Tonto National Forest

The Horton Fire is now 100 percent contained and remains at approximately 3 acres. Today, firefighters are improving fire lines and conducting mop up operations.

USDA Forest Service firefighters responded at approximately 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning to the fire on the Payson Ranger District which was actively burning in timber on all sides. Gila County Fire Department and Sheriff’s office responded along with the Christopher-Kohl Fire Department.

Firefighters are responding to a wildfire on the Payson Ranger District.

The Horton Fire is burning on the Payson Ranger District. The fire is approximately 1.5 acres and is burning in Timber. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The Tonto Basin Ranger District will implement a public safety recreation closure order along Roosevelt Lake to protect recreational visitors beginning Oct. 9, 2020.

The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety due to flooding concerns for persons recreating or camping in the area. Campsite closures include Orange Peel, Bermuda Flat, Cholla Bay and Bachelors Cove. This order will be effective on October 9, 2020, at 6 a.m. and shall remain in effect until March 15, 2021, or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

The Tonto National Forest has modified the Griffin Fire public safety closure order by reducing the footprint of the restricted area to allow more public access beginning Oct. 6, 2020.

The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety. This closure order shall remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2020 or until rescinded. Restricted areas include:

Management of the Sears Fire will transition back to the Cave Creek Ranger District at 6 p.m., Sunday evening. This will be the final news update unless there are significant changes in fire activity. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is 60 percent contained.

Residents and visitors to the area may see occasional smoke over the next several days as interior pockets of vegetation continue to burn within the fire perimeter. Large ash whirls (similar to dust devils) are frequently seen within the burned area as well.

Firefighters continue to patrol, monitor, backhaul supplies and mop up hotspots along the perimeter of the Sears Fire. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is 60 percent contained.

This afternoon smoke could be seen when an interior island of vegetation burned near Buck Basin. It is possible that residents and visitors to the area may see similar fire activity over the next several days as unburned pockets of fuel are consumed within the fire perimeter.

An area closure is still in effect to protect the public along with firefighters as they continue to patrol, monitor and mop up hotspots along the perimeter of the Sears Fire. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is now 60 percent contained.

EVENING UPDATE: Sears Fire - Oct. 1

Firefighters continue to patrol, monitor and mop up hotspots along the perimeter of the Sears Fire. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is now 48 percent contained. Higher temperatures today caused an increase in fire activity which resulted in an unburned pocket of vegetation to ignite within the fire’s interior, however there was no threat of it spotting over containment lines.

There was minimal activity on the Sears Fire today as firefighters focused on monitoring and patrolling firelines along the perimeter. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is now 45 percent contained.

Firefighters continued to patrol and monitor the west perimeter along Seven Springs Road to the Deer Flat drainage near NFSR 1099 and on the east perimeter along Horseshoe Road. Road grading operations has begun on Horseshoe Road to repair impacts from firefighting response vehicles.

Firefighters continued to hold and improve firelines around the perimeter of the Sears Fire today. Currently, the fire is 14,476 acres with 30 percent containment.

Operations included the mop up and patrol of firelines along the west perimeter of Seven Springs Road in the Deer Creek drainage and at Humboldt Lookout. Fire crews are in place to monitor and protect critical infrastructure on Humboldt Lookout and are closely monitoring structures in the Camp Creek recreation residences.