Update as of 1:30 a.m. June 29
WINDOW ROCK – At a midnight briefing of the Oak Ridge Fire, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, along with Council delegates Andy Nez and Brenda Jesus, and various emergency response personnel, received an update from the Incident Command Post that the fire has burned over 1,000 acres with 0% containment.
The fire was initially reported by a Navajo Nation Police Officer, who advised that two individuals of interest had been identified. They were wood haulers cutting fresh oak. The fire started small but quickly spread due to the wind.
While a massive evacuation order has not been issued, 15 families living in the fire’s path have evacuated themselves, some to the Bee Hól Dzil Fight Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Ariz., where the emergency shelter is located.
Navajo Division of Natural Resources is leading efforts to evacuate livestock to the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds and the Apache County Yards in Fort Defiance, according to Sharen Sandoval, director of the Navajo Department of Emergency Management.
Community members impacted by the fire are urged to stay informed and avoid self-deploying.
“I’ve been getting updates all afternoon, and I’m very impressed with all the counties, all of our partners, all the leaders, and everybody involved just coming together to make sure that we’re as prepared as we can be,” President Nygren stated. “I pray that you all look out for each other in trying to contain this fire.”
On Saturday night, President Nygren directed all Executive Branch offices, departments, and divisions to meet the needs of the Navajo People during this emergency.
A 9 a.m. briefing is scheduled between the Incident Command Post and BIA Fire Management to gain further updates on the fire.
According to Navajo Nation Police Lieutenant Tyler Lynch, who is commanding the Incident Command Post, BIA Fire Management has deployed 49 firefighters to help contain the blaze.
The Navajo Nation is currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions and plans to upgrade to stricter State 2 Fire Restrictions.
“I encourage all our Navajo people to respect and honor our fire restrictions,” President Nygren said. “I also encourage you all not to haul firewood, drag chains, or even light fireworks during this ongoing drought, which creates the perfect scenario for preventable fires.”
