Evacuation orders issued as firefighters respond to Siphon Fire in Superstition Wilderness
Firefighters are responding to a wildfire, named the Siphon Fire, on the Tonto National Forest northeast of Apache Junction in the Superstition Wilderness.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCOSO) issued an evacuation order for Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat earlier this morning.
The Siphon Fire was first reported Sept. 10 and currently is estimated to be 2,350 acres with zero percent containment. Resources responding to the fire include one Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, one suppression module and 2 engines, along with a Type 1 Helicopter. More resources have been ordered. Due to rugged terrain, ground resources cannot safely access the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Those evacuating are urged to take prescriptions, water, snacks, identification and pets and sign up for the Maricopa County Emergency Notification System to be quickly notified of any further emergency evacuations. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information Network visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go#County/Tribal%20Emergency%20Notification%20Systems.
Please avoid the Superstition wilderness area, State Route 88 and Forest Road 78 while crews conduct fire suppression operations and MCOSO evacuates the area along State Route 88.
Remember, drones and firefighting aircraft are a dangerous mix and could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly, we can’t.
Updates will be posted on the Tonto Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest/; and Twitter at https://twitter.com/TontoNF.
