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FREDONIA, Arizona (KUTV) – Wildfires continue to burn across northern Arizona, prompting Coconino County officials to apply for a federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration through the Small Business Administration.
If approved by the governor, businesses in Coconino and surrounding areas may apply for low-interest federal loans. This comes as business owners in gateway communities like Kanab and Fredonia report sharp declines in revenue, fearing further impact in the fall, typically the region’s busy season.
Sherre Finicum, a fifth-generation rancher, shared her family’s ongoing recovery from the Mangum Fire five years ago, which necessitated selling half their cattle. “Having to basically give away really good, healthy mother cows and calves for rock bottom prices was a real financial setback,” she said. “Not to mention the setback in our operations as far as genetics,breeding,and producing efficient cows.”
This year, Finicum relocated her cattle to pastures not directly in the fire’s path. She anticipates the flames’ effects will linger long after they are extinguished. “The level of smoke is going to impact the calves’ gain,” Finicum stated, referencing the health impacts on cattle. “They’re also not in the best pasture, so it messes with my rotation,” she added. “It will definitely have an impact. I may not see it promptly this year, but it may bump down a few years.”
Her family also operates a small roadside rock-art business on the Arizona-Utah border. they noted their business drop-off as a snapshot of broader experiences. “My sales at my little lemonade stand have dropped about 75%,” Finicum reported during a community meeting hosted by the county.
At the meeting, other business owners voiced concerns about their businesses’ long-term health, acknowledging that the true impact might take years to manifest. Local officials indicated that if the submission is approved, an SBA team will visit the region to assist business owners in determining the viability of applying for a loan.This initiative could help stimulate economic recovery.
Though, multiple residents expressed a desire for policy reform beyond economic support. “I think there are policies in place that are actually detrimental,” Finicum stated. “I would hope the government would be aware of how their policies allow fires to grow bigger instead of stopping them earlier and now causing so much damage to the land, wildlife, and businesses.” Fredonia Mayor Don Johnson echoed this criticism.”This fire didn’t start last week or the week before,” Johnson said. “This fire started 20 years ago because of forest management. There’s probably more timber burnt in the last few days than has been sold of
Disclaimer: This content touches upon financial and economic matters related to disaster relief. It is not intended as financial advice. Consult with a qualified financial advisor for personalized guidance.
What are your thoughts on the impact of wildfires on local businesses? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
Northeast Braces for Worsening Air Quality as Canadian Wildfire Smoke Lingers
New York City and much of the Northeast are experiencing hazy conditions and elevated air pollution levels due to smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires. While some advancement may occur later Sunday, experts warn that air quality could deteriorate again early next week, coinciding with oppressive heat.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines advised individuals with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, to limit outdoor activity. A heat advisory is in effect for many parts of the Northeast, including New York City, with heat index values potentially reaching 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which could exacerbate air quality concerns.
Residents are already reporting the effects of the poor air quality. Omri Ayalon, a Carroll Gardens resident, noted that the air felt “heavier” and that he and his son would be spending less time outdoors. Brooklynite Nehemiah Bounds described feeling “light-headed,nauseated…and a little bit dizzy,” and plans to move his workouts indoors. Eray Akil reported experiencing allergy-like symptoms, including a runny nose and mild headache, for himself and his son.
On Sunday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the NYC area reached 133 in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and 132 outside Flushing Park in Queens. The environmental Protection Agency considers AQI levels above 150 to be unhealthy. The smoke’s impact was visible, with landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the empire State Building obscured by haze from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Kines indicated that further smoke incursions into the Northeast are possible, as fires continue to burn in Canada.
Chad‘s Air Quality Monitoring Network Improves, Placing it Second Globally for Pollution. The African nation of Chad was included in a recent report for the first time, a growth attributed to enhancements in its air quality monitoring infrastructure. According to IQAir,the country experienced the second-highest levels of air pollution worldwide last year,surpassed only by Bangladesh.
