Prescott

Fire Managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to take advantage of the moisture received over the last few weeks and burn debris piles near Camp Wood and Connell Mountain located northwest of Prescott on the Chino Valley Ranger District.  Ignitions are planned to start on Saturday, August 19, 2023, and will continue as conditions remain favorable.  Smoke impacts are expected to be light in the vicinity of Yolo Ranch area, Camp Wood Road (County Road 68) and Forest Service Road 9.  As nighttime temperatures cool smoke can linger in drainages and valleys.

The Prescott National Forest (PNF) is taking command of the Grapevine fire as of 7:00 am, Friday August 4, 2023, from the Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team (CWZT3).  The CWZT3 provided command for the resources deployed from all around the state for 13 days while coordinating with county, city and various other agencies including volunteers. The CWZT3 met all objectives the PNF outlined to provide safety to fire personnel and the public while suppressing the Grapevine Fire.

Masticators (heavy equipment) and fire crews working along the FR132 have completed their task of building control lines. Ongoing efforts to construct the lines up the FR9002W north of Whitehorse community continues. All lines have been completed on the east side of the fire meeting the objectives set early in the fire response. There will be fire crews remaining in the fire area to maintain a presence and patrol for fire activity.

Monsoon storms yesterday (Tuesday, August 1) required fire crews to take protective actions to stay safe by disengaging from suppression activities. Priority is being placed to complete needed action to turn the fire over to the Prescott National Forest. Fire Crews are continuing the process of constructing control lines and suppression repair around the fire area. These actions include mitigation of infrastructure, roads, bar ditches and any damage to the surrounding areas effected by fire suppression activities.

Great news, the fire area received up to a ¼ inch of rain and some parts of Mingus Mountain received 2 inches. Fire crews completed protection of Mingus Mountain Academy. Additional control lines are being constructed just north of the Whitehorse community along FR9002W using a combination of hand tools, heavy equipment. Heavy equipment and crews are still working on a protective line along FR132 and improving existing lines along the east side of the fire.

The Racetrack Fire is predicted to be 100% contained tonight at 6:00 pm with a secure perimeter.  Although there is no threat of fire spread or potential growth; firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor containment lines by ground and air. 

Weather: Today, monsoon storms are expected to develop in the afternoon with a high likelihood of wetting rains occurring in the incident area.  Temperatures will be slightly cooler in the upper 80s to mid-90s.

Fire crews are helped by the current weather lessening the ignitability of light fuels while the heavy fuels are still showing heat in the interior of the fire area. Continued efforts by fire personnel on the ground are being focused on the structures being threatened if the fire were to breach the existing control lines. Dozer lines have been established along the northern edge of the Whitehorse community while lines have been constructed along the northwestern side; heavy equipment is being deployed along the northeastern areas along with Hot Shot Crews.

Fire crews will be continuing the process of monitoring the western side of the fire while holding and improving existing control lines with fire equipment, ncluding dozers and helicopters, to protect the repopulated communities.

Fire crews will be continuing the process of monitoring the western side of the fire while holding and improving existing control lines. Additional personnel and fire equipment, including dozers and helicopters, have been brought in to assist crews already doing work on the fire.

Today (Wednesday, July 26, 2023), firefighters will continue to monitor the fire along the western perimeter control lines. Crews continue hand pre that includes removing of vegetation and exposing bare ground along Forest Road 132 and the perimeter of the 4H Camp. Construction of containment features utilizing ground resources and heavy equipment; scout the eastern side of the fire for potential control lines with highest probability of success to contain the fire.