TSE BONITO, N.M. – With the Oak Ridge Fire now 26% contained, the recovery process now begins for impacted communities.
On July 5, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Speaker of the 25th Navajo Nation Council Crystalyne Curley and Council delegates Andy Nez and Vince James welcomed Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs to the Navajo Department of Transportation in Tse Bonito, N.M., to talk fire operations and impact of the Oak Ridge Fire.
The Oak Ridge Fire is at 26% containment with 10,814 acres burned, according to fire officials from BIA and the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team Type 2.
The fire has not grown significantly in about three days, and additional growth is not expected, said Incident Commander and Navajo Department of Emergency Management Director, Sharen Sandoval.
Over the next 24-72 hours, NDEM will begin shifting its efforts to the recovery phase of the fire and redistribute the massive amount of donations to the impacted chapters.
“We’ve got a long way to go. We have communities down south that we still need to be looking out for,” said Sandoval. “This was a collaboration, professionalism at the board, all expertise at the table for our people.”
President Nygren has remained in contact with the Oak Ridge Fire Incident Command Post to continue ongoing efforts to make sure families continue to stay safe.
“This fire has displaced many of our Navajo families and taken things from them many don’t understand,” said President Nygren. “So, we’re not stopping our efforts to help our families, we’re going to continue monitoring the fire and help where we can as the fire dies down.”
As Governor Hobbs traveled to the Navajo Nation, she was able to see an aerial view of the fire with Arizona State Forester, Thomas Torres. The governor saw the fire’s visible impact from her flight to Window Rock.
“The state is really proud to step in as a partner and will continue to be there and provide whatever support we can during this emergency and then obviously post as you look at recovery,” Gov. Hobbs said.
Darryl Martinez, assistant branch chief from the post wildland recovery in the division of wildland fire management with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said 88 cultural sites have been impacted by the Oak Ridge Fire and his team will be deploying Monday to begin recovery processes.
As the Oak Ridge Fire containment grows, BIA and federal partners will transition out of their primary roles and allow tribal officials to lead the recovery process, but they will continue to offer help and guidance.
“We will be providing that guidance to help Mother Earth heal and balance itself,” Deborah Shirley, acting regional director for BIA Navajo Region.
