wildfire safety

Potential for road closures during wildfire mitigation work.

A mechanical thinning project along Snowbowl Road, the latest effort to reduce the risk of unwanted wildfire and restore Coconino National Forest lands to a resilient condition, will begin tomorrow.

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.

The Cox Pond Fire was reported on the afternoon of Aug. 5. on the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. The lightning-caused fire started in a remote area with limited access. It is burning in heavy brush and is estimated at 150 acres.

Safety: Wildfires are a no drone zone. Flying drones near wildfires is dangerous for pilots and firefighters and can bring wildfire suppression efforts to a halt. If you fly, we can’t.  

Fire details:

Start Date: August 5, 2024

Location: About 29 miles south of St. George, Utah  

The Skeleton Fire was reported on the afternoon of Aug. 3 on the Joes Hill area east of the Agua Fria canyon in the Agua Fria National Monument. The fire started in a remote area with limited access. Variable  gusty winds from passing thunderstorms drove the fire throughout the weekend. The fire has burned through high desert brush and grass and has expanded to 20,963 acres. It was most active to the east and has burned into the Tonto National Forest.

Jurisdiction: Hassayampa Field Office, Bureau of Land Management

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.

Due to increased precipitation received across the Coconino National Forest, fire restrictions will be lifted at 8 a.m. tomorrow, July 26, 2024.

While forest-wide restrictions have been lifted, several areas of the Coconino National Forest are subject to permanent year-round fire restrictions, which will remain in effect.

At 7am this morning, the Romero Fire transitioned to a Type 4 Organization. This will be the FINAL Press Release for the Romero Fire. Any future updates will be provided through the incident information sources listed below when significant activity occurs.

At 7am this morning, the Circle Fire transitioned to a Type 4 Organization. This will be the FINAL Press Release for the Circle Fire. Any future updates will be provided through the incident information sources listed below when significant activity occurs.

The Kaibab National Forest will lift all fire restrictions at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Currently, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place on the North Kaibab Ranger District (all National Forest System Lands north of the Grand Canyon National Park). The area has received enough widespread rain to increase fuel moisture levels. Cooler temperatures have reduced the risk of severe fire behavior.

The lightning caused Weimer fire burning north of Forest Lakes and west of Heber-Overgaard has grown to approximately 500 acres. Additional firefighting resources have been dispatched to the incident, and include: four engines, three initial attack crews, two dozers, and a helicopter. The Weimer fire, detected on July 2, is burning within the Wagon Draw fire scar from 2009.