Forest Lakes

The Willow Fire, ignited by lightning on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Black Mesa Ranger District on July 28 when thunderstorms occupied the area, was reported on July 30.

The Willow Fire remains a Type 4 level and the Incident Commander is Daniel Ruebush. Firefighters successfully completed burnout operations over the weekend, utilizing existing road systems in the area, which included Forest Service Roads 62, 62B1, 62S7 and 62S. Firefighters are conducting mop-up and will continue to monitor the fire for any hot spots near the fire’s perimeter.

The Willow Fire, ignited by lightning on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Black Mesa Ranger District on July 28 when thunderstorms occupied the area, was reported on July 30. The fire is located within the 2007 Wilkins Fire footprint and is in a remote area where values at risk are minimal and no structures are threatened at this time. The type of fuel is timber, grass, and dead and down material.

Fire Information

The Willow Fire, ignited by lightning on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Black Mesa Ranger District on July 28 when thunderstorms occupied the area, was reported on July 30. The fire is located within the 2007 Wilkins Fire footprint and is in a remote area where values at risk are minimal and no structures are threatened at this time. The type of fuel is timber, grass, and dead and down material.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Black Mesa Ranger District (BMRD) plans to burn piles along the eastern boundary of the Slim Fire area from 2017.  The piles are along Forest Roads 170G, 172F, and 172C approximately 3 miles north of Forest Lakes.  This pile burn is a follow up to previous slash created from the Slim Fire. 

If conditions allow, the BMRD will also be burning piles within portions of the Fulton Timber Sale-Unit 4 along Forest Road 171. This pile burn will be implemented to reduce slash on the ground created by logging operations.

On October 14, the transition was made to a Type 4 fire due to decreased fire activity and minimal control issues.  The 33 Springs fire has had no additional growth over the last week.  Dozer lines and hand lines are complete around the perimeter of the fire, and crews will continue to patrol and monitor the area closely due to strong forecasted winds and some interior pockets of fuel still burning.  There are no smoke impacts anticipated for any of the surrounding or adjacent communities within the area.  This will be the final update for the 33 Springs fire as long as no significant chang

With strong southwest winds today the 33 Springs Fire crossed holding lines and is now a potential threat to nearby structures on the northern perimeter. For safety concerns, some campers along FS 56 road were evacuated and private land owners were given notice today. Fire crews plan to construct new control lines on the northern perimeter.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Black Mesa Ranger District plans to conduct a prescribed burn within the Little Springs Prescribed Burn area when weather conditions allow during the month of October and possibly November. This burn will be around the Forest Lakes area on the north side of Highway 260. The whole burn project will encompass about 1,900 acres. The project will be along Forest Roads 99, 99A, 237, and Highway 260.

Incident Overview

Location: Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Coconino County, Arizona 16-miles west of Heber, AZ and four miles north of Forest Lakes

Start Date: June 01, 2017       Size: Approximately 3282 acres
Cause: Lightning.                      Containment: 50%
                                              Assigned Personnel: 291

Location:

§ Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

§ Coconino County, Arizona

§ 16 miles west of Heber, AZ and 4 miles north of Forest Lakes

Start Date: June 02, 2017 Percent contained: 10%

Size: Approximately 2500 acres Personnel Assigned: 239

Cause: Lightning Growth Potential: Moderate

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer with litter and understory