Author: Donovan Quintero

The Oak Ridge Fire has burned 10,814 acres southwest of Window Rock and remains 42% contained as of Sunday. Crews are bracing for extreme temperatures and critically dry fuels that threaten to spark new fires across the region.

Darlene, who only wanted to share her first name, evacuated with her grandchildren, two of whom have asthma, and several small pets, including rabbits and chihuahuas. After three nights at the Ganado Field House shelter, she said they were told to leave.

Whether the welcome rains made a difference or not, the fire was 6% contained and had burned 10,623 acres as of Thursday.

What started as a thin column of smoke rising from the high desert on a quiet Saturday afternoon has evolved into a full-scale wildfire that has scorched over 10,623 acres of land on the Navajo Nation, just four miles south of Arizona State Highway 264, west of Window Rock.