By admin 
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — A fire burning near Flagstaff is producing noticeable smoke and threatening some infrastructure, according to officials with the U.S. Forest Service.
Read more Karmelo Anthony convicted of murder in fatal stabbing at a Texas high school track meet
The Papa Fire has burned about 135 acres, roughly 13 miles east of Flagstaff, and is moving north-northeast. It is 25% contained.
Officials said Monday the fire spread quickly through grass and timber. It was first reported around 2:30 p.m. on June 8.
“Obviously, it was a red flag day, so we sent everything we had,” said Papa Fire PIO Noah Baker. “We were glad we did that because when we showed up, we were met with active flame and smoke.”
No homes or communities are currently threatened. However, crews are keeping a close eye on nearby gas pipelines and power lines that could be in the fire’s path.
Baker said Tuesday that the high winds, dry fuel, and hilly terrain are what’s pushing this fire forward. The wind is also limiting their ability to attack from the air.
“The one thing that we’re not utilizing on this fire very intentionally is air tankers,” he said. “That’s because of the wind that we’re having today. It’s just not safe for pilots to fly. It’s not effective. When air tankers drop that fire retardant on the ground, it is way less effective when it is windy. Be sure it disperses.”
Fire crews from outside the area and even outside the state are helping to put out the fire.
Read more Tucson man accused of killing brother during fight
Baker said they got a good handle on the fire overnight, but the conditions across the area are primed for fire.
“So the Coconino National Forest and the surrounding area have, like I said, one of the best fire response rates in the country, and we have a ton of resources. But this could have gone differently,” Baker said.
Now, they need the public’s help to prevent more wildfires.
“Not having campfires in the woods in approved fire pits,” Baker said. “Being really mindful like that helps us because, like I said, we’re good at our jobs, we need you and we need your help as well.”
Firefighters are working to keep the fire as small as possible and are using a direct attack strategy to put it out. People in the area should expect to see smoke as firefighting continues.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Read more Hit-and-run victim dies nearly 2 months after Phoenix crash