The current Horton Fire incident management team will begin the processes of transitioning management of the Horton Fire to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 this weekend. Team 1 is scheduled to assume command of the fire early next week.
A community meeting is scheduled for at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 546 W Ashby Apple Dr., Payson, AZ 85541.
Highlights: The Horton Fire grew to 928 acres with 15% containment.
Operations: Crews monitored and patrolled yesterday, observing continued slow creeping and smoldering conditions across the majority of the fire area. Smoke production did increase yesterday near East Horton Creek and Horton Spring area between Forest Roads 76U and 76K as fire consumed heavier fuels in drainages. No firing operations occurred.
The Horton Fire remains at 898 acres with 15% containment with crews remaining on- scene today to monitor the fire.
Operations: Minimal fire activity was observed across the fire area yesterday, including slow creeping and smoldering conditions with short flame lengths less than 1 foot. Crews patrolled and secured the fireline along Forest Road 300 and Highway 260.
Today, Horton Fire crews will focus on the north and western areas of the fire.
Highlights: The Horton Fire is currently 898 acres with 15% containment. A weather shift is expected through Christmas Day, with cooler temperatures and increased humidity forecasted. Crews will remain on-scene throughout Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Horton Fire, currently at 898 acres with 0% containment, continues to burn in steep, rugged terrain on the Mogollon Rim, with crews making progress on containment efforts along Forest Road 300 and the powerline corridor while monitoring fire activity and protecting recreational infrastructure and nearby communities under SET evacuation status.
The Horton wildfire is currently 769 acres with 0% containment. There has been no western fire movement in the past 48 hours above the Highline Trail and the fire is holding along the Forest Road 300 road to Forest Road 9305. All fire activity is east of Horton Spring and in the headwaters of East Fork of Horton Creek drainage.
The Horton Fire is currently 604 acres with 0% containment.
Operations: On Friday, the fire progressed across the top of east Horton drainage below Forest Road 764. Crews conducted firing operations from Forest Road 9305 to Forest Road 9310 to prevent fire from crossing Forest Road 300. Heavy equipment operators also established bulldozer line near Horton Creek to improve access for medical personnel and firefighters working in the Horton trail area.
Firefighters battle steep, rugged terrain as the Horton Fire swells to 500 acres, prompting SET evacuation alerts and an emergency closure in Tonto National Forest.
Highlights: The Horton Fire is currently at 500 acres, 0% containment and 122 personnel.
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Tonto National Forest firefighters are planning five “pit burns” on the Payson Ranger District beginning in November and continuing through March 2025 as weather and related conditions permit.
The Payson Pits prescribed fire project will remove assorted woody fuels resulting from clearing projects on federal and private lands. The Tonto’s Facebook and ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) social media pages will post specific start dates and projected end times for each prescribed fire.