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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.

At this time, this precautionary GO notification ONLY EFFECTS THOSE RESIDENTS along those two roads. Currently, all other residents in Queen Valley and nearby communities are not impacted by this request and need not vacate their residence in support of these firefighting tactics.

Should the situation change, residents will be notified by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

As a reminder, it is always important to be prepared to evacuate at any time, especially for residents living within the wildland urban interface on state and federal lands.

Always have a ‘go bag’ ready in the event you are asked to evacuate. Items like cash, prescriptions, pictures, important documents, and identification are important to include.

“We appreciate all your understanding and support as our firefighters work to reduce the threat from wildfire to the community,” said Tom Torres, Deputy Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest.
There is no estimated timeframe as to how long back burning operations will take within the northeast portion of Queen Valley. Residents are asked to be prepared to leave for a minimum of three days.

The Sawtooth Fire is currently 18,500 acres with 8% containment. Two hundred firefighters are assigned to the fire.
Updates on the Sawtooth Fire are available on Tonto Nation Forest’s Facebook, Twitter, and the fire’s Inciweb page.
For more information on the READY, SET GO evacuation and preparedness program: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go
To get notified about emergency alerts, including evacuation information, contact your local county emergency management office.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for ozone effective June 3, 2020, in the Phoenix area. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

Ground level ozone forms when two types of pollutants—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—react in sunlight. These pollutants come primarily from automobiles, but also from other sources including industries, power plants, and products, such as solvents and paints. Generally, the highest levels of ozone occur in the afternoon.

Check the Hourly Air Quality Forecast on the Air Arizona Mobile App

Apple iTunes > | Google Play >

 

Health Impacts

People most vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution include children, older adults, adults exercising outdoors, people with heart or lung disease and those suffering from asthma and bronchitis. Exposure can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease and reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Symptoms may include itchy eyes, nose, and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and upper respiratory issues.

Please help reduce ozone by doing one or more of the following:

Drive as little as possible
Re-fuel your vehicle in the evening
Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, if possible
Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers – delay big painting projects
Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air

Be Air Aware!

Stay informed and be a part of the ADEQ air quality challenge. Together we can make a difference to improve air quality for everyone in Arizona by following three simple steps. | Learn More >

 

BACKGROUND

High Pollution Advisory (HPA) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to exceed the federal health standard.

Health Watch (HW) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to approach the federal health standard.

Particulate Matter Fact Sheet | View >

Ozone Fact Sheet | View >

 

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/3cvzfg6  Sawtooth Fire : Notice: Precautionary GO status for limited residents in Queen Valley

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/2Xng4Rv  Sawtooth Fire : new maps have been uploaded to this incident

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/2zP1RDF  Sawtooth Fire : new photos have been uploaded to this incident

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/2Xng4Rv  Sawtooth Fire : new maps have been uploaded to this incident

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/2U034iu  Sawtooth Fire : Sawtooth Fire Update - June 1, 2020

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF bit.ly/2XPDz4A Sawtooth Fire : Sawtooth Fire Evening Update - June 2, 2020

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF bit.ly/2zV0OSP Sawtooth Fire : Sawtooth Fire Update - June 2, 2020

#OcotilloFire #AZ #AZAZS bit.ly/2BlpRit Ocotillo Fire : As of noon today\, the remaining evacuation order was lifted. All residents

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF bit.ly/3cvzfg6 Sawtooth Fire : Notice: Precautionary GO status for limited residents in Queen Valley

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF bit.ly/2Xng4Rv Sawtooth Fire : new maps have been uploaded to this incident

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/2XoIkmx  Sawtooth Fire : Sawtooth Fire Public Safety Closure Order

#OcotilloFire #AZ #AZAZS https://bit.ly/2BlpRit  Ocotillo Fire : Crews continue to make excellent progress on the Ocotillo Fire and have re

#OcotilloFire #AZ #AZAZS https://bit.ly/36Qwkxd  Ocotillo Fire : Containment Increases on Ocotillo Fire & Evac Order to be Lifted Tuesday

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for ozone effective June 2, 2020, in the Phoenix area. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

Ground level ozone forms when two types of pollutants—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—react in sunlight. These pollutants come primarily from automobiles, but also from other sources including industries, power plants, and products, such as solvents and paints. Generally, the highest levels of ozone occur in the afternoon.

Check the Hourly Air Quality Forecast on the Air Arizona Mobile App

Apple iTunes > | Google Play >

 

Health Impacts

People most vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution include children, older adults, adults exercising outdoors, people with heart or lung disease and those suffering from asthma and bronchitis. Exposure can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease and reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Symptoms may include itchy eyes, nose, and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and upper respiratory issues.

Please help reduce ozone by doing one or more of the following:

• Drive as little as possible
• Re-fuel your vehicle in the evening
• Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, if possible
• Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers – delay big painting projects
• Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air

Be Air Aware!

Stay informed and be a part of the ADEQ air quality challenge. Together we can make a difference to improve air quality for everyone in Arizona by following three simple steps. | Learn More >

 

BACKGROUND

High Pollution Advisory (HPA) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to exceed the federal health standard.

Health Watch (HW) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to approach the federal health standard.

Particulate Matter Fact Sheet | View >

Ozone Fact Sheet | View >

 

FIND THE FORECAST

ADEQ Hourly Air Quality Forecast | View >

Text or Email Alerts | Subscribe > 

Air Arizona Mobile App | Learn More >

Apple iTunes >

Google Play >

#RangeFire #AZ #AZAZS https://bit.ly/3cezR9N  Range Fire : As of Sunday night\, the Range Fire is 100% contained. The 3\,286-acre fire start

#OcotilloFire #AZ #AZAZS https://bit.ly/2BlpRit  Ocotillo Fire : The fire was aerial mapped today and is reported to be 980 acres. The loss

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. 

The evacuation order for the remainder of the burn area will remain in place for the next 72-hours. 

Due to hazards within the fire perimeter, it is not safe to lift the entire evacuation order at this time. Multiple power poles and lines are down, propane tanks are leaking, and hotspots remain within the perimeter of the fire. 

Today, Arizona Public Service (APS) began assessing their hazards and restoring power to the impacted areas. Also, natural gas advisors worked to pinpoint the locations of leaking propane tanks. 

Besides identifying and mitigating area hazards, a damage assessment is nearly complete. By 5 pm tomorrow, the Town of Cave Creek will notify those residents impacted with structure loss. Residents can then set up a time to be escorted back in to their properties by MCSO. 

“Public safety remains our top priority and we must work as safely, yet as quickly as possible to begin the reentry process. We understand your frustration and we know you want to get back into your homes. However, we must mitigate all hazards before allowing residents to return,’ said Incident Commander Darrell Willis. 

The human-caused Ocotillo Fire started Saturday afternoon off Ocotillo Road, northwest of Cave Creek. Five hundred people were evacuated with an estimated 10 structures damaged in the fire. 

The fire remains at 1,216 acres with 10% containment. 

For additional fire information please refer to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6728/.

#SawtoothFire #AZ #AZTNF https://bit.ly/2zP1RDF  Sawtooth Fire : new photos have been uploaded to this incident