This is the last planned update for the Slate Fire

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 24, 2021 — The Slate Fire, which is located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff and caused a temporary closure of Highway 180 earlier this month, is at 90 percent containment and 11,435 acres.

While the Slate Fire is no longer active and growing, crews are hesitant to designate the fire as fully contained based on a few unburned pockets of fuel located within the fire's footprint.

Fire personnel will likely deem the fire as 100 percent contained after the area receives a significant amount of precipitation.

Windy and active wildfire conditions, along with burnout operations, were the main factors in the growth of the fire, which started west of 180 before jumping the highway and moving in a northeastern direction.

Recreation sites in the area remain closed due to a full closure of the Coconino National Forest.

The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., on June 7 and the cause is still under investigation.

Details about the Slate Fire will remain on InciWeb until the fire is 100 percent contained.

SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 15, 2021 — Highway 180 has reopened following a week-long closure caused by the Slate Fire, which is located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff and is now at 11,012 acres and at 16 percent containment.
While Highway 180 has reopened, motorists are asked to reduce their speeds and keep an eye out for crews still working in the area. Additional portions of the Coconino National Forest are closed to the public for safety reasons.
Adverse wind shifts Monday contributed to the spread of the fire, and crews spent the day using engines, hand crews, dozers, and helicopter water bucket drops to tend to spot fires on the south side of the fire.
Crews also took advantage of adverse winds by running a line of retardant on the west side of Missouri Bill Hill, followed by dozer and crew work Monday night in an effort to protect firefighter safety.
Crews plan to spend Tuesday continuing to secure Cedar Ranch with two engines while putting water on hot spots in the area. Additionally, resources will likely be relocated from the west side of Highway 180 to the southeast side of the fire. Work is still being done to survey archaeological sites in the area.
Several recreation sites in the area remain closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) to Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2). A Forest Order was also issued over the weekend to close nearby parts of the Coconino National Forest.
About 190 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including three Hotshot crews, two hand crews, nine engines, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters and miscellaneous overhead.
The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation.Details about the Slate Fire will be posted on InciWeb, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

• Current size: 11,012 acres
• Containment: 16 percent
• Reported: 3 a.m. June 7, 2021.
• Cause: Under investigation.
• Origin location: Roughly 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff. (35.492, -111.847)
• Fuel types: Pine, pinyon, juniper, brush.
• Current resources: Three Hotshot crews, two hand crews, nine engines, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters and misc. overhead. Total personnel: Approximately 190.
• Predicted smoke impacts: Winds will continue to move in a northeast direction Monday and into Tuesday.
• Current closures: A portion of the Arizona Trail from mile 603.3 to 616.2, Slate Mountain and Red Mountain trailheads and Kendrick Cabin. A Forest Order was issued Saturday closing parts of the forest located near the fire for safety reasons.
• Recent and current operations: Crews are tending to spot fires, conducting bucket work with helicopters and securing lines. A line of retardant was dropped and crews continue to secure Cedar Ranch.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 14, 2021 — The Slate Fire, located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff along both the east and west sides of Highway 180, is now at 10,677 acres and 23 percent containment.
A Forest Order was issued Saturday closing parts of the forest located near the fire for safety reasons.
Windy and active wildfire conditions, along with burnout operations conducted last week, are the main factors in the growth of the fire, which is moving in a western direction.
Crews plan to spend the early part of this week securing existing control lines as well as conducting surveys of heritage and cultural sites in the area. Crews also plan to keep a watch out for spot fires that may spark south of control lines, and will perform bucket work with helicopters on scene as needed, depending on how spot fires behave.
Highway 180 will remain closed between mileposts 235 and 248 for the foreseeable future due to smoke impact and crew work in the area. Crews will need to remove potentially hazardous dead trees alongside the road before the stretch of 180 can be reopened.
Crews continue to secure Cedar Ranch, and several recreation sites in the area remain closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) to Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2).
About 140 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including three Hotshot crews, one hand crew, nine engines, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters and miscellaneous overhead.
The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation. Motorists should avoid Highway 180 north of Kendrick Park, and visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park should use Highway 64 from Williams to access the entrance to the Park.Details about the Slate Fire will be posted on InciWeb, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

• Current size: 10,677 acres
• Containment: 23 percent
• Reported: June 7, 2021 at 3 a.m.
• Cause: Under investigation.
• Origin location: Roughly 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff. (35.492, -111.847)
• Fuel types: Pine, pinyon, juniper, brush.
• Current resources: Three Hotshot crews, one hand crew, nine engines, three water tenders, two dozers, two helicopters, miscellaneous overhead personnel. Total personnel: Approximately 140.
• Predicted smoke impacts: Winds will continue to move in a northeast direction Monday and into Tuesday.
• Current closures: Highway 180 from MP 235-248. Portion of the Arizona Trail from mile 603.3 to 616.2. A Forest Order was issued Saturday closing parts of the forest located near the fire for safety reasons.
• Recent and current operations: Crews aim to continue securing existing lines while watching for spot fires that may move south of existing lines. Helicopter bucket work may be conducted as needed depending on spot fires. Crews will also conduct work removing hazardous dead trees along Highway 180.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 11, 2021 — The Slate Fire, located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff along both the east and west sides of Highway 180, is now at 6,248 acres and 17 percent containment.

Windy and active wildfire conditions, along with burnout operations, are the main factors in the growth of the fire, which is still moving in a northeastern direction.

