Arizona Emergency Information Network

The Springerville Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plan to begin ignitions on the Whiting prescribed fire during the next available window of favorable weather conditions, potentially on Nov. 28, 2023. The prescribed fire unit is approximately 10 miles southeast of Vernon, near the Whiting homestead, and west of Forest Road 117.

The Whiting prescribed fire project will aide in cleaning up dry climate grasses, ponderosa pine and the mixed conifer understory. Fire managers will work to mitigate impacts to values at risk within the unit that include nearby communities, private property, heritage sites, rangelands, and wildlife. Recent precipitation, cooler temperatures, and relative humidity recoveries are in alignment to produce low intensity fire behavior.

Smoke may impact the communities of Vernon and Springerville-Eagar, nearby private properties, and Highway 60. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke tends to form an inversion layer as it settles near the ground.

Firefighters are also planning to conduct ignitions at the Greer green waste burn pit, weather permitting, to clean up and eliminate slash that has accumulated over the summer and fall. Smoke may be visible and could impact the communities of Greer, Springerville-Eagar, and Highway 260. Smoke impacts to Highway 60 may reduce visibility, and drivers are cautioned to remain aware of the potential for slower traffic in the vicinity. Information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

Tonto National Forest firefighters are planning two fuel treatments on the Payson Ranger District while also preparing four “pit burn” locations for property owners and planning a prescribed fire near the Payson Helibase in neighboring Star Valley.

Weather and related conditions permitting, the first fuel treatment could begin Nov. 27 with the remaining three operations occurring sometime through March 2024.

The Rim Country Bonita Creek Piles project will use prescribed fire to burn 24 acres of debris piles made of woody fuels resulting from the construction of the fuel break around Bonita Creek Estates. The project is located 9 miles northeast of Payson and north of the Control Road entrance to Bonita Creek Estates. The operation will improve the Bonita Creek watershed.

The Rim Country Christopher Creek Piles project will use prescribed fire to burn 107 acres of debris piles to dispose of small trees and bushes generated from the construction of fuel breaks. This project is located 16 miles east of Payson and south of Highway 260 near Christopher Creek Campground. The operation will improve the Christopher Creek watershed.

The Payson Pits prescribed fire project will allow property owners to bring yard debris – to include leaf litter, pine needles, assorted brush and small diameter limbs and trees – to one of the following locations where fire specialists will oversee burning of the debris. The size of each pit is between 0.25 to 0.5 acres.

• Chase Creek Pit, located 0.5 miles south of Shadow Rim Camp and 1.5 miles north of Whispering Pines off Forest Road 32
• Pine Pit, located 2.5 miles southeast of Pine, off the Control Road
• Perley Pit, located 1 mile southeast of Bonita Creek Estates, off the Control Road
• Ponderosa Pit, located 1.5 miles southeast of Tonto Village and 8 miles east of Star Valley

The Payson Helibase Piles prescribed fire will burn piles of woody fuels generated from clearing the land for the Payson Helibase.

Specific start dates and projected end times for each project will be posted on the Tonto’s Facebook and ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) social media pages.

Prescribed fire operations are part of the USDA Forest Service’s overarching wildfire crisis strategy to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. For more information about the Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to address the wildfire crisis, visit the Confronting the Wildfire Crisis web page.

For additional information about the above projects, contact the Payson Ranger Station located at 1009 E. Highway 260, Payson, Arizona. Or phone the station at (928) 474-7900 Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow along on Facebook @TontoNationalForest or ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) @TontoForest.

Firefighters were successful in prepping the Pole Knoll prescribed fire by blacklining (preburning of fuels adjacent to control lines) 800 acres of the perimeter earlier this month. They plan to resume burn operations to treat 800 acres within the interior of the project area starting on Nov. 27, 2023. Favorable weather conditions are crucial in meeting burn objectives, and ignitions could be initiated anytime between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, 2023.

The Pole Knoll project area is 2,020 acres and is 8 miles northwest of Greer. The project is surrounded by a significant road and trail system with boundaries along Forest Road 112 on the west, Forest Road 8589 to the south, Forest Road 8590 to the east, and State Highway 260 as the northern boundary.

This is an initial entry prescribed fire, which means fire has not been through the area in a very long time, resulting in denser fuels and therefore thicker smoke during this treatment. However, meeting the goals of the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy means implementing prescribed fire and other fuels treatments during all advantageous environmental conditions. The trade-off is to experience short-term smoke conditions from prescribed fires versus heavier smoke over a longer duration from unwanted high-severity wildfires. The long-term intent is to reduce smoke impacts and fire intensity if a future wildfire starts in this project area.

