Locals report 'fireball' over northern Arizona skies

© NWS Flagstaff

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff said it has had several reports of a meteor streaking across the northern Arizona skies Saturday morning. The incident occurred between 8:55 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Meteorologist Mark Stubblefield with the National Weather Service said the fact that it was visible during the daytime indicates it was quite bright as it entered the atmosphere and was burning up over parts of Arizona.

One person told the Weather Service the object "looked like a flare," Stubblefield said.

Stubblefield said there was some smoke visible for 10 to 15 minutes after the initial calls.

Witnesses in Holbrook saw the meteor to the northwest, and other reports had it north of Winslow.

There were no reports the object was seen in any state but Arizona.

Smoke from the fireball is visible near the top of the picture directly over Fremont Peak. http://ift.tt/Z2Cm9t

- NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) October 4, 2014

Maj. Beth Smith, a spokeswoman with the North American Aerospace Defense, said the command center "did not detect any anomalies" in northern Arizona.

U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska also reported no incidents in that area.

"I have received no reports that would indicate any event like that happening," said Col. Robert Cote, a battle watch commander.

Eric Fernandez said he and his friends Danny Mercado and Matt Llano were on a morning jog on Waterline Road on Mount Elden when they saw what Fernandez described as a "fireball."

"It was completely silent," he said.

The three friends soon started joking about being abducted by extraterrestrials.

"Honestly, we didn't think anything of it until we saw social media was blowing up about it," he said.