Arizona Emergency Information Network
Fire edge tested under critical weather conditions
Highlights: Today high winds will be another test for firefighters holding the firelines.
Operations: Firing operations completed on Friday along HWY 260, State Route 261, and Forest Rd 409 proved to be successful yesterday as winds tested the fire’s edge. Crews were able to continue the largest remaining firing operation last night that connected Forest Rd 409 to the main fire on the south/southwestern edge.
Today, all resources continue to secure the fire’s edge to prevent wind-blown embers from spreading the fire.
Fire managers continually coordinate with Navopache Electric Cooperative to assess when it is safe to re-energize evacuated areas without power. The integrity of power lines and poles are still being tested from critical winds and potential damage from the fire.
The incident management team’s goal, in coordination with the county emergency management and sheriff’s office is to re-populate and re-energize evacuated areas immediately once it is safe. Yesterday, a small area of heat crossed the line off Forest Road 373 north of Greer, illustrating how high winds continue to challenge control efforts. Numerous areas of residual heat remain close to the fireline and structures, where pockets of unburned fuel may ignite. To re-populate and increase containment, fire managers must ensure control lines are holding and hotspots near the perimeter are fully extinguished.
Weather: Fire personnel are preparing for another Red Flag Warning in effect today with critical fire weather conditions and strong winds expected – including gusts up to 41 mph.
Smoke: Updated smoke forecast at https://www.azdeq.gov/wildfire/forecast/greerfire
Closures: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has issued a closure order for parts of the National Forest lands. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are also in effect prohibiting fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal briquettes and smoking.
Evacuations: To check current evacuation statuses, an interactive evacuation map is available from the additional info link below.
Shelter for evacuees are open at the County Fairgrounds in St. Johns and the Alpine Community Center.
Highway 260 is closed in both directions near Greer. For updated travel information: az511.com
Safety: A temporary flight restriction has been issued over the fire area. It is illegal to fly drones within the area.
Acres: 19, 121
Start Date: May 13, 2025
Location: Greer, AZ
Cause: Under Investigation
Personnel: Approximately 680
Fuels: Grass, Shrubs, Timber
Phone Number: 928-291-7851 (7 am-7 pm)
Email: [email protected]
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aza2s-greer-fire
Additional Info: https://linktr.ee/GreerFire
SBA Offers Relief to New Mexico Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Mexico to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning March 4.
The declaration covers the New Mexico counties of Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Guadalupe, Lincoln, McKinley, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Socorro, Torrance and Valencia as well as the Arizona county of Apache.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months after the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit 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.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Jan. 6, 2026.
*/ /*-->*/ Source Small Business Administration May 16, 2025 - 06:45pm Keyword SBA disaster loans drought relief Economic Injury Disaster Loan small businesses private nonprofits New Mexico Apache County working capital federal assistance.Successful firing operations aid in securing the fire edge
Highlights: Firefighters’ hard work over the past several days will be tested by higher winds today and tomorrow.
Operations: Control lines continued to hold near Greer as firefighters reinforced the fire’s western edge. Firing operations south of HWY 260 on the north end of the fire, as well as at the intersection of 260 and 261 along completed dozer lines, were successful in limiting the fire’s spread to the north and northeast yesterday. Aerial resources were active on the eastern edge of the fire, supporting ground crews by slowing growth.
Yesterday evening, firefighters finished prepping along 261 working south and began firing operations, continuing their efforts throughout the night.
Today, firefighters are working to secure all completed holding lines, while aircraft continue to assist with water drops as weather conditions allow. Due to inaccessible terrain and limited holding features on the southern edge of the fire, firefighters are using aircraft to limit spread and scout for potential areas to hold the fire and tie in existing lines. Operational updates will be posted to the incidents Facebook page mid-morning daily for more detailed tactics and operational plans.
Weather: Fire personnel are preparing for a red flag warning issued for this morning with critical fire weather today and tomorrow, as stronger winds with gusts to 35 and lower humidities are forecast.
