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Crews Make Progress on Containment 

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: Fire crews are making progress to contain all fires. Rain fell across the fire area, resulting in decreased fire activity. This will help keep fire activity minimal over the next few days. This doesn’t mean the fires are out. 

Cottonwood Ridge Fire Update: Crews made progress bringing containment up to 50% before being forced off the fire line by rain and lightning. Crews will continue to improve and secure firelines to protect communities to the north. 

Snake Ridge Fire Update: No smoke was visible on the fire Sunday, and the fire showed minimal hot spots. Crews will continue to improve firelines and mop up hot spots. 

Weather: Rain fell across the area on Sunday, and all fires received some rain. Predictions for Monday include the possibility of thunderstorms forming and moving into the area in the early afternoon. Precipitation chances increase to 80%, with temperatures dropping into 80s. 

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: The Spoon Fire may have isolated smoke from interior pockets of vegetation. Please slow down when traveling through smoky area. 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.