smoke

The Bush Fire is currently 61% contained. Firefighters have continued efforts to secure firefines to protect property. Limited fire activity is being observed. Firefighters continue to suppress hotspots within the fire’s perimeter as needed. Fire suppression repair work also continues. (Fire map)
 

Today’s priority will be structure protection and containment in the Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven, and Willow Canyon areas.  If conditions are favorable, low to moderate intensity firing operations may be conducted to consume unburned fuels in all areas including along the eastern flank.  Opportunities to deepen the line south of Oracle will be explored today.  Firing operations may produce more visible smoke later in the day.

Firefighters are working fully suppress the Central Fire as they can do so safely and effectively.  ​
Challenges include hot temperatures, a heavy load of grass, extremely dry fuels, and limited access ​
to remote areas. The fire is moving to the north-northeast through grass and shrubs on the New ​
River Mesa, away from structures.​

The northwest portion of the Bush Fire remains the most active. Firefighters are continuing to work along the SR87, strengthening fireline to secure the area. They are also continuing efforts to help protect the Sunflower area.

Tomorrow, June 23 at 6:00AM, Carl Schwope’s Type 2 Incident Management Team will transition management of the Bringham Fire to the White Mountain Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Matt Bullmore. The White Mountain Zone Team managed the Bringham Fire prior to the Type 2 Team’s arrival on June 13. The number of personnel assigned to the fire will continue to decrease due to successful firefighting efforts.

There will be an online Bush Fire community meeting tonight at 6 pm tonight on Fb.com/bushfireinfo. An American Sign Language interpreter and captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up.

Fire managers have increased the containment of the Bringham Fire from 5% to 20% to reflect the hard work done by firefighters along the southern end of the fire and portions of Highway 191. Firefighters continue to patrol the containment lines and keep a watchful eye out for any fire activity. Weather will become hotter and drier over the weekend and into next week, with increasing temperatures and no chance for precipitation. Today strong winds will continue to test the containment of the Bringham Fire with possible gusts up to 25 miles per hour.