National Forest

The emergency closure area for the Crooks Fire has been reduced allowing for the opening of Upper Goldwater Lake and additional trails north of County Road 101, including portions of the Circle Trail and School House Gulch.  Trails in Groom Creek and Spruce Mountain remain closed for public safety.  All roads, trails and recreation sites including Upper and Lower Wolf Creek Campgrounds and Palace Station remain closed within the closure area. 

Critical fire weather entering the state may challenge firefighters over the next few days as conditions align for extreme fire danger. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for most of Arizona through Sunday night due to strong southwest winds and low relative humidity which can potentially intensify fire behavior and increase fire activity. Fuels remain critically dry and receptive to fire. Crews have been staged ahead of the incoming weather to provide for initial attack on new starts and to patrol the fire lines for any possible holding concerns.

Due to the hard work of the firefighters and after the red flag warning tested the fire line, evacuations were lifted in all areas except Lookout Mountain on Monday, May 2, 2022. The fire has not grown, and containment increased to 83%. Friendly reminder to all returning residents to please drive carefully, as there is still fire personnel and heavy equipment working in the fire area and on the roads. For the latest on re-population, please refer to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Facebook page. 

Red flag conditions tested containment lines Sunday on the fire with strong southwest winds and low relative humidity.  Blowing ash and dust were present with some interior pockets of fuels producing smoke.  The hard work of firefighters paid off as containment lines held during 44 mph wind gusts.  The fire area did not expand, and containment increased to 75%.