To provide for public and firefighter safety, the public is advised not to enter the Pole Knoll recreation area. Drivers are cautioned to be aware that smoke may impact visibility along Highways 260, 60 and 373, especially in the overnight hours. Smoke may impact the communities of Vernon, Greer, Springerville, and Eagar. Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

Small nonfarm businesses in five Arizona counties and a neighboring county in Utah are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Associate Administrator Francisco Sanchez. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary county that began Sept. 26.

Primary Arizona county:  Navajo;

Neighboring Arizona counties:  Apache, Coconino, Gila and Graham;

Neighboring Utah county:  San Juan.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Sanchez said.

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for businesses and 2.375 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Sanchez said.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the initial disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on Nov. 20.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659‑2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 22, 2024.

The East Eagle prescribed fire was scheduled to continue through the end of November; however, recent rain and snow have inhibited burn operations, and fire managers on the Clifton Ranger District have decided to postpone the project until favorable weather conditions return.

During the window of opportunity, firefighters were able to meet objectives and successfully treat 2,000 acres of the planned 13,416 acre prescribed burn. The primary goal of the project is to utilize fire to lessen accumulations of downed woody material in the areas of past wildfires such as the Wallow and Rattlesnake fires. Meeting these objectives helps to reduce the risk of destructive wildfires in the future. Fire managers will monitor weather forecasts to look for opportunities to resume prescribed fire operations.

The East Eagle project area is within the San Carlos Tribal Forest Protection Project which is one of the National Priority Landscapes. The project is located 30 miles north of Morenci with boundaries along Trail #18 (Salt House Creek) to the east, Forest Road 54 to the north, Forest Road 8369 to the west, and East Eagle Creek to the south. These landscape treatments are a cooperative effort with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and includes; the National Forest Foundation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Mule Deer Foundation, and the Salt River Project.

Although the prescribed fire area has received precipitation, it may continue to produce smoke as fuels remain available. Air quality monitors have been placed in Alpine, AZ and Luna, NM. More information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health. 

Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is rescinding the road closures that had been in place for public safety in the vicinity of the Fish Creek fire near Wildcat Crossing. Recent storms have produced sufficient moisture to diminish the threat to public safety from the fire on these roads.

The lightning-caused Fish Creek fire was discovered on Oct. 26, 2023, and is currently 3,300 acres. The fire is 32 miles southwest of Alpine, north of Forest Road 25U, south of the Black River, east of Forest Road 25, and west of the Fish Creek drainage. While the fire has received some precipitation and moderated its growth, it may continue to produce smoke as fuels remain available. Fire crews will continue to monitor the Fish Creek fire as needed.

With recent moisture, cooler temperatures, and a shift to more of a winter weather pattern, firefighters plan to conduct ignitions at the green waste burn pit on the Alpine Ranger District to clean up and eliminate slash that has accumulated over the summer and fall. Smoke may be visible in Alpine and in the vicinity of Luna Lake. Information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook

Fire crews completed 1,209 acres of ignitions on the Dipping Vat prescribed fire on Nov. 8, 2023. Burn operations were successful in cleaning up the light to moderate understory, dead and down fuels, and debris from prior logging operations. Dipping Vat, part of the Lakeside East prescribed fire project area, was essential in reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires near adjacent communities in the Wildland Urban Interface.

Prescribed fire operations are expected to resume sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday, if and when weather and other environmental conditions permit. The Ortega and a portion of the Doyle burn unit remains untreated at this time. 

Prescribed fires are an effective tool for restoring fire-dependent ecosystems, improving forest health, removing hazardous fuels, increasing firefighter safety, enhancing wildlife habitat, and protecting communities and watersheds.

Landscape treatments such as these planned on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

The lightning-caused Fish Creek fire was discovered on Oct. 26, 2023, and has grown to 3,300 acres. The fire is burning with low intensity while consuming forest debris on the ground. Firefighters are monitoring the growth of this fire that is 32 miles southwest of Alpine, north of Forest Road 25U, south of the Black River, east of Forest Road 25, and west of the Fish Creek drainage.

This fire is being closely monitored for impacts to values at risk. A point-protection strategy will be implemented if the values at risk become threatened. There are no evacuations or threats to communities or infrastructure.

