Single Publication

Tonto National Forest to assume command of the Sand Stone, Deer, Y Bar, Bartlett, Sheep, and Clair Fires 

Daily Update – Sunday, August 12, 2024

Highlights: At 6:00 PM on Monday, August 12, the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team 4 will transfer command of the Sand Stone, Deer, Y Bar, Bartlett, Sheep, and Clair Fires to Type 4 incident commanders from the local ranger districts. Team 4 extends its sincere thanks to the local communities and cooperators for their support, gratitude, and hospitality throughout this incident. Firefighters have now achieved some containment on all fires, and the remaining work will be completed by local Forest Service personnel. Team 4 resources are either demobilizing to return to their home units or reassigning to assist with other wildfires.

Future Fire Information: The Fire Information phone number and email address will no longer be active after 6:00 PM this evening. For future updates, please contact the Tonto National Forest Public Affairs Officer, Susan Blake, at susan.blake@usda.gov, or (480) 647-8082, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. This will be the final update for the Sand Stone, Deer, Y Bar, Bartlett, Sheep, and Clair Fires, unless significant events occur.

Total personnel on all incidents: 263

Clair: 2,170 acres; 89% containment

Bartlett: 6,161 acres; 96% containment

Y Bar: 297 acres; 93% containment

Sheep: 2,483 acres; 26% containment

Sand Stone: 27,390 acres; 98% containment

Deer: 378 acres; 67% containment

Operational Update: Suppression repair activities continue across the fires with approximately one day left of road grading and rehabilitation of dozer lines. Crews have finished the necessary chipping and mastication work on the Sand Stone Fire. Firefighters continue to monitor the fires by air and on the ground, patrolling for concentrated heat while remaining ready to assist with new fire starts. 

Weather: Weather is trending towards hotter and dryer with temperatures increasing and relative humidity levels decreasing by mid-week. Chances of thunderstorms are unlikely as a ridge of high pressure remains in place over the Four Corners, bringing drier air over Arizona.

Smoke: With hotter and drier weather, pockets of concentrated heat within the interior of the fires may show smoke and may be visible from Fountain Hills, Sunflower, Deer Creek, Rye, Rio Verde, Goldfield, and unincorporated communities in the Rio Verde Foothills. An interactive smoke map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/. 

Closures: The Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District, has issued a Bartlett Lake Post Fire Flash Flood Public Safety Closure to include National Forest System Road 459 (North Lake Road) and all National Forest System lands within 100 feet of the Bartlett Reservoir shoreline. A closure order for the Sand Stone Fire area also remains in effect. See https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices/ for more information about forest closures. Trail users should avoid using the Arizona National Scenic Trail near the fire areas.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Drivers are reminded to use caution and be aware of firefighters working along State Route 87. Temporary Flight Restrictions over the fire areas have now been lifted.

More Information: 480-647-8082 / https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest / 2024.sandstone@firenet.gov 

https://inciweb.fs2c.usda.gov/incident-information/aztnf-clair / https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-bartlett / https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-sand-stone