Smoke: Updated smoke forecast at https://www.azdeq.gov/wildfire/forecast/greerfire
Closures: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has issued a closure order for parts of the National Forest lands. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are also in effect, prohibiting fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal and briquettes and smoking.
Evacuations: The Apache County Sheriff’s Office has issued multiple evacuation orders. GO: Greer, South Fork, and residents west of Highway 261. Eagar, south of HWY 260 and West of River Road SET: All Eagar residents south of State Route 260 and between River Road and the SR260/180 junction. All residents south of SR 260, north of Forest Service Rd 85, and between Water Canyon Rd and US-191/180 and all residents north of SR 260 and west of Burk Rd, this includes residents in Springerville, AZ that are west of US-191. There is an interactive evacuation map linked below in the QR code link tree.
Shelter for evacuees are open at the County Fairgrounds in St. Johns and the Alpine Community Center.
Highway 260 is closed in both directions near Greer.
For updated travel information: az511.com
Safety: A temporary flight restriction has been issued over the fire area. It is illegal to fly drones within the area.
Acres: 15,985
Start Date: May 13, 2025
Location: Greer, AZ
Cause: Under Investigation
Personnel: Approximately 490
Fuels: Grass, Shrubs, Timber
Containment: 0 percent
Phone Number: 928-291-7851 (7 am-7 pm)
Email: [email protected]
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aza2s-greer-fire
Additional Info: https://linktr.ee/GreerFire
Prescribed Burns planned on Coconino National Forest next week
As part of important active forest management, fire managers are planning a number of prescribed burn projects next week to reduce hazardous forest fuels in strategic areas of the national forest to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires to many northern Arizona communities.
Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. The burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.
Should wind and weather conditions become unfavorable, ignitions will be halted, and project plans will be postponed, changed or canceled. If that occurs, the updates will be posted on our Coconino NF Prescribed Burn Projects InciWeb page, which is updated any time new information is available. The following projects are listed in chronological order.
West Fork Crater Sinks
Dates: May 20 or 21, 2025.
Location: Flagstaff Ranger District. 13 miles southwest of Flagstaff.
Size: 1,795 acres total (955 acres of national forest; 840 acres of state land).
Type of Burn: Broadcast, with components of initial entry and maintenance. (See Methods & Types of Prescribed Burns dropdown menu for explanation.)
Smoke Impacts: Smoke impacts should stay localized to the burn area with a slight chance of overnight impacts to U.S. Highway 89A in the Fry Canyon area near Forest Road 535A. Possible impacts to Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek—especially in the evening hours after the burn.
Why: This burn will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire southwest of Flagstaff by reducing hazardous forest fuels accumulation.
Notes: The intent is to complete this burn in one day. Fire managers will determine which day to proceed with firing operations based on weather forecasts. This project had been tentatively planned for late April but was rescheduled due to weather.
Bar-M Mint East
Dates: May 21-23, 2025.
Location: Flagstaff Ranger District. 24 miles southwest of Flagstaff.
Size: 4,876 acres.
Type of Burn: Maintenance.
Smoke Impacts: Smoke will be highly noticeable south of Flagstaff. Smoke impacts will be felt in the Mormon Lake Village area, and along Lake Mary Road.
Why: This burn will clean up dead and down fuel left from the 2015 Camillo Fire.
Notes: Fire managers plan to conduct most firing operations on May 21, but plan to use the following two days to conduct smaller firing operations within the interior of the burn unit to clean up as much fuel as possible.
Lighter winds aid aerial response to the Greer Fire
Firefighters are working work day and night ahead of expected stronger winds this weekend.
Containment lines held near Greer as firefighters focused on mopping up hot spots and reinforcing the fire’s western edge. Yesterday a small, strategic firing operation near Fish Canyon helped stop further spread where the fire had crossed the Little Colorado River. On the northeast side, crews conducted firing operations along Udall Road and Highway 261 while building contingency dozer lines to slow potential northern movement. Some fire did cross east of Highway 261 but was met with aggressive aerial and ground suppression. More than 100 homes south of Eagar were assessed for fire risk, and structure protection planning is underway. Today, fire crews are reinforcing containment lines. Mop-up operations are underway on the western flank, while on the northern edge, crews are constructing contingency dozer lines and preparing for potential firing operations if needed to strengthen control. Structure protection teams are actively assessing homes south of Eagar and implementing protection strategies in the event the fire moves into those areas. Aerial operations were critical throughout the day yesterday, including bucket work from helicopters, scooper drops, and new retardant lines on the southeastern flank. Two additional Type 1 helicopters are expected to arrive today to strengthen air support and firefighters will continue utilizing multiple aircraft along all divisions of the fire.
