Friday, June 19, 2020
Fire crews enjoyed calmer winds yesterday, which allowed for more air support and time to bolster fire lines around threatened communities. Despite this, the Bighorn Fire grew a few more thousand acres, mainly to the north and east of Mt. Lemmon.
"The big story for yesterday was the stark difference weather-wise from the day before, and how it cooperated with us," said fire operations section chief Travis Mayberry. "Without those winds, the ground crews were able to get a lot of good work done."
The Bighorn fire is still 40 percent contained, and more than 900 personnel are working on it. According to Mayberry, crews today will be working on creating fire buffers around Summerhaven and other Mt. Lemmon structures. However, residents should expect to continue to see fire and smoke moving south down the mountains toward Tucson. Fire crews are expecting this. Oracle residents should expect to see a lot of smoke this evening.
The areas of Mt. Lemmon, Summhaven, Soldier Camp, Willow Canyon, and Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road in the Oracle are still under an evacuation order.
“We’re making sure we’re ready on the north end, making sure no fire moves into the communities there,” Mayberry said.
The Catalina Foothills and areas of Oro Valley east of Oracle Road and north of Magee have been downgraded from "set" to "ready" to evacuate under the state's Ready, Set, Go system.
Tags: bighorn , fire , wildfire , summerhaven , mountain , lemmon , canyon , Image
Pima County had 5,019 of the state's 46,689 confirmed cases. That's up almost 10,000 from Monday's total of 36,705 cases.
A total of 1,312 people have died after contracting the virus, including 240 in Pima County.
Maricopa County has more than half the state's cases, with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases hitting 25,999.
Because symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (while some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials continue to urge the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people, especially if you have underlying health conditions, and have advised people to cover their faces with masks in public.
Arizona hospitals continue to see a steady rise in the number of people hospitalized with COVID symptoms, as well as more people visiting emergency rooms. This morning's Arizona Department of Health Services report shows that as of yesterday, a record 1,832 Arizonans were hospitalized, a jump of 823 people from the 1,009 hospitalized on June 1.
964 arrived at emergency rooms with COVID-like symptoms on June 18. Previous to June, the number of people seeking help in emergency rooms never topped 667, but the daily number hasn't dipped below 800 since June 5.
The number of patients in ICU beds hit a small drop to 519 yesterday.
At a press conference this week, Gov. Doug Ducey conceded that Arizona's soaring numbers were trending in the wrong direction.
"There is an indication that we are not out of the woods yet," Ducey said,
Ducey, who wore a mask for the first time before beginning his press briefing, said he would allow cities and counties to set their own policies in regard to mandating the wearing of masks.
While he had previously blocked local jurisdictions from setting standards more strict than the state's emergency regulations, Ducey said different areas of the state were facing different circumstances, so he was relaxing his emergency regulations that limited the actions of local communities. He said it would be up to local communities to set up rules and penalties.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero wasted little time in taking advantage of Ducey's relaxed standard. She issued a proclamation yesterday requiring the wearing of masks for everyone older than 2 years old when out in public when physical distancing is difficult beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 19. Violators could face a civil infraction.
“We saw numbers spiking related to the reopening of businesses in the state of Arizona,” Romero said yesterday. “Just Tuesday we saw one of the biggest spikes of cases throughout the state.”
Thursday, June 18, 2020
- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona jumped over 43,000 as of Thursday, June 18, after the state reported a record number of 2,519 new cases this morning, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
- Three months ago, Gov. Doug Ducey signed Executive Order 2020-14 which intended to halt residential evictions due to hardships related to COVID-19.
- The Small Business Administration and the Department of the Treasury are making it easier for business owners to apply for Paycheck Protection Program's loan forgiveness by culling down the application process.
- Today the United States Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision that blocked the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program.
- Mayor Regina Romero issued a proclamation during Thursday’s press conference requiring COVID-19 masks to be worn in public settings by all Tucsonans age two and up when physical distancing is difficult or they could potentially face a civil infraction.
- The Bighorn Fire made a large run Wednesday night, burning more than 10,000 additional acres throughout the western flanks of Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Mountains.
- As the Bighorn Fire continues to burn across the Santa Catalina Mountains, residents in two new areas have been warned to evacuate.
- What does it feel like to have the fires approach you? Find out in this timelapse video from Mt. Lemmon.
Violators could potentially face a civil infraction.
“We saw numbers spiking related to the reopening of businesses in the state of Arizona,” Romero said today. “Just Tuesday we saw one of the biggest spikes of cases throughout the state.”
