Southwest Incident Management Team 4

Firefighters continue rapid response to new fire starts

8/06/2024 - 9:45 am
wildfire, smoke, wildfire safety, Sand Stone fire, Deer Fire, Y Bar Fire, Round 3 Fire, Southwest Incident Management Team 4, Tonto National Forest, no drones, lightning caused fire, excessive heat warning

Crews conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight yesterday to assess the progress of all fires and look for any additional new starts. The Southwest Incident Management Team 4 continues to respond to the fires within their designated response area while also lending resources to the Tonto National Forest. The two Superscoopers that assisted on the Sand Stone Fire last week have returned from Idaho and Colorado to support the firefighting efforts. Firefighters will remain in place near Deer Creek and Rye to protect structures from the nearby Deer and Y Bar Fires.

Multiple new fire starts near the Sand Stone and Deer Fire areas

8/05/2024 - 10:45 am
wildfire, smoke, wildfire safety, Sand Stone fire, Deer Fire, Y Bar Fire, Round 3 Fire, Southwest Incident Management Team 4, Tonto National Forest, no drones, lightning caused fire, excessive heat warning

Due to record-breaking temperatures, outflow winds, and over 800 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, several new fires started near the Sand Stone and Deer Fire areas yesterday. The Southwest Incident Management Team 4 is responding to two new fire starts within their designated planning area. The Y Bar Fire is located approximately 5 miles east of the Deer Fire and initially estimated at 150 acres. The Round 3 Fire is located near Bushnell, east of State Route 87 and mapped at 33 acres. Firefighting resources have been dispatched to fully suppress these two new lightning-caused fires.