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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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St. Michaels declares emergency as Oak Ridge Fire threatens homes, powerlines

St. Michaels declares emergency as Oak Ridge Fire threatens homes, powerlines

ST. MICHAELS

Fire crews continued battling the fast-moving Oak Ridge Fire near St. Michaels on Saturday, as local, tribal, and federal emergency agencies coordinated efforts to protect homes, livestock, and infrastructure from a blaze that has scorched more than 200 acres of wooded terrain.

The fire, threatening residential areas and power infrastructure, prompted the St. Michaels Chapter to declare a local state of emergency. Chapter officials began disbursing funds to support evacuated families and animals, while volunteers delivered water and supplies to the Fighting Scouts Bee Hółdzil Events Center in Fort Defiance, which is serving as an evacuation site.

Council Delegate Brenda Jesus, who represents the area, said the situation remained volatile but praised the rapid mobilization of personnel and community support.

“Our people are coming together in a real time of need,” Jesus said. “There’s livestock being moved, families seeking shelter, and a tremendous effort underway to keep people safe.”

Four fixed-wing aircraft flew in coordinated lines over the burn area, dropping bright red fire retardant to create containment lines. A command post was temporarily established at the Navajo Division of Transportation in Sawmill, Arizona, and multiple agencies – including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Apache County, the Navajo Department of Emergency Management, and the Navajo Forestry Department – worked to prevent further spread.

Jesus said she had urged forestry officials to consider implementing additional fire restrictions, noting that residents in the path of the fire had been raising concerns for weeks.

“I’ve been telling the Navajo Forestry Department for the past two weeks we need a status report. We need to tell our people to be ready,” she said. “Today I spoke with Forestry, and they’re going to coordinate with BIA Forestry. I requested a Stage 2 Fire Restriction because of what’s happening now.”

While no mandatory evacuation had been issued, families west of Route 12 were advised to voluntarily relocate as a precaution. Some homes near the fire zone were already empty by Friday afternoon. The Department of Agriculture activated the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds for livestock sheltering, filling water troughs, and preparing hay deliveries to support relocated animals.

Jesus said the community is still working to determine how many residents had been directly impacted but estimated roughly 50 families could be at risk depending on wind and fire activity. Despite the uncertainty, she emphasized that emergency teams were acting quickly.

The chapter is currently issuing checks to support residents, purchasing hay, delivering water, and taking every possible action to assist the community.

“Checks that are being issued by chapter officials are not for community members, but to only buy hay for livestock and food for firefighters and other first responders and volunteers,” Jesus said.

As firefighting and relief efforts continued into the evening, officials also warned residents to stay clear of roadways and avoid stopping near the fire to take photos or videos. According to chapter leaders, a collision occurred earlier in the day near Denny’s in St. Michaels, where several vehicles had pulled over to watch the smoke rising in the distance.

Jesus said her own home was just beyond the turnoff where the fire had started but confirmed it had not been damaged.

“My home is safe,” she said. “But it’s in the woods, and it was right near the fire line. So I know exactly how serious this is.”

No injuries had been reported as of Friday evening. The fire remained active, and containment of the fire remains unknown.

Published June 28, 2025     Updated June 29, 2025
A correction was made on June 29, 2025: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that checks are being written to help individuals directly. The checks are being used to purchase hay for livestock and food for firefighters, volunteers, and first responders.


About The Author

Donovan Quintero

"Dii, Diné bi Naaltsoos wolyéhíígíí, ninaaltsoos át'é. Nihi cheii dóó nihi másání ádaaní: Nihi Diné Bizaad bił ninhi't'eelyá áádóó t'áá háadida nihizaad nihił ch'aawóle'lágo. Nihi bee haz'áanii at'é, nihisin at'é, nihi hózhǫ́ǫ́jí at'é, nihi 'ach'ą́ą́h naagééh at'é. Dilkǫǫho saad bee yájíłti', k'ídahoneezláo saad bee yájíłti', ą́ą́ chánahgo saad bee yájíłti', diits'a'go saad bee yájíłti', nabik'íyájíłti' baa yájíłti', bich'į' yájíłti', hach'į' yándaałti', diné k'ehgo bik'izhdiitįįh. This is the belief I do my best to follow when I am writing Diné-related stories and photographing our events, games and news. Ahxéhee', shik'éí dóó shidine'é." - Donovan Quintero, an award-winning Diné journalist, served as a photographer, reporter and as assistant editor of the Navajo Times until March 17, 2023.

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