The proclamation defines a facemask as "a covering made of cloth, fabric, or other soft or permeable material that covers the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face". Acceptable facemasks can be factory-made, handmade, a bandana, scarf, or any face-covering that shields the nose and mouth areas, according to the proclamation.
The new guidance carries a $50 fine or five hours of community service for those who exhibit a “blatant disregard” for public health and safety, according to Romero. The city will take an educational approach in enforcement, reserving civil infractions for repeat offenders, Romero said.
“We’re going to have an educational approach to the requirement. If there is a blatant disregard for the public health of others, then we will, if absolutely necessary, a civil infraction of $50 or five hours of community service,” Romero said. “This is something we’re asking of everyone to practice social responsibility, practice caring for themselves and others, and it will take all of us to accomplish.”
Today the United States Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision that blocked the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program.
DACA allows undocumented young adults who came to the United States as children to apply for protection from deportation on a renewable two-year basis. It also gives them the ability to work legally in the U.S. and gain access to health insurance and driver’s licenses. The program was initiated by the Obama administration in 2012.
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump administration’s plans to end DACA in March 2018. He said the program is “unconstitutional” and would be blocked by the courts if it were to continue.
Around this time last year, the Supreme Court announced they would review three cases that argued the decision to rescind DACA violated the rights of DACA recipients and the Administrative Procedure Act. The challengers (which include states, cities, universities, DACA recipients, civil rights groups, and more) believe that the Trump administration did not provide sufficient reasoning for the action and veiled the decision behind the courts instead.
Tags: DACA , Supreme Court , Trump , Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project , Grijalva , O'Halleran , Sinema , Robbins , Image
Three months ago, Gov. Doug Ducey signed Executive Order 2020-14 which intended to halt residential evictions due to hardships related to COVID-19.
Tenants are protected from eviction if they are in quarantine due to a positive diagnosis or related symptoms; if someone in their home has a diagnosis or related symptoms; or if they have a health condition that puts them at increased risk. Additionally, if a tenant has suffered a substantial loss of income due to COVID-19 (such as a job loss, pay cut or an reduction in pay or an obligation to stay home from work to care for children or “other pertinent circumstances") they are protected by the executive order.
But the rules are not being uniformly enforced across Pima County, according to a June 15 memo from County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, who recommended that the Pima County Attorney's Office and the Arizona Office of the Courts investigate some questionable actions in recent evictions. He suggested the Constables Ethics and Training Board become involved as well.
Some Pima County constables (the elected officials who enforce eviction orders) are taking a “proactive approach” to COVID-19 evictions while others are not, Huckelberry said. Some constables won't enforce eviction orders if a tenant can provide proof of COVID-19-related hardships, while others will evict no matter what. This leaves tenants susceptible to unequal treatment, determined solely by which constable is assigned to their case.
Since June 1, all eviction proceedings in Pima County Justice Court have been conducted by telephone or video meetings in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Justices of the Peace Charlene Pesquiera and Adam Watters told Huckelberry that evictions in April and May were down by hundreds compared to the same time in 2019 and 2018.
But Arnold Palacios and Marcos Ysmael with Pima County Community Services reported that in the first three weeks of June, 783 eviction cases have been scheduled for hearings—an average of 52 cases per day. During a normal period, constables say between 10 and 30 cases are heard each day.
With an elevated number of evictions happening during the COVID-19 pandemic, Palacios and Ysmael reported that the switch to telephonic and video meetings instead of in-person court hearings has caused complications for defendants who want to participate in their eviction hearings.
“Obviously, individuals who are in the process of being evicted may not have the best access to this electronic information to effectively participate in the eviction hearing,” Huckelberry wrote in his memo. “They often do not even have access to a phone or know where and who to call.”
Tags: Eviction , Pima County , Govenor Doug Ducey , Executve Order 2020-14 , Chuck Huckelberry , Constable , Justice Court , COVID19 , Coronavirus , Image
If you want to get a sense of what it was to be near the Bighorn Fire yesterday, watch this terrifying video from the Mount Lemmon Fire Department.
The Bighorn Fire made a large run Wednesday night, burning more than 10,000 additional acres throughout the western flanks of Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Mountains. The fire had burned an estimated 31,000 acres and is 40 percent contained, according to a morning press briefing.
The fire burned an estimated 13,616 acres yesterday, which was easily the most devastating day yet. The second most destructive day so far was Friday, June 12, at 3,762 acres.
Fire crews were successful in pushing the fire around and away from Summerhaven. The town and surrounding structures, including the Mount Lemmon Sky Center and the Mount Lemmon Fire Department headquarters, remained unharmed. However, the fire remains active to the south and west of the Mount Lemmon community. Fire operations section chief Travis Mayberry says fire crews are "very concerned" about the fire moving back toward the community.
