Tuesday Evening June 20, 2006 11:05 p.m.Sedona Arizona

My perspective as a Sedona resident...

In what I thought was going to be a quick fire and swiftly extinguished, much to my amazement, the fire continues to burn. I saw the column of smoke this morning and felt some relief, but ,as the afternoon winds picked up and the temperatures rose, I realized the blaze was intensifying and moving towards Oak Creek Canyon. Late this afternoon I visited the check point at the entrance to the canyon and my worst fears were realized: the flames did reach highway 89a in Oak Creek Canyon. I have friends who live in the canyon and I am deepely concerned for their homes and the impact of this fire on their lives. We will know tomorrow morning what has happened this evening. Garland's Lodge? Pendley's historic building at Slide Rock? Garland's Store? Mark's house? Rainbow trout farm? Too many to name each one in the historic Oak Creek Canyon. I've driven the canyon a thousand times in my 19 years...will it be the same tomorrow?

Here's the official release from the forest service late today, by way of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce:

We have just been notified that the Brins fire has changed directions and is moving down towards Oak Creek Canyon.  If this rate continues, the fire will reach 89A in Oak Creek Canyon in approximately 2 hours. 
APS has turned off all power north of Dairy Queen and residents in Oak Creek Canyon must evacuate now if they haven't done so yet.
This is all the information that we have at this time.  However, for fire information and all media inquiries:  call the Brins Fire Information Center at 928-204-6750.
For information related to the Coconino National Forest including fire restrictions/closures and for residential evacuee information:  Call the Coconino National Forest Information Center at 928-226-4601.
For evacuation-related concerns, please call the Coconino County Sheriff's Office at 928-774-4523.
Want to help the evacuees?:    Call the Red Cross Shelter at 928-220-2189
Want to help/donate to the crews?:  Call 928-606-7490 or 928-606-7561

Additionally, tomorrow there will be a meeting at the Elks Lodge.

Brins Fire Community Meeting Tomorrow
Sedona, AZ - A community meeting has been scheduled for residents affected by the Brins Fire currently burning in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness on the Coconino National Forest.  The meeting will be tomorrow (Wednesday, June 21) at noon in the Elk's Lodge Heritage Room, located at 110 Airport Road in Sedona. Fire managers and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Great Basin Incident Management Team, City of Sedona, County Sheriff's Departments, Sedona Police, Red Cross, and Sedona Fire District will be available to answer the community's questions.

This afternoon's and this evening's photos from Schnebley Hill Road and from View Drive in West Sedona.