Suppression costs for the 26,500-acre Pipeline Fire north of Flagstaff are nearing $11 million. The wildfire that ignited more than a week ago has involved heavy use of aircraft and more than a thousand personnel.
As of Monday evening, the Pipeline Fire’s price tag had reached more than $10.7 million. Officials say aviation resources like helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that drop water and fire retardant so far have accounted for about a quarter of those costs, which are bound to continue rising.
Meanwhile, the nearby Haywire Fire has racked up more than $660,000. At the height of both wildfires last weekend, more than 1,100 personnel were assigned, including 14 hotshot crews, with most battling the Pipeline Fire. Officials say as fire activity winds down and containment increases many firefighters are being reassigned.
To date, April’s 19,000-acre Tunnel Fire near Flagstaff has cost more than $4 million.
Wildfire suppression costs have risen dramatically in recent decades. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, over the last five years more than $2.3 billion on average has been spent annually on fire response nationwide.
In the coming days, a burned area emergency response team that includes hydrologists to examine possible flooding impacts, will begin assessing the severity of the Pipeline Fire and prescribe recovery efforts.
