Single Publication

Bear Fire
Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Location of Origin: 5 miles SW of Cibecue, AZ         

Start Date: June 8, 2024    
Size: 446 acres                                                            

Percent Contained: 0%
Cause: Undetermined, Under Investigation                 

Fuels: Pinyon-Juniper, Grassland    
Resources Assigned: 6 Crews, 1 Dozer, 4 Engines, 1 Helicopter, 4 Water Tenders 
            
Operations: The Bear Fire is burning in rugged terrain and has thus far provided only minimal access to firefighting resources. Increased temperatures and lower humidities resulted in 30-acres of new fire growth across retardant lines yesterday. Additionally, three new fires started approximately 1 mile from the northern most edge of the main fire yesterday. The three new fire starts have been collectively designated as the Black Fire and will also be managed by the White Mountain Zone Incident Management Team. Firefighters will continue to look for access points to safely engage along the flanks of the Bear Fire today, and aerial resources will continue to be deployed to aid firefighting efforts on the ground.  

Closures: To provide for the safety of the public and firefighters, the G-3 and G-4 roads are closed to the public.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations currently. Residents of Cibecue are in “READY” status. The public is encouraged to prepare and follow the Ready, Set, Go! program to prepare for any threats to their community. Go to https://311info.net/ for accurate and timely status updates.

Values at Risk: Emory Oak groves in the area, cultural sites and heritage resources, tribal sensitive species, cattle and grazing, watersheds and riparian areas, woodland areas, the Highway 60 and BIA Route 12 transportation corridors, natural springs, and Cibecue Falls.

Weather: Hot, dry weather is expected to continue with temperatures reaching 96 degrees and winds 5-10 mph.

Smoke: Wildfire smoke may impact Cibecue, Carrizo, and the White Mountain communities. Go to fire.airnow.gov/ to see the latest smoke conditions in your community. Smoke may be visible from the surrounding communities.

Official fire information can be found on these sites:

•    Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azfta-bear-fire 
•    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt