wildfire

Fire crews are contending with gusty and erratic winds, blowing in an easterly direction this morning to a southwest direction in the afternoon and northwest in late afternoon and early evening. While crews experienced relatively mild temperatures today, the week is expected to be increasingly hot and dry.  
 
Despite the winds, helicopter operations continued to aid ground crews by dousing hot spots within the fire perimeter.
 

The Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Alan Sinclair, assumed command of the Sawtooth Fire, this morning, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at 6am.

Firefighters are fully suppressing the Sawtooth Fire to protect nearby communities and other values at risk in the area. Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority.

Over the next few days, firefighters on the Sawtooth Fire will begin back burning operations as part of structure protection and community safety measures in and around the northeast portion of Queen Valley.

To ensure safety, starting at noon today, residents along Silver King Road and Williams Road in Queen Valley will be placed in precautionary GO status as they are being asked to vacate their homes while these suppression operations take place.

Today, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Town of Cave Creek, began the process of assessing structure damage and preparing plans for a full and safe reentry. 

As of 5 pm today, some residents will be allowed to return home. That area includes, Rancho Manana and School House Road. Also, MCSO has reduced the hard closure area, and evacuations will remain in place, for the area north of Spur Crossing and Grapevine and west of 60th Street and Fleming Springs. 

Over the weekend, State Route 87 was closed for a couple of hours south of Payson when a brush fire caused by a person broke out along the roadway. While the exact cause isn’t known yet, the 5.5-acre Oak Fire demonstrates why motorists should secure tow chains, properly inflate tires, check brakes and take other steps to reduce the risk of starting a wildfire. 

Just one spark can cause all kinds of problems.

In addition to putting lives and property at risk, fires that spread quickly in dry brush can lead to highway closures and inconvenience for motorists. 

Effective Friday, May 15 all ranger districts of the Coronado National Forest will increase campfire and smoking restrictions in southeastern Arizona.

Beginning May 15, and until rescinded, the following are prohibited:

Seasonal fire restrictions are now in place at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The restrictions are necessary to prevent wildfire during this period of extended drought and increased potential for wildland fires in Arizona and Nevada.

The following acts are prohibited or modified, until further notice:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Southwestern Region is enacting a recreational shooting restriction for the Coronado, Prescott and Tonto National Forests to reduce wildfires and to protect the health and safety of employees and communities.

Fire crews from the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, Sherwood Forest Estates, and Parks Bellemont Fire Departments responded to a wildfire late Tuesday afternoon south of Interstate 40 near the neighborhood of Sherwood Forest Estates east of Williams.