"It all played out to be a very challenging day for the folks up on the hill," Mayberry said. "The fire was extremely active, it got established in Romero Canyon just to the west of the observatory and made a pretty significant push to the northeast, wrapping around the community of Summerhaven.”
Last night was intensified by strong winds, which not only fanned the flames, but grounded some air support. However, Mayberry says that although there is some wind today, air support should be fine.
More than 800 personnel are working on the Bighorn Fire, and 400 firefighters worked on the ground to protect Summerhaven last night.
The fire crews plan to work today within the old Aspen Fire line if the Bighorn makes a push toward Oracle. The community of SaddleBrooke should expect to see smoke off the western edges of the Catalinas. The fire is still present in Ventana Canyon.
The areas of Summerhaven and Mount Lemmon remain under an evacuation order. The Catalina Foothills and the community of Catalina remain on the "Be Ready" to evacuate order.
Pima County had 4,682 of the state's 43,443 confirmed cases.
That's more than double the 20,123 confirmed cases the state had on June 1.
A total of 1,271 people have died after contracting the virus, including 235 in Pima County.
Maricopa County has more than half the state's cases, with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases hitting 23,880.
Because symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (while some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials continue to urge the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people, especially if you have underlying health conditions, and have advised people to cover their faces with masks in public.
Although Gov. Doug Ducey told Arizonans that the state was "clearly on the other side of this pandemic" when he lifted his stay-at-home order on in mid-May, Arizona hospitals continue to see a steady rise in the number of people hospitalized with COVID symptoms, as well as more people visiting emergency rooms. This morning's Arizona Department of Health Services report shows that as of yesterday, a record 1,667 Arizonans were hospitalized, a jump of 658 people from the 1,009 hospitalized on June 1. A record number of 1,109 arrived at emergency rooms with COVID-like symptoms on June 17. Previous to June, the number of people seeking help in emergency rooms never topped 667, but the daily number hasn't dipped below 800 since June 5. The number of patients in ICU beds hit another record of 540 yesterday.
At a press conference yesterday, Ducey clarified that when he said the state was "clearly on the other side of this pandemic," he meant that the state had a lot more information about how the virus behaves, not that the COVID-19 outbreak had peaked. He also said he could now see a trend in the rising cases; at a press conference two weeks ago, he said the rising cases were data but he couldn't see a trend.
"There is an indication that we are not out of the woods yet," Ducey said.
Ducey, who wore a mask before beginning the press conference for the first time, said he would allow cities and counties to set their own policies in regard to mandating the wearing of masks. While he had previously blocked local jurisdictions from setting standards more strict than the state's emergency regulations, Ducey said different areas of the state were facing different circumstances, so he was relaxing his emergency regulations that limited the actions of local communities. He said it would be up to local communities to set up rules and penalties.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
After Gov. Doug Ducey announced this afternoon that he would give local jurisdictions the power to mandate masks, Board Chairman Ramon Valadez called for the 3 p.m. meeting.
The ordinance, which is still being drafted, would apply countywide, including within all jurisdictions, Valadez said.
Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson said she was in favor of mandating masks.
Ducey, who wore a mask before beginning the press conference for the first time, said different areas of the state were facing different circumstances, so he was relaxing his emergency regulations that limited the actions of local communities. He said it would be up to local communities to set up rules and penalties.
Earlier today, Romero said she had asked City Attorney Michael Rankin to develop a legal strategy to require masks.
Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik, who last week called on Ducey to allow local communities to set their own standards, called Ducey's announcement a "half-step."
"The fact that we can do masks is fine," Kozachik said. "We ought to be able to do more."
Kozachik had earlier today called for the city to return to the emergency proclamation issued by Romero in March that limited restaurants to curbside service and closed bars, gyms, theaters and other gathering places. Kozachik said he believed the city's charter gave the council that authority, although he said he expected it would be challenged by Republican state lawmakers.
Ducey, who had not emphasized the wearing of face masks before last week, recommended that people should “act responsibly” and wear the masks when out in public.
“Every Arizonan should wear a face mask,” Ducey said. “It’s the smart thing to do.”
Ducey also said his administration would be providing more guidance to businesses to prevent large gatherings.
Ducey's action comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Arizona soared to nearly 41,000 as of today after the state reported 1,827 new cases reported this morning.
Pima County had 4,385 of the state's 40,924 confirmed cases, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That's more than double the 20,123 confirmed cases the state had on June 1.
A total of 1,239 people have died after contracting the virus, including 229 in Pima County.
Maricopa County has more than half the state's cases, with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases hitting 22,272.