As a reminder, the Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests implemented road closures for public safety in the vicinity of the Fish Creek fire near Wildcat Crossing. Road closures are in effect until rescinded on Forest Roads 25U, 701, 25B (from the junction with the 8793 all the way to the end of 25B), and the 24U. This closure is in effect until significant moisture has diminished the threat to public safety from the fire on these roads.

This weekend’s weather forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and light precipitation over the fire area. Drift smoke is expected to settle into the Black River drainage, especially in the overnight hours. Smoke is visible from Forest Roads 25, 24, and the 25B. Information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

The 77 acre Dutch fire was discovered on Nov. 15, 2023, and is located northwest of Bear Canyon Lake on the Black Mesa Ranger District near Forest Road 75A.

During initial attack, firefighters were able to utilize a network of existing roads to hold and contain the fire. Once fire lines and control features were established, burn out operations were used to secure and hold the fire within the established perimeter. With the help of cooler temperatures and an increase in relative humidity, fuels were less receptive to ignition and fire activity was moderated.

Fire crews will continue to monitor the Dutch fire to ensure that containment lines remain secure. There are no evacuations, and no threats to communities or infrastructure currently.    

Residual smoke may linger for a few days but impacts to neighboring communities is expected to be minimal as fire growth is not anticipated. To access air quality information and interactive map data go to the AirNow website at https://www.airnow.gov/.

The weather forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and an increased chance of precipitation over the fire area in the coming days.

For more information call the Black Mesa Ranger District at (928) 535-7300. Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs and X (Twitter) at https://twitter.com/A_SNFs.

On Friday, November 17, Palo Verde Generating Station (PVGS), in cooperation with local and State agencies, will test the outdoor warning sirens located within a 10-mile radius of the power plant. In conjunction with the siren test and in the same 10-mile radius, Maricopa County will conduct an opt-in Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA).

Testing will involve activating the sirens twice and WEA once, sirens will be activated at 12:00 p.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. for approximately three minutes each time. WEA will be tested at 12:15 p.m. Individuals will be stationed at each of the 70 sirens and they will report siren activations and wireless alert notifications to emergency managers following the test.

The siren system is part of the “Alert and Notification System” required by federal regulations. Testing of the siren system is required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The versatility of the WEA system allows notification to the entire county or specific areas within the county. On November 17, the test area will be limited to the siren test area and only to those phones that have opted-in to receive test alerts.

The message to accompany the WEA will state, “THIS IS A TEST OF MARICOPA COUNTY WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED”.

In the unlikely event of an emergency at Palo Verde requiring public actions, one of three response agencies (Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or the Arizona Department of Public Safety) will activate the alerting sirens to direct residents to turn on their radios and televisions. Likewise, wireless alerts (activated by Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management) will direct residents to do the same. An Emergency Alert System (EAS) message will then broadcast over radio & television and provide emergency instructions and information.

For more information, contact the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management at 602-273-1411 or visit ready.maricopa.gov.

The Maid Fire located just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit is 100% contained at 942 acres and may produce very small traces of smoke as leaves and small brush smolder within the fire perimeter on Apache Maid mountain.

An emergency closure order is in place for Apache Maid mountain, which includes Forest Roads 620, 620D, and 644G. This order will be in place through March 30, 2024 unless rescinded earlier. All Forest Orders for Coconino National Forest are posted online on our Forest Orders web page.

Firefighters will continue to patrol the area to ensure the fire remains contained.

The human-caused wildfire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. on November 4 by a member of the public. The specific cause is still under investigation.

The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is implementing road closures for public safety in the vicinity of the Fish Creek Fire near Wildcat Crossing. Road closures are in effect immediately until rescinded on Forest Roads 25U, 701,  25B (from the junction with the 8793 all the way to the end of 25B), and the 24U. This closure will be in effect until significant moisture has diminished the threat to public safety from the fire on these roads.

The lightning-caused Fish Creek fire was discovered on Oct. 26, 2023, and is currently 1,700 acres. The fire is 32 miles southwest of Alpine, north of Hoodoo Knoll, south of the Black River, east of Forest Road 25, and west of the Fish Creek drainage. Vegetation in the area includes mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, grass, oak, and locust with some heavy dead and down fuels. Smoke is visible from Forest Roads 25, 24, and the 25B.

