wildfire

As warm, dry weather settles into our state, the Arizona Department of Transportation is urging drivers to use extra care with their vehicles to reduce the chance of igniting a wildfire. 

Motorists should take preventative measures to reduce the risk that a spark from a vehicle or trailer doesn’t result in dry vegetation catching fire. A few tips include:

Dragging chains while something is being towed can cause sparks; Check and fasten the chains before starting your trip.

Make sure nothing is hanging under your vehicle or dragging on the pavement.

Firefighters on the Flag Fire burning in the Hualapai Mountains southeast of Kingman are taking full advantage of the cooler weather conditions, light rain, and snow at higher elevations in the fire area. Despite the increased humidity the fire remained active overnight and into the morning. Hotshot crews and engines worked through the night enhancing established fuel breaks adjacent to the homes, structures, and critical public safety communication towers.

The Bonito Rock fire continued to back into Bonito creek yesterday and progressed to the northeast. High winds prohibited aerial operations until late in the afternoon. Today firefighters will utilize road systems and previous fire scars as control features and will monitor movement into Bonito Creek and along the northeastern flanks. The dramatic change in weather conditions is expected to moderate fire activity due to the forecasted precipitation and drop in temperatures.

Red Flag conditions tested fire control efforts yesterday as winds blew embers across the fire lines and caused a few small spot fires that were rapidly mitigated. Despite strong gusty winds and dry conditions, the size of the fire did not increase. Critical pieces of fire line were completed, and prior burnout operations have improved control measures. Today, firefighters will monitor the fires movement into Bonito Creek and develop a plan for control lines there. Crews will also patrol previous burnout operations while monitoring fire movement along the 70F road.

Firefighters conducted successful burnout operations yesterday, and with support from helicopter resources were able to tie firelines into already blackened flanks from prior days operations. Dip-sites for aerial operations continue to be developed to further support ground crews during burnout tactics. Today crews will assess and monitor fire movement along the 70F road. Firefighters will also scout contingency lines east of the fire and monitor any threats along the northwest flanks of the Bonito Rock fire. 

A storm system moved over the fire area yesterday which produced very light snow flurries and rain that moderated the fires activity throughout the day. The effects of the moisture will be short-term. Today, the fire is expected be driven by winds that will move it towards Bonito creek and to the northeast. Firefighting crews will continue to look for opportunities to bring control lines down to Bonito Creek and tie it into the fire scar from the Lofer fire in 2020.  

Coconino National Forest firefighters are planning to take advantage of future favorable weather conditions and have tentatively planned large fire treatments on the Flagstaff Ranger District and Mogollon Rim Ranger District that will include thousands of acres and span several weeks.

If weather conditions permit, these treatments could begin as early as the middle of next week and continue into May.