Apache Lake

The Bush Fire remains 98% contained. Interior burning activity and smoke may be present until the fire area receives widespread moisture from monsoons. The Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team is working with the Tonto National Forest to transition management to the forest on July 2, 2020.

The Bush Fire remains 98% contained. Through the high winds yesterday the containment lines remained secure. Frequent ash whirls that looked like smoke were visible within the fire area; minimal smoke on the interior was observed. Interior burning activity and smoke may be present until the fire area receives widespread moisture from monsoons. The Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team is working with the Tonto National Forest to transition management to the forest in the coming days.

The Bush Fire remains 98% contained. A Red Flag Warning is again in effect over the fire area today bringing high and gusty winds with low relative humidity. Through the high winds yesterday the containment lines remained secure and minimal fire activity on the interior was observed. Interior burning activity and smoke may be present until the fire area receives widespread moisture from monsoons. Until then resources will continue to monitor and patrol the fire’s perimeter.

The Bush Fire remains 98% contained and acreage is 193,455. [The change in acreage is due to a mapping adjustment to the fire perimeter made during the evaluation of containment.] A Red Flag Warning is in effect over the fire area today and tomorrow bringing high and gusty winds with low relative humidity.

The Bush Fire remains 90% contained. Critical fire weather is expected in the fire area bringing high gusty winds and dry conditions through the weekend. These conditions have the potential to increase the amount of smoke and fire activity seen from the interior. Firefighters continue to monitor several large pockets of unburned vegetation. Interior burning activity and smoke will be common until the fire area receives widespread moisture from monsoons. Until then resources will continue to monitor and patrol the fire’s perimeter.

State Route 87 has reopened in both directions between Payson and the Valley after an extended closure prompted by the Bush Fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. 

One northbound lane of SR 87 remains closed between mileposts 223 and 236, near the junction with State Route 188, for use by firefighters and for repairs. Please budget extra time and drive with patience. 

SR 188 also has reopened, as has State Route 88 between Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake. The long-term closure of SR 88 from east of Tortilla Flat to Apache Lake remains in effect. 

The northwest portion of the Bush Fire remains the most active. Firefighters are continuing to work along the SR87, strengthening fireline to secure the area. They are also continuing efforts to help protect the Sunflower area.

There will be an online Bush Fire community meeting tonight at 6 pm tonight on Fb.com/bushfireinfo. An American Sign Language interpreter and captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up.

Residents of Sunflower have been told to evacuate and are now in “go” status, and visitors and residents at Apache Lake were asked to leave the area Tuesday afternoon.  Residents of Jakes Corner remain in “set” Status.