Tarik benmarhnia, a climate change epidemiologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography with expertise in the health effects of wildfire smoke, highlighted a potential limitation of such reports: an over-reliance on monitoring stations can create blind spots.
“I think it is great that they relied on different networks and not only governmental sources,” Benmarhnia, who was not involved in the report, told CNN. “though, many regions do not have enough stations and option techniques exist.”
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its 2021 report, concluded that reducing fossil fuel consumption would not only help slow global warming but also yield the additional benefit of improving air quality and public health.
Hammes stated that the IQAir report provides further impetus for the global community to transition away from fossil fuels.
“We’ve got the report, we can read it, we can internalize it and really devote ourselves to taking action,” she said. “Ther needs to be a major move towards renewable energy. We need to take drastic action to reverse the tide of global warming; otherwise, the impact and the train that we’re on (would be) irreversible.”
Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on the key facts:
Main Event: A wildfire, identified as the “Dragon Bravo Fire,” has caused meaningful damage at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
key Impacts:
Grand Canyon Lodge destroyed: The historic Grand Canyon Lodge, a significant landmark offering panoramic views, has been completely destroyed by the fire. The lodge, originally built in 1937 after a previous fire, comprised a main building, deluxe cabins, and regular cabins.
North Rim Closure: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon will remain closed for the rest of the season (May 15 to October 15) due to the fire.
Evacuations: Staff and hikers were evacuated from the North Rim before the fire intensified, and no injuries or deaths were reported.
South Rim Advisory: Visitors to the more popular South Rim are advised to stay updated on potential air quality alerts.
Fire Management:
The National Park Service is employing an “aggressive full suppression strategy” to manage the fire,which is described as “still very active.”
Political Reaction:
Arizona Governor’s Concerns: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has called for a “comprehensive and independent investigation” into the federal government’s handling of the fire. She expressed concern that the fire was managed as a “controlled burn” during the driest and hottest part of the Arizona summer, leading to the devastating outcome.
Representative’s Statement: Rep. Greg Stanton (D-arizona) described the lodge’s destruction as “heartbreaking news.”
Other Details:
The text mentions a “chlorine leak” in the first sentence, but it’s unclear from the provided snippet how this relates to the wildfire.It might be a separate, unrelated incident mentioned in a preceding paragraph.
* The fire was reportedly started by a lightning strike.
In essence, the grand Canyon’s North Rim has suffered a major blow with the destruction of its historic lodge due to a wildfire, leading to its closure and prompting calls for an investigation into the fire’s management.
The provided text discusses several wildfires, with a focus on a wildfire that impacted a lodge at the Grand Canyon. Here’s a breakdown of the key data:
Cause: The text doesn’t explicitly state the cause of the lodge fire,but it mentions that an original lodge burned down from a kitchen fire in 1932.
Impact: The lodge was destroyed, and guests and employees were safely evacuated.
Historical Importance: The lodge was a historic structure, with the current one being a redesign using original stonework after a 1932 fire. It housed valuable archives and a famous bronze statue of “Brighty the Burro.”
Emotional Impact: Visitors expressed sadness and a sense of loss,with one visitor hoping their grandchildren would have something as majestic to see in the future.
White Sage Fire (North of Grand Canyon):
Progress: Officials reported progress in battling this wildfire.
Impact: It forced evacuations at the North Rim and in Jacob Lake.
Size: By Sunday afternoon, it had charred 63 square miles (162 square kilometers).
Fire Behavior: Fire lines were holding on the southern edge, but the fire was spreading rapidly to the east and north due to grasses and standing dead trees, pushing downhill towards the Vermilion cliffs.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: A wildfire closed this national park.
Cause: Started by lightning on Thursday. Size: Burned 5.6 square miles (14.5 square kilometers).
Impact: Forced evacuations of homes near the park.
Declaration: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster declaration due to this and other fires.
Colorado-Utah Border Fire:
Cause: Also started by lightning on Thursday.
Size: Burned around 14 square miles (36.3 square kilometers).
Correction:
* The story was updated to correct the spelling of a superintendent’s last name from Keable to Keeble.