Information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

Firefighters plan to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Clifton Ranger District beginning Nov. 13 through Nov. 30, 2023 weather permitting. The East Eagle project area is 13,416 acres and is 30 miles north of Morenci. The East Eagle prescribed fire is within the San Carlos Tribal Forest Protection Project which is one of the National Priority Landscapes. These landscape treatments are a cooperative effort with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and includes; the National Forest Foundation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Mule Deer Foundation, and the Salt River Project.

The boundaries of the project are along Trail #18 (Salt House Creek) to the east, Forest Road 54 to the north, Forest Road 8369 to the west, and East Eagle Creek to the south. Air quality monitors have been placed in Alpine, AZ and Luna, NM. More information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Smoke will be visible from portions of State Highway 191 and the community along Eagle Creek. Burn Boss Joe Names said, “We are making every effort to keep people, including private landowners near the project, informed of the project before, during and after the prescribed fire.”

Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health. 

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

UPDATE

Fire crews completed ignitions on the Mud Springs prescribed fire on Nov. 8, 2023. Residual smoke is expected to diminish over the next few days and air quality impacts to Vernon and adjacent communities should continue to improve. More information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

The 1,829-acre prescribed fire is 3 miles south of Vernon and within Forest Road 224/Apache County Road 3140, Forest Road 5B, Forest Road 5, Forest Road 3D, Forest Road 44, and Forest Road 3.

Prescribed fires are an effective tool for restoring fire-dependent ecosystems and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds.

Landscape treatments such as these planned on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

Firefighters continue to work on containing the Maid Fire on Apache Maid mountain just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit and are hopeful to reach full containment within the next several days.

The Maid Fire is currently 55% contained on the northern and eastern flanks of Apache Maid mountain, and firefighters continue to work on containing the western and southern sides of the 942-acre wildfire.

Firefighters are utilizing a full suppression strategy, and all burnout operations have been completed. As containment increases, resources will move to a monitor and patrol status in the coming days.

Fire behavior has largely been moderate but continues to smolder in remaining heavy dead and down fuels, and limited pockets of leaf litter. Occasional increases in intensity are observed as the fire creeps into available fuels.

Resources on scene include three crews, three engines, and a medic team, equating to 88 personnel. Depending on fire activity, this wildfire can be very visible to surrounding areas such as Camp Verde, Sedona and Rimrock, as well as those driving along Interstate 17 between the mileposts of 285-310.

The immediate area around the wildfire is under a closure order, which can be viewed on the 2023 Maid Fire Inciweb site online, where details about the wildfire are updated daily.

The human-caused wildfire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. on November 4 by a member of the public.

Fire details: 

• Size: 942 acres
• Start Date:  November 4, 2023
• Cause: Human
• Completion: 55%
• Total personnel: 88, including three crews, three engines, and a medic team
• Location: just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit
• Fuels: heavy dead and down fuels, and limited pockets of leaf litter

Information Links and Contacts

Coconino National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azcof-2023-maid-fire

Mogollon Rim Ranger District fire managers have cancelled today’s Sawmill Project southwest of Mormon Lake due to unfavorable wind conditions that would negatively impact powerlines, the highway, and surrounding communities.

The 3,000-acre Sawmill project was originally scheduled to be completed over the course of the week from Nov. 6-9 but was modified to focus attention on a smaller 1,000-acre section today as winds and conditions were forecasted to keep smoke away from powerlines and surrounding communities. With the change in today’s conditions, this project will be postponed till a later date when conditions are more appropriate.

The Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments across the landscape to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

Fire managers make every effort to minimize impacts to communities but cannot promise impacts will never happen. Even with southwest winds that take smoke to the northeast during daytime hours, smoke acts like water in the evening hours and drains down nearby canyons, and most lead to Verde Valley. Sometimes predicted weather and winds shift from the original predicted forecast, which can also negatively affect communities with smoke impacts. These things cannot be controlled or mitigated.

Prescribed burns are necessary for two main reasons: to help create buffers around communities so that when a wildfire starts in extreme conditions, communities can have a fighting chance at protecting their homes and livelihood, and to help restore the forests to healthier conditions, as northern Arizona forests are fire-dependent ecosystems that require wildfire.

Prescribed burns mimic frequent low-intensity natural wildfires that clean up the forest like a janitor, promoting seed germination, wildlife habitat, and creating new growth that reduces erosion, as well as protect vital drinking-water watersheds from destruction due to catastrophic fire. These prescribed burn projects allow Mother Nature to fulfill her role and start righting the balance that has been so imbalanced for many years.

