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Fire activity increasing in the afternoon
Sand Stone Fire at dusk
View of Sand Stone Fire from Vista Lookout at Bartlett Lake
The Sand Stone Fire started Thursday, July 25th 14 miles northeast of Fountain Hills, AZ between the Verde River and Hwy 87 on the Cave Creek Ranger District. It was caused by lightning. It is burning rapidly through brush and grass in the Sonoran Desert.
| Current as of | Tue, 07/30/2024 - 13:16 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Phoenix |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 14 miles northeast of Fountain Hills |
| Incident Commander | Aaron Hulburd Incident Commander, Andrew Mandell Deputy Incident Commander, and Brad Johnson Incident Commander Trainee; Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team 4. |
| Incident Description | Wildfire in the Sonoran Desert. |
| Coordinates |
33° 45' 34'' Latitude
-111° 35' 42
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 306 |
|---|---|
| Size | 23,405 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 0% |
| Fuels Involved | Tall Grass, brush |
| Significant Events | Active and torching fire behavior easily moving through dry fuel beds. Primarily spreading north and east. Highly visible from outlying communities. |
| Planned Actions |
Firefighter and public safety continue to be a top priority. Current strategies include protecting values at risk adjacent to tribal, private and national forest lands, including power and transportation infrastructure, cultural and natural resources, threaten and engendered species, Sonoran Desert habitat, and range improvements. This involves safeguarding critical utility lines on the North end of the fire and Hwy 87, as well as implementing defensive strategies to safeguard all structures and properties within the DOS S ranch, and the community of Sunflower. Firefighters continue to ensure the safe evacuation of residences and livestock from the DOS S ranch and Sunflower, providing clear communication and support throughout the process. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
High to extreme growth is expected. |
| Remarks |
A Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) has been ordered to manage the incident and will assume command Monday. The US Forest Service Cave Creek and Mesa Ranger District Offices implemented an Emergency Closure Order; This Order shall be in effect from July 29, 2024, at 8 a.m. through August 31, 2024, at 6 p.m., unless rescinded. ADOT implemented a closure effective 5:41 Sunday for southbound Hwy 87 for firefighter and public safety. The closure is between State Route 188 and Bush Highway. Motorists are advised to expect delays and seek an alternate route. There is no estimated time to reopen the southbound lanes. The northbound lanes are unaffected. |
| Weather Concerns | Entering a period of warming and drying with no seasonal moisture in the forecast for the next 5-7 days. |
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