Emergency Bulletins

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Southwest Complex hosts open house as Preacher Fire reaches 62% containment
9/16/2024 - 8:23 am
wildfire | smoke | Preacher Fire | West Fire | Tonto National Forest | no drone zone | Ready Set Go!

The Southwest Complex Incident Management Team will host a community Open House on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pine Community Center. 

Operations: Increased potential for rain may slow the fire today, but firefighters will continue to look for opportunities for ignitions. Yesterday, crews continued igniting on Milk Ranch Point. They added additional fire to the west of Bray Creek Ranch to create more depth in burned area from the perimeter before aerial ignitions began around the Arizona Trail. In Camp Geronimo, firefighters were able to apply fire just...

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Successful ignitions on West fire, containment increase and evacuation downgrade on Preacher fire
9/15/2024 - 10:32 am
wildfire | smoke | Preacher Fire | West Fire | Tonto National Forest | no drone zone | Ready Set Go!

West and Preacher Fires Update: September 15, 2024

Yesterday, firefighters were able to continue ignitions on the West Fire. Ignitions were successful from Bray Creek Ranch south to the Control Road. In the tops of the Webber drainages, helicopters and UAS worked with patience to slowly backfire down from the tops of the drainages, encouraging desired fire effects. For the safety of firefighters, power was turned off for part of the day around Camp Geronimo. This was done in preparation in case they needed to start ignitions around structures. Power was restored after it was...

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Continued successful ignition on West fire and containment on Preacher fire
9/14/2024 - 9:21 am
wildfire | smoke | Tonto National Forest | West Fire | Preacher Fire | no drone zone | Ready Set Go! | Southwest Area Incident Management Team

West Fire and Preacher Fire Update, September 14, 2024

Yesterday, firefighters successfully added fire in East Webber Creek and from the Rim Road down to Bray Creek Ranch. On the northwest side, firefighters aided by aerial ignitions from helicopters and uncrewed aircraft, added fire along the planned perimeter down to Milk Ranch Point. Late in the day fire continued to back down drainages above Camp Geronimo. Overnight, firefighters took advantage of higher humidities to continue igniting under conditions that moderated fire behavior. Today is expected to provide suitable weather...

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Firefighters continue to make progress on the West and Preacher Fires
9/13/2024 - 9:55 am
wildfire | smoke | West Fire | Preacher Fire | Tonto National Forest | Southwest Area Incident Management Team | Ready Set Go! | AZEIN | no drone zone

West and Preacher Fire Update, Friday, September 13, 2024

Operations: Firefighters anticipate beginning ignitions on the West Fire again today after holding multiple days through higher winds. With the previous ignitions providing a buffer of burned area on the northern and northeast side of the planned perimeter, the focus now is on igniting from the Rim Road south through Bray Creek as well as on the east side, adding another section of fire towards the southeast to around Milk Point Flat. The ignition strategy is to have fire continue to gently back down the...

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Evacuation orders issued as firefighters respond to Siphon Fire in Superstition Wilderness
9/12/2024 - 3:01 pm
wildfire | smoke | Siphon Fire | Tonto National Forest | Apache Junction | Superstition Wilderness | Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office | MCSO | Ready Set Go! | Arizona Emergency Information Network | AZEIN | no drone zone

Firefighters are responding to a wildfire, named the Siphon Fire, on the Tonto National Forest northeast of Apache Junction in the Superstition Wilderness.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCOSO) issued an evacuation order for Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat earlier this morning.

The Siphon Fire was first reported Sept. 10 and currently is estimated to be 2,350 acres with zero percent containment. Resources responding to the fire include one Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, one suppression module and 2 engines, along with a Type 1 Helicopter. More resources have been ordered. Due...

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