Crews plan to spend Friday conducting firing operations on the west side of Slate Mountain to bring the fire out to control lines. The firing operations are expected to last 24 to 48 hours, and will allow crews to hold control lines on the west side of Slate Mountain and then shift remaining resources to the east side of the fire. Crews also plan to utilize natural fuel breaks and allow the fire to burn thicker fuels.

Highway 180 remains closed between mileposts 235 and 248 due to smoke impact and crew work in the area. The Arizona Department of Transportation will install a new guardrail, and crews will need to remove potentially hazardous dead trees alongside the road before the stretch of 180 can be reopened. ADOT estimates the earliest the highway could open is Sunday, but that is still to be determined.

Crews continue to secure Cedar Ranch and several archaeological sites in the area. Recreation sites in the area remain closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) to Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2).

About 140 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including three Hotshot crews, two hand crews, seven engines, two water tenders, two dozers, one helicopter and miscellaneous overhead.

The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation. Motorists should avoid Highway 180 north of Kendrick Park, and visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park should use Highway 64 from Williams to access the entrance to the Park.

Details about the Slate Fire will be posted on InciWeb, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 10, 2021 — The Coconino National Forest is still working to contain the Slate Fire, which is located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff along Highway 180 and has grown to 5,000 acres.

Windy and active wildfire conditions, along with burnout operations, are the main factors in the growth of the fire, which is still moving in a northeastern direction.

Portions of Highway 180, from mileposts 235 to 248 will remain closed for the foreseeable future while crews work to suppress the fire.

About 130 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including three Hotshot crews, one hand crew, eight engines, two water tenders, two dozers, one helicopter and miscellaneous overhead.

Crews are currently working to manage the fire spread both east and west of Highway 180, with containment still at zero percent.

Motorists should avoid Highway 180 north of Kendrick Park, and visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park should use Highway 64 from Williams to access the entrance to the Park.

Crews plan to spend Thursday conducting burnout operations west of the highway to secure the northwestern flank of the fire, while using hand crews and dozers east of the highway to direct the fire northeast and away from Cedar Ranch. This will help herd the fire toward fuels and terrain that will be more effective in containing that section of the fire, rather than allowing the fire to move south toward the Kachina Peaks Wilderness.

While there have been no structures damaged due to the fire, crews will continue to implement structure protection around Cedar Ranch as well as several archaeological sites in the area.

Recreation sites in the area are closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) and Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2).

The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation.

Details about the Slate Fire will be posted on InciWeb, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 9, 2021 — The Coconino National Forest is still working to contain the Slate Fire, which is located along Highway 180 and has grown to 2,000 acres.
The fire originated on June 7 approximately 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff on the west side of U.S. Highway 180, adjacent to the Kaibab National Forest. It is currently moving in a northeast direction.
Portions of Highway 180 from Cedar Ranch to Kendrick Park will remain closed for the foreseeable future while crews work to contain the fire.
About 150 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including four Hotshot crews, one hand crew, eight engines, two water tenders, two dozers, one helicopter and miscellaneous overhead.
Crews plan to spend Wednesday working to secure Cedar Ranch using indirect suppression strategies.
Motorists should avoid Highway 180 north of Kendrick Park, and visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park should use Highway 64 from Williams in order to access the entrance to the Park.
No structures are threatened at this time. Recreation sites in the area are closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) and Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2).
The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation.
Details about the Slate Fire will be posted on InciWeb, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

• Discovery date: June 7, 2021.
• Cause: Under investigation.
• Origin location: Roughly 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff. (35.492, -111.847)
• Current size: 2,000 acres.
• Current resources: Five hand crews, eight engines, two water tenders, two dozers, one helicopter, miscellaneous overhead personnel. Total personnel: Approximately 150.
• Predicted smoke impacts: Around Highway 180 between Cedar Ranch and Kendrick Park.
• Current closures: Highway 180 from Cedar Ranch to Kendrick Park.
• Recent and current operations: Firefighters are using indirect suppression strategies including hand crews, engines and dozers to secure Cedar Ranch.

\FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 8, 2021 — The Slate Fire, which was reported the morning on June 7, has grown to 1,400 acres.
 
The fire originated approximately 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff on the west side of U.S. Highway 180, adjacent to the Kaibab National Forest, and is currently moving in a northeast direction.
 
Portions of Highway 180 from Cedar Ranch to Kendrick Park will remain closed throughout the day while crews work to contain the fire.
 
About 130 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, including three Hotshot crews, one hand crew, seven engines, two water tenders, two dozers, one helicopter and miscellaneous overhead.
 
Crews are using both direct and indirect strategies to contain the fire in order to minimize impacts to Cedar Ranch.
 
Motorists should avoid Highway 180 north of Kendrick Park, and visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park should use Highway 64 from Williams in order to access the entrance to the Park.
 
No structures are threatened at this time. Recreation sites in the area are closed, including the Red Mountain and Slate Mountain trailheads, Kendrick Cabin and a portion of the Arizona Trail from Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) and Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2).
 
The fire was called in by a Coconino County Sheriff's Officer at 3 a.m., and the cause is still under investigation.
 
Details about the Slate Fire will be posted on InciWeb, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
 
SLATE FIRE OVERVIEW:

• Discovery date: June 7, 2021.
• Cause: Under investigation.
• Origin location: Roughly 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff. (35.492, -111.847)
• Current size: 1,400 acres.
• Current resources: Four hand crews, seven engines, two water tenders, two dozers, one helicopter, miscellaneous overhead personnel. Total personnel: Approximately 130.
• Predicted smoke impacts: Around Highway 180 between Cedar Ranch