Weather: Similar weather is expected today, with even drier air and gusts around 25 mph. Fire managers are preparing for near-critical fire weather this weekend, as stronger winds and lower humidity are forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
Smoke: Today, smoke will be similar to yesterday and disperse to the northeast with light to moderate impacts to Eagar and Springerville.
Closures: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has issued a closure order for parts of the National Forest lands. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are also in effect, prohibiting fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal and briquettes and smoking. Highway 260 is closed in both directions near Greer. For updated travel information: az511.com
Evacuations: The Apache County Sheriff’s Office has issued multiple evacuation orders.
GO: Greer, South Fork, and residents west of Highway 261. Eagar, south of HWY 260 and West of River Road
SET: All Eagar residents south of State Route 260 and between River Road and the SR260/180 junction. All residents south of SR 260, north of Forest Service Rd 85, and between Water Canyon Rd and US-191/180 and all residents north of SR 260 and west of Burk Rd, this includes residents in Springerville, AZ that are west of US-191.
Safety: A temporary flight restriction has been issued over the fire area. It is illegal to fly drones within the area.
Shelters: The County Fairgrounds in St. Johns and the Alpine Community Center.
Fire details:
- Start Date: May 13, 2025
- Location: Greer, AZ
- Acres: 12,615
- Cause: Under Investigation
- Containment: 0 percent
- Fuels: Grass, Shrubs, Timber
Important information:
- Phone Number: (928) 291-7851 (7 am - 7 pm)
- Email: [email protected]
- Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aza2s-greer-fire
- Additional Info: https://linktr.ee/GreerFire
The Maricopa County Air Quality Department has declared a No Burn Day for Thursday, March 6
The Maricopa County Air Quality Department has declared a No Burn Day for Thursday, March 6 due to elevated levels of PM10 (dust).
Take Action
- Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
- Convert your wood burning fireplace to natural gas or propane. Check if you are eligible to receive up to $2,000 to upgrade your fireplace to natural gas by visiting Maricopa.gov/AQ.
- Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
- Use electric lawn and garden equipment. Check if you are eligible to receive up to $200 to replace gasoline powered lawn equipment by visiting Maricopa.gov/AQ.
- Reduce your wait time in long drive-thru lines. Park your vehicle and walk inside at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, curbside pick-up, and banks.
- Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
- Use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
- Properly seal household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals, and other solvents to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air.
No Burn Day Restrictions
- Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
- Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing.
- Off-road vehicles are prohibited from being used.
Regulated Businesses
Businesses conducting dust-generating operations must be vigilant of their dust control measures. Workers may need to cease operating, after stabilizing disturbed areas, if water application and other dust control measures prove ineffective.
PM10 is coarse particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter that are generally emitted from sources such as vehicles traveling on unpaved roads, materials handling, and crushing and grinding operations, as well as windblown.
PM2.5 is fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that result from fuel combustion from motor vehicles, power generation, and industrial facilities, as well as from residential fireplaces and wood stoves.
*/ /*-->*/ Source Maricopa County Air Quality Department March 6, 2025 - 09:35am Keyword No Burn Day Maricopa County Maricopa County Air Quality Department burn restrictions PM10 dust PM2.5 pollutionPile Burning Planned in the Prescott Basin on the Bradshaw Ranger District
Fire managers on the Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District plan to burn piles of debris in and around the Prescott Basin. Ignitions are planned to start on Friday, March 7, and continue through March 31 as favorable weather conditions allow. Fire managers expect smoke impacts to be light and visible from multiple locations including Prescott, Chino Valley, and surrounding areas.
In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burns as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.
The purpose of this project is to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface and increase ecosystem and community resilience following thinning and fuelwood removal activities. Reducing hazardous fuels helps reduce the threat of future high-severity, high-intensity wildfires.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on several different factors which fire managers closely monitor prior to and during implementation. These factors include availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
For fire information please call Prescott National Forest at (928)443 8000; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and X.
*/ /*-->*/ Source Prescott National Forest March 5, 2025 - 03:30pm Keyword Prescott National Forest pile burns Bradshaw Ranger District wildfire prevention fuel reduction smoke impacts Prescribed Fire ecosystem resilience hazardous fuels fire mitigationPile burns planned Wednesday, and Thursday
Coconino National Forest fire managers with the Flagstaff Ranger District plan to conduct pile burns today and tomorrow in several areas around the forest to take advantage of favorable weather conditions.
The piles to be burned are leftover slash from previous thinning projects and are ignited using drip torches and carefully monitored. Burning these piles help remove forest fuels and reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfire.
Smoke will be noticeable to people in the immediate areas of these pile burns, and impacts may be felt during the day in areas north/northeast of the piles due to the general wind direction coming from the southwest. In evening hours, smoke impacts will be felt in areas adjacent to the pile burns, as smoke tends to settle and flow like water to lower areas of elevation.
The following pile burns are planned for today, March 5:
- Aspen Walker Lake piles: located 14.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff.
- Fern Mountain piles: located 12.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff, near Hart Prairie Preserve.
- Hochderffer Aspen piles: located 14 miles northwest of Flagstaff, northeast of Arizona Nordic Village.
The following pile burns are planned for tomorrow, March 6:
- Mormon Lake Work Center piles: located at the Coconino NF Mormon Lake Work Center off Lake Mary Road, just south of Bennett Estates.
- Naval Observatory piles: located 4 miles west of Flagstaff and north of the Naval Observatory.
- Peaks Admin piles: located behind the Flagstaff Ranger Station across from the Flagstaff Mall.
- Pine Grove Admin piles: located 15 miles southeast of the Flagstaff, adjacent to Pine Grove Campground.
Areas of County Within Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to Enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Friday
After consultation with Coconino County Emergency Management (CCEM), Forest Lakes Fire District, and the United States Forest Service (USFS), areas of Coconino County within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest will enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions at 8 a.m. Friday, February 28, 2025.
This decision, per Coconino County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance, follows similar Stage 1 fire restrictions enacted by USFS, Navajo County, and Apache County and will apply to all private property within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This includes the unincorporated community of Forest Lakes and all private campgrounds and recreation areas.
“Coconino County implements fire restrictions to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires. CCEM continues to work closely with our fire mitigation partners at the federal, state, and local levels to determine if fire restrictions are needed, and if so, to what extent,” said Tim Carter, acting Emergency Management Director. “In coordination with the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ decision to enter Stage 1 restrictions, Coconino County will also enact Stage 1 restrictions for all private lands within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in southeastern Coconino County.”
Under the County’s Stage 1 restrictions igniting, building, or maintaining a fire fueled by combustible materials such as wood, charcoal, briquettes, and/or coal is strictly prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a developed recreation site. The use of tracer or incendiary rounds of ammunition or explosive targets is also strictly prohibited. Fireworks are always prohibited on all National Forest and State lands.
Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed only in a developed recreation site. A developed recreation site is defined in the County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance as an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 15 feet of the device.
“Wildfire mitigation is the responsibility of all of us,” added Carter. “Now is a great time to improve defensible space around structures, clear pine needles and debris, and never leave fires unattended.”
For information on Coconino County’s Stage 1, 2, and 3 fire restrictions please visit: www.coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions.
Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, Forest Orders, and general forest conditions are available for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest are available here: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf
*/ /*-->*/ Source Coconino County February 27, 2025 - 05:05pm Keyword Stage 1 fire restrictions Coconino County wildfire prevention Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest fire mitigation burn ban defensible space fire safety emergency management recreation sites.
