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Thunderstorms and Rain fall across the White Mountains

Cottonwood Ridge Fire Quick Facts 

Acres: 345 

Cause: Lightning 

Containment: 50% 

Start Date: July 23, 2023 

Location: 4 miles south of Show Low, AZ 

Fuels: Timber, grass, brush 

Snake Ridge Fire Quick Facts 

Acres: 42 acres 

Cause: Lightning 

Containment: 25% 

Start Date: July 28, 2023 

Location: 11 miles southwest of Show Low, AZ. 

Fuels:  Grass, Brush 

Total personnel for all incidents: 392 

Overview: The last several days of rain and higher humidity have kept fire activity minimal. Hotspots may still exist, and some areas may become active again toward the end of the week as fuels dry out. Lightning in the area has ignited at least one snag, and firefighters will be on the lookout for additional new starts. The rain and humidity will help fuels absorb moisture, which can reduce the chance of rapid fire growth. 

Cottonwood Ridge Fire Update: Crews continue to improve firelines, mop up areas, and seek out hotspots. Hotspots can be more difficult to find because of the recent rains and lack of smoke. Work will continue around the northern edge of the fire, as weather conditions allow. 

Snake Ridge Fire Update: Crews were able to make some progress on mop up and line securing operations before being pulled from the line due to weather on Monday. Firefighters will continue to seek out hotspots and secure fire line to increase containment. 

Weather: On Monday, multiple storm systems moved into the area with rain falling over both the Cottonwood Ridge and Snake Ridge fires helping fuels to absorb moisture. This weather system is expected to continue on Tuesday, which will help keep fire activity minimal and decrease the chances of fire activity increasing when the area begins to dry out again at the end of the week. 

Evacuations: None. Residents and visitors should take time to become familiar with the Ready, Set, Go evacuation model. These steps help you to be READY in the event of an emergency by preparing now. Additionally, sign up for the Navajo County Alert System at https://tinyurl.com/y4vwrasw. 

Smoke: Rain and humidity area keeping fire behavior to a minimum and there is no smoke currently visible.  This may change as the area dries out as the week progresses. The Spoon Fire may have isolated pockets of heat and smoke. Please slow down when traveling through smoky areas. For information on smoke and air quality visit https://www.airnow.gov. 

Closures: Highway 60 remains open. The southwest portion of Fort Apache is closed, including all Salt River sites within the closure area. 

Fire Restrictions: There are several fire restrictions in place depending on location. 

• Fort Apache Agency: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions - No campfire, fireworks, outdoor smoking, debris burning or discharging of firearms. Power saws cannot be used between 10 am and 8 pm. All motorized travel is restricted to developed roads. 

• Show Low, Navajo County and Apache Sitgreaves National Forests: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions - No campfires (except in developed recreation sites), no smoking outdoors, no welding, no fireworks.