smoke

A local Type 3 Team assumed command of the fire yesterday afternoon and will continue to secure fireline and repair dozer and hand line.  Yesterday, unburned fuels were ignited by aerial ignition inside the perimeter of the fire, contributing to smoke and ash in neighboring communities.  Crews are also backhauling equipment and fire supplies longer needed.  Excavators are working along the east edge of the fire near 646 Road to repair damage, use caution in this area. Fire and flames may be visible during nighttime hours away from the edges of the fire.

Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest are currently managing a lightning-caused wildfire that began Saturday in an area adjacent to Fort Tuthill, beginning burnout operations today which will produce significant and noticeable smoke southwest of Flagstaff.

West and Preacher Fires Update: September 24, 2024

Large scale ignitions are complete on the West Fire as the incident transitions to a local incident management organization. Today at 6 p.m., the Southwest Incident Management Team 3 will transfer command of the West and Preacher Fires to Type 3 Incident Commander Tadd Fagerud.

Fire managers on the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest are planning to conduct prescribed fires throughout October as conditions allow, starting with the Three Sisters project located just north of Williams, AZ.

Focus is all on the east side of Pine as firefighters look to add containment while burning fuels built up over many years. Yesterday on the West Fire, crews ignited down a hand line on the northwest corner of the perimeter. A helicopter established additional fire in the tops of the drainages above east Pine to encourage moderate fire behavior. Aerial resources also continued to assist crews igniting along the Control Road west of Geronimo Estates by reaching areas interior to the perimeter. Mop up, removal of dead trees and road repair continued across the rest of the fire area.

Firefighters look to complete their ignition plans on the West Fire over the next 48 hours. Yesterday, crews ignited down the Webber Road and worked towards the west on the Control Road. Ignitions continued along the Control Road north of Geronimo Estates. Overnight crews carefully worked to bring fire down the dozer line just east of Pine and southwest along the Control Road when relative humidities were higher. Firefighters also used chainsaws to remove dead trees around Camp Geronimo, making the camp safer for future public use.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area plans to conduct a prescribed fire on Monday, September 23, 2024, in the Katherine’s Landing and East Cottonwood areas. The fire treatment will cover approximately seven acres and is expected to last one day, with additional patrols and monitoring taking place for up to two days after ignition.

Ignitions are expected to continue today on the West Fire. Yesterday and overnight, crews continued to implement the plan to bring fire to the perimeter lines. On the west side of Milk Ranch Point, firefighters held the ignitions above Pine to wait for higher relative humidities. Aerial ignitions continued to west of Camp Geronimo and fire is now completely around Camp Geronimo. Additional aerial ignitions started near the Arizona Trail, down the Webber Road and north of the Control Road.

West and Preacher Fires Update: September 19, 2024

The West fire is now 39% contained. Containment was added across the northeast perimeter and across the east side of the fire to the Control Road. Yesterday firefighters continued ignitions on Milk Ranch Point and to the northwest of Camp Geronimo in the Turkey Springs area. Crews continued finalizing ignition plans for the Control Road and the control line east of Pine.

West and Preacher Fires Update: September 18, 2024

The West Fire continues to slowly back down the south and east slopes of Milk Ranch Point as firefighters work towards the final phase of their plan. Yesterday crews and aerial resources continued establishing fire off Milk Ranch Point to achieve desired fire effects and consumption of the buildup of fuels. They also continued mopping up the perimeters on the north and east side, extinguishing any remaining heat.