Elgin Bridge Fire

Today, firefighters focus their efforts on getting containment line around the northern and northeastern flanks, and the last remaining, unsecured section of the fire. Engine crews continue to patrol and monitor the fire, checking for any hotspots or interior smokes that still remain. As a few pockets of interior fuel continue to burn, some smoke may be visible to areas within the vicinity of the fire.

Firefighters continue working through the day and overnight doing hand line construction around the fire to keep it within its current footprint. Milder and favorable weather has been assisting in those suppression efforts and allowed firefighters to stop the fire’s forward progress Wednesday night. Five hand crews assigned have containment increased to 30% along the western flank of the fire, just east of the community of Elgin. Crews are also cold trailing the fire to ensure no heat remains along the fire line.

Nearly 200 personnel remain assigned to the Elgin Bridge Fire and continue working to establish containment line with a goal of 100% suppression. Fifteen percent of the fire is contained on the western flank near the community of Elgin, but the fire remains active at the head. The fire is still situated within the Mustang Mountain range, just south of State Route 82 and west of Babacomari Ranch Road. When safe, firefighters continue to go direct by utilizing firing operations to clear out unburned fuel ahead of the fire.

Fueled by winds and pockets of dry vegetation, the fire stayed active overnight. The fire made a push to the east, but firefighters were able to safely and directly engage it to keep it from coming off Mustang Mountain and toward high priority values at risk. One of today’s main objectives is to keep the fire from moving to the east near kilovolt (kV) lines that supply power to the communities of Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista. To meet those objectives, additional hand crews and aircraft have been ordered for Tuesday.