The Forest Service recognizes that smoke impacts can affect residents and visitors in addition to our fire personnel and will continue to coordinate closely with partners and communities to keep people informed about projects and potential smoke impacts. Affected communities can learn more through several resources such as:

Airnow Air Quality Search
Airnow Fire & Smoke Map
Prescribed Burns Explained

Coconino National Forest fire managers have modified prescribed fire plans for this week in order to clear the airshed and also take advantage of a specific wind forecast to keep smoke away from large powerlines during an important prescribed fire project.

Originally, the 3,000-acre Upper Beaver Creek Project 13 miles northwest of Clints Well was planned for today through Thursday, as well as the 1,742-acre Bar-M project south of Mormon Lake planned for Tuesday through Thursday. Those two projects have been planned for a later time when conditions are more appropriate.

A modified and smaller area of the Sawmill Project, located 2.5 miles southeast of Stoneman Lake, is planned for Wednesday due to optimal winds from the south/southwest that will transport the smoke north/northwest and keep smoke away from large powerlines, as well as Verde Valley.

Forecasted strong winds from the southwest today through Wednesday should help clear the airshed and improve air quality, especially for areas such as the Verde Valley.

Sawmill Project

When: Planned for Wednesday (Nov. 8). Ignitions typically being around 10 a.m. if conditions are appropriate.
Where: Mogollon Rim Ranger District. Approximately 17 miles northwest of Clints Well, 2.5 miles southeast of Stoneman Lake. GPS: 34.758259, -111.472926.
Why: This project will reduce hazardous forest fuels and return fire to the fire-dependent ecosystem, helping restore the forest to healthier conditions and reduce the possibility of catastrophic wildfires.
Size: Approximately 1,000 acres.
Duration: One day.
Method/Type of burn: This is a broadcast burn, with a mix of initial entry and maintenance.
Smoke Impacts: Winds are predicted to come from the south/southwest, pushing smoke toward the north/northeast through the day. Smoke will be noticeable to surrounding communities but none should be impacted.
Closures/Restrictions: There are no closures associated with this burn.

Firefighters continue to work on containing the Maid Fire on Apache Maid mountain just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit.

By using a drone, firefighters were able to accurately map the perimeter of the wildfire, which is currently 543 acres and 0% contained, though containment numbers should increase in the next couple of days.

Firefighters also used a drone yesterday to conduct burnout operations in steep and difficult terrain on the west side of the mountain, while hand ignitions were conducted on the southern side, using a forest road as a control feature.

Crews plan on focusing their efforts today on the west and southwest sides of Apache Maid mountain, connecting burnout operations from forest roads to the fire itself to increase control. Weather and wind will be a determining factor as to whether they are able to continue burnout operations and how much they are able to accomplish today.

Smoke is predicted to move in a northeast direction and will be heavy today if burnout operations continue. Aside from weather and wind conditions, rough, rocky, and steep terrain create challenges for on-the-ground suppression efforts.

Resources on scene include four crews, two engines, a dozer, one helicopter and a medic team, equating to 81 personnel. This wildfire is very visible to surrounding areas such as Camp Verde, Sedona and Rimrock, as well as those driving along Interstate 17 between the mileposts of 285-310.

The human-caused wildfire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. on November 4 by a member of the public, and the specific cause is under investigation. Details about the wildfire will be updated daily on the 2023 Maid Fire Inciweb site online.

Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District have canceled the Crater RX planned for November 7 – 9, 2023, due to predicted winds, resource availability and current conditions.  If favorable weather conditions and resource availability improve, the Crater RX could be implemented in the coming weeks. The Crater RX is located near the community of Cherry, north of Hwy 169 and east of County Road 75 (T14N, R3E, Sec 29, 30, 31, 32).  

132 Blacklining RX - Fire mangers treated over 2,500 acres last week; the 132 Blacklining RX will create a fuel break or buffer between the community of Cherry and the perimeter of the Crater RX that has been canceled.  Over the next few days, smoke will be visible on the 132 Blacklining RX as interior fuels consume. 

For fire information please call (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Crews have completed a dozer line around the Tank Fire, located approximately 5 miles southeast of Flagstaff (GPS: 35.105949, -111.609329), and are conducting burnout operations within the line to keep the fire contained to a total of 61 acres.

This fire was reported at 1:35 p.m. today by a member of the public driving on Lake Mary Road, and the cause is under investigation.

This will be the final update on the Tank Fire.