s lead. Each signed a waiver acknowledging the ceremony would include tight, enclosed spaces and intense temperatures, and that serious injury and death were among the risks.

Ray encouraged them to stay inside for eight 10-15 minute rounds as a way to break through whatever was holding them back in life. Though no one was physically kept from leaving, Diesel said they were psychologically restrained by Ray’s teachings, and days of fasting, sleep deprivation and mind-altering breathing exercises.

At least one person didn’t participate in the sweat lodge and told investigators it did not appear safe. Others stayed in the entire time and reported no problems, while some went in and out as they were overcome by the heat.

Ray advised them against leaving during rounds as a safety precaution in the pitch-black lodge that had hot rocks in the center, his attorneys said.

Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee, and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., died.

Ray’s attorneys said participants could have left at any time, though some participants recalled Ray chiding others for doing that.

“It was not unreasonable and certainly not criminally negligent to expect people to know their limits and take care of themselves,” the attorneys wrote.

Only once, in 2005, did someone in one of Ray’s sweat lodges require medical care, and since then Ray has improved safety by limiting the number of rounds, holding the ceremony in daylight, setting up a recovery station and training staff in CPR, the attorneys said.

They are asking Arizona authorities to also consider whether environmental factors contributed to the deaths. Ray contracted with the owners of the Angel Valley Retreat Center to have the sweat lodge built, and his attorneys said it was up to the owners to ensure the sweat lodge was safe.

Amayra Hamilton, one of the owners, told The Associated Press in late October that the staff had minimal contact with Ray and that the lodge was sturdy, strong and had been used for ceremonies with other groups without any problems.

“The whole thing is, what do you do in that lodge?” she said.

Joshua Pete (courtesy: Pete family)

Tune in tonight at 6 for the latest on Monday’s accident, including a look at Joshua’s life and where to make donations.

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.

High Wind Warning

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.

PREVIOUS UPDATES HERE.

A Type-1 helicopter dips into White Horse Lake, Aug. 17, 2009 (Photo: Chad Black/apsn.us)

8/22UPDATE:  The Taylor Fire has now reached 95% containment.  Management of the fire has been handed over from the Type I operation over to the local Type III managers.  The remaining fire crews are working to improve the containment lines around the fire.

Hunting season began Friday, August 21, 2009. Hunters in area 6B need to be aware of the following emergency fire area closure (Order Number 04-09-10-F): The area is closed starting at the junction of Forest Road (FR) 538D and 538, east along FR 538D to FR 231A, southeast along FR 231A to FR 231, southeast to FR539, west along FR539 to FR 6249, west 1.5 miles to power line, southwest along the power line to the Taylor Cabin Trail, northwest to Winter Cabin Trail, northeast along Winter Cabin Trail to the Kelsey Springs trail junction, east to the junction of FR 538 and 538D. Kelsey Springs, Taylor Cabin and Winter Cabin trails are closed.

The following roads will remain open for thru traffic only: FR 231A, 231, and 538D. This order became effective at 6:00 AM, August 21, 2009, and will remain in force until September 21, 2009 or until rescinded.

8/19 UPDATE:  The Taylor Fire is now 85% contained.  Fire crews have been working throug out the day to secure and extend lines around the Taylor Fire.  In some areas of the fire mop-up and rehabilitation operations have started.   Protective fire wrap that was placed on the Fernow cabin was scheduled for removal today.  Officials at the Coconino National Forest also reports what they describe as a large demobilization of crews.  Some crews have begun to be released from the fire.

While heavy smoke and ash have significantly subsided throughout the region officials are still concerned about lingering smoke in some areas, including the Verde Valley.

8 P.M. 8/18 UPDATE:  With a total of 3,545 acres already burned, fire crews working on the Taylor Fire have now achieved 65 percent containment.

Throughout the day smoke has drifted to the south into the Verde Valley and Sedona area.  Some smoke was still present in the Flagstaff area, but the inversion effect that caused yesterday’s dense smoke had subsided.

As of this evening a total of 595 fire fighters from around the region are working to control the Taylor Fire.

11 A.M. 8/18 UPDATE: The Coconino National Forest office in Flagstaff has confirmed that the fire has grown to 3,000 acres, burning in rough terrain 22 miles southwest of Flagstaff. The fire is burning both on the ground and up into the ladder fuels.  Containment is at 10% with the fierfighters using a suppression strategy to attack the fire.

Spotting and torching continue to be the prominent burning activies.  Firefighters conducted burnout operations on the northeast and southern edges of the fire.  505 personnel are fighting the fire.  Total resources assigned to the Taylor Fire:  20 crews (12 hot shot crews), four helocopters, six engines, one bulldozer, and two water tenders.

The National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists are forcasting winds similar to yesterday, from the southwest sustained at 10 mph, gusting to 25 mph. The wind, coupled with low relative humidity, has produced a high growth potential for the fire.  Stay with NAZToday.com for further updates. (Update by Patrick Walker)

Previous Fire Updates:

6:30 P.M. 8/17 UPDATE:  Fire crews are continuing to make progress on the fire and now have the fire 10% contained.

11 A.M. 8/17 UPDATE:  The National Interagency Fire Command’s Southwest Coordination Center is reporting the Taylor Fire at 850 acres, with 0% containment. Parts of the fire are showing 100-foot flame lengths and the fire is spotting up to one-half mile.  The fire’s growth potential is listed as “high” and five structures are listed as threatened.  Fire crews have reported that the APS KV line, shut down last night, has sustained some damage.

The New Mexico SWC has processed orders to send two air tankers and 12 Type 1 crews to the fire.  END UPDATE (Update by Patrick Walker)

Heavy smoke and some ash has settled into the Flagstaff and Verde Valley areas from the Taylor Fire burning in Sycamore Canyon and Turkey Butte.  The Coconino County Health Department has released information about  wildfire smoke and your health.

High winds with gusts of up to 25 mph have stirred the fire which has already consumed approximately 400 acres.  The fire is burning in a steep and rocky section above Sycamore Canyon.  By 10 P.M. last night, the fire had grown to 650 acres.

Eighty five to one hundred personnel are currently working to contain the fire, including Hotshot crews from Prescott and Blue Ridge.  A type 2 crew, along with fuel management crews, and Flagstaff Fire crews are also helping to fight this fire.

Fire managers are also utilizing a heli-tanker, air attack crews, and two heavy tankers.

Many of the forest service roads in the area are closed, or are in the process of being closed including forest roads 535, 231, and 538.  Most of the hiking trails in the area have also been closed due to the fire danger.  A complete list of road and trail closures is available on the Coconino National Forest Website.

This season has seen relatively minor forest fire incidents, but dryer conditions are beginning to set in throughout Northern Arizona.  The Forest service reminds everyone to be extremely careful with fire in the National Forests.