APS turns power back on after shutting it off due to extreme wildfire risks

APS power shutoff impacts 8k Arizona residents

Arizona Public Service shut off power to 12 major areas near Flagstaff due to high winds and dry conditions. Residents are using candles and coolers while waiting for power to be restored.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - UPDATE: "APS has concluded its Public Safety Power Shutoff and power has been fully restored to all previously impacted customers," the agency said Sunday afternoon. "The safety shutoff was implemented in and around Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon to help prevent the electric system from starting or contributing to a catastrophic wildfire during exceptionally dry conditions with extreme winds, low humidity and challenging terrain. APS crews inspected equipment and power lines for damage before reconnecting power to ensure safety."

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While doing maintenance work, Arizona Public Service shut off power for thousands of people in the Flagstaff and Grand Canyon areas to prevent a wildfire.

The utility company is out monitoring the weather conditions. It is super windy, and there is dry vegetation that can contribute to a wildfire.

APS shut off power in 12 major areas. Some of those are Timberline, Fernwood, Mormon Lake, Doney Park, and the south and east rims of the Grand Canyon. These are areas the company says are experiencing strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures, with already dry grass and trees. Crews are patrolling lines and looking for damaged ones, trimming trees, installing poles and stringing lines.

"What we're doing every single day is trying to identify weak points of our infrastructure, areas of our system that need upgrades," said Jaryd Burt, an APS senior predictive maintenance technician. "We're making those upgrades year-round. We know these high winds, they're super, super destructive."

The utility company is also using technology to monitor the conditions. They are using cameras, drones, and weather centers to see how the weather is changing in the area even up to a week before this maintenance.

"Putting cameras right on the system so we can monitor live how things might be unfolding as well as weather stations on our system so we're not just relying on one or two dead inputs," said Andrew Deemer, an APS meteorologist. "Now we actually get that granular understanding of those conditions."

Kenneth and Linda Wise live in Flagstaff and did not have power all day. They used a cooler and ice to keep their food cold as well as candles and a kerosene lamp for light.

"Kind of just feel like we’re stuck at home. We went into town to eat lunch so we wouldn’t have to be opening and closing the refrigerator," Kenneth Wise said.

The outage is especially sensitive for Linda because she has vision issues.

"I have macular degeneration and I can’t see even in the dusk, so I’m having to have lights everywhere," she said.

While they were prepared, they said they could prepare better next time with even more essentials.

"We would have our batteries ready so that we can power our phone on," Linda said.

For residents who live in an area where the power is shut off, there are some cooling centers at the city of Flagstaff's Murdoch Community Center, Sinagua Middle School, and Grand Canyon National Airpark. There are also ice and water distribution centers at the Flagstaff Mall and the Mormon Lake Fire Station, and in the Grand Canyon and Baderville.

APS says it expects to turn back on the power Sunday afternoon, but that depends on weather conditions and repairs. The company will let customers know directly and through its outage map.

APS shuts off power to thousands amid fire danger

Thousands of customers have no power in northern Arizona after APS shut off the switch on purpose to prevent sparking any wildfires with its electric lines.

Statement from APS

"Due to extreme fire-risk weather conditions, a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is underway in limited areas in and around Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. The PSPS is currently in effect, and Arizona Public Service (APS) will continue to share updates with impacted customers and at aps.com/outages.

Given the forecasted duration of the extreme fire conditions, restoration is estimated for Sunday afternoon, but timing depends on weather conditions, required inspections and any needed repairs. In continuation of ongoing communications throughout the week, APS notified customers again this morning to help ensure they remain informed and prepared. APS will continue communicating updates directly to impacted customers and through the APS outage map as information becomes available."

APS' list of local resources for impacted communities:

Ice and water distribution centers

Flagstaff Mall

(Northeast corner of the parking lot) 4650 US-89 N, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1575 Shuttle Bus Rd., Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023
Friday: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Mormon Lake Fire Station

1067 Mormon Lake Rd, Mormon Lake, AZ 86038
Friday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Baderville

8005 N. Snowbowl Rd.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Cooling Centers:

Sinagua Middle School

3950 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Open Saturday 10 a.m. to Sunday 6 p.m.
(OVERNIGHT SITE)

Grand Canyon National Airpark

1542 Liberator Drive, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86013
Open Saturday 10 a.m. to Sunday 6 p.m.
(OVERNIGHT SITE)

Murdoch Community Center

203 E Brannen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-226-7566
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Several wildfires continue burning across Arizona

Steamboat and Pocket wildfire updates

The Steamboat Fire is at 0% containment, while the Pocket Fire has burned over 2,100 acres near Sedona.

Steamboat Fire

In Gila County, the fast-moving Steamboat Fire has triggered immediate, mandatory evacuations. Residents in Linx Ranch and Victory Ranch are ordered to leave now due to life-threatening danger.

The wildfire has already scorched 400 acres near Dripping Springs Road and sits at 0% containment. Meanwhile, neighboring communities, Dripping Springs and Troy Ranch, are on "set" alert.

Pocket Fire

Red flag conditions are making it harder for crews to fight a wildfire in northern Arizona. The Pocket Fire is burning north of Sedona.

During red flag conditions, fire can spread very quickly. Wind gusts are expected to reach up to 45 mph on June 27. Crews are working around the clock to make sure the fire does not spread up to the rim of the San Francisco Plateau. The fire has already burned more than 2,100 acres, and there is still no containment.

Oak Creek Canyon, between Sedona and Forest Highlands, is in a "set" evacuation order. State Route 89-A is closed in that area and is only open to residents who can prove their identity. A public meeting on the fire that was scheduled for today has now been pushed back to June 29.