Gila County

Evacuation status for El Capitan East and West and Six Shooter and Icehouse Canyons have changed from “SET” to “READY.”

Favorable weather conditions resulted in minimal fire growth Monday. Many resources were focused on the southeast corner of the fire on Mescal Mountain where the fire remains active. Helicopters were used to check the fire as it spread southeast into lighter grass and sparse brush.

Firefighters were challenged by high winds from the west/northwest Sunday.  Most of our resources were focused on the southeast corner of the fire where crews continued to prep along the State Route 77 corridor and around the Dripping Springs and Cooley Ranch communities.  Helicopters were used to check the fire’s spread as it backs off the Mescal Mountains into lighter grasses and sparse brush to the southeast.

Overnight fire activity along the western flank of the fire was visible from Camp Verde. Firefighters continued to monitor the fire progression around the both the western and eastern flanks of the fire and continued to prepare containment features to support today’s operations. Today firefighters and heavy equipment will reinforce control features to the south and west of Strawberry and Pine; and prep for future burnout operations as necessary to strengthen holding features and protect the communities and values at risk.

The Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Alan Sinclair, assumed command of the Backbone Fire, this morning, Saturday, June 19, 2021. Firefighters are fully suppressing the Backbone Fire to protect nearby communities and values at risk in the area.
 

Overnight, firefighters successfully used existing road systems to keep the fire from impacting Government Springs Ranch. Crews continued to monitor the fire backing down in pine stands on Pinal Peak. Firefighters maintained a presence in El Capitan, and the communities along Dripping Springs Road.  

Today, residents of El Capitan returned to their homes this morning and are now on “Set” evacuation status. Firefighters will mop-up and patrol in this area over the next several days. Crews worked with helicopters to suppress an unburned pocket of brush that flared up north of Government Springs. They also patrolled the SR 77, SR 177, and Dripping Springs Road corridors to protect values at risk and take suppression action where necessary.

FOR CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION, residents are advised to monitor Facebook pages for Pinal County Sheriff’s   Office: https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO,  Gila County Health and Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/gilacohealthem , and San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission: San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission - Home | Facebook.  

FOR CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION, residents are advised to monitor Facebook pages for Pinal County Sheriff’s  Office: https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO,  Gila County Health and Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/gilacohealthem , and San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission: San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission - Home | Facebook.  

FOR CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION, residents are advised to monitor Facebook pages for Pinal County Sheriff’s   Office: https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO,  Gila County Health and Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/gilacohealthem , and San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission: San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission - Home | Facebook.  

FOR CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION, residents are advised to monitor Facebook pages for Pinal County Sheriff’s   Office: https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO,  Gila County Health and Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/gilacohealthem , and San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission: San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission - Home | Facebook.