Firefighters make progress on Boulder View Fire amid evacuations and command transition

6/29/2024 - 9:06 am

Highlights: The Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the Boulder View Fire from Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Tonto National Forest at 6 p.m. Friday.

Summary: Yesterday, the Boulder View Fire was active throughout the day. Firefighters made progress on the north end of the fire that spread across Bartlett Lake Road. Handcrews and engines worked to stop fire spread in that area. The western perimeter of the fire largely follows the north-south Powerline Road and crews made improvements to use the road as a holding feature. The eastern side of the fire burned into the Wildcat Fire burn area. Vegetation is regrowing in the Wildcat Fire area which could contribute to reburn in that area. Fire crews are working to suppress the southwest corner of the fire area utilizing engines and UTVs. Airtankers and helicopters were used along the south edge of the fire to improve a two-track road for use as a holding feature. In the early morning hours of Friday, 60 residences north of Dove Valley Road and east of 136 th St were put into GO, evacuate status.

Firefighters proactively burned vegetation around these houses to protect them from approaching flames. Air resources and ground crews worked together throughout the day Friday on the southeast edge of the fire which had the most fire activity.

Crews continued working in that area overnight and this morning, improving retardant lines.
Today, crews will focus on improving firelines and continue structure protection efforts. Crews will especially focus on the southeast part of the fire due to residences at risk and wind direction.

Bartlett Lake recreation areas are inaccessible due to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office closing Bartlett Dam Road at Cave Creek Road.

There is no entry for recreation currently.

To get the most up-to-date information and news about the Tonto, follow them on X @TontoForest and Facebook @TontoNationalForest. 

Weather: Yesterday, the high temperature over the fire area was 100 degrees, with unseasonably high humidity of 26-31%. Wind gusts were 15-20 mph. Even with high humidity, fire activity was moderate to extreme.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Please avoid the area while crews conduct fire suppression operations. The public is urged to sign up for the Maricopa County Emergency Notification System. The system allows you to be quickly notified of emergency evacuations. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information

Network visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go. Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly…we can’t.

Incident Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aza4s-boulder-view-fire
Twitter: @azstateforestry: https://twitter.com/azstateforestry
Facebook: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management: https://www.facebook.com/arizonaforestry
Media/Public Phone: 480-581-1094
Ready, Set, Go: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Keywords: 
Boulder View Fire, extreme fire behavior, 20 to 40-foot flame lengths, public safety, firefighters, evacuation, pre-evacuation, Red Cross shelter, Cactus Shadows High School, Scottsdale, AZ, 60 residences impacted, structure protection, firing operations, road systems, Wildcat Fire burn scar, potential reburn, aircraft, Very Large Air Tanker, ground crews, infrastructure threat, high voltage power lines, Scottsdale Preserve, Sonoran Desert, containment line, hand crews, Powerline Road, heavy fuel, hot and dry conditions, wind gusts, 15 mph, Bartlett Lake, road closure, Bartlett Dam, Cave Creek Roads, no recreation entry, additional resources, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Tonto National Forest, 4.5 miles east of Carefree, Boulder Heights subdivision, human-caused, under investigation
Source: 
Department of Forestry and Fire Management