Single Publication

UPDATE: West Fire, Payson Ranger District 
September 26, 2024

Size: 15,058 acres                              Start Date: August 28, 2024
Cause: Lightning                               Location: Payson Ranger District, Arizona
Containment: 51%                          Fuels: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, chaparral
Total personnel: 153

Operations:  Yesterday fire crews successfully hand-ignited a twenty-acre section on the southern edge of the fire to secure fire line in that area.  In the interior, fire consumed dead and down fuel in a natural way clearing the forest floor from buildups of vegetation that can contribute to catastrophic future fires, helping to protect the communities of Pine and Geronimo Estates. Today, crews will burn and monitor brush piles east of the Pine Trailhead to further secure the line as opportunity allows. More containment is expected near Geronimo Estates in the next day or two. The fire team plans to assess current evacuation levels today for affected communities of Pine and Geronimo Estates.   

Weather: Today, sunny warm and dry conditions continue with a high temper of 92 degrees. 0% chance of precipitation with humidity in the 18% range. Winds E around 9 mph, switching S in the pm.  Tonight: Clear with a low around 65, winds W around 7 mph, NE in late evening.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always a priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area and use caution around fire equipment on the roads.   

Smoke: Smoke from the West fire may be visible as interior fuel continues to dry and burn, decreasing as the week wears on. Expect concentrations in low lying areas near the fire perimeter in the mornings, which will clear out as air warms during the day.  Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website.

Closures: The Tonto National Forest has issued a closure for land surrounding the West fire.  This includes the Pine Trailhead.  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/aztnf-2024-west-fire-tnf/us-forest-service-closure-order-for-west-fire-09-04-2024

Evacuations:  Pine residents on the east side of SR 87 and east of North Pine Creek Canyon Road are in SET status. Geronimo Estates residents near the West Fire are in SET status. For information on evacuation status, visit https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=9bf2ca222ee74f8697bc670ae9c2531a  To receive emergency notifications from Gila County, visit https://gilacountyaz.genasys.com/portal/en

For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow along on Facebook @TontoNationalForest, ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) @TontoForest or Instagram @tontonationalforest and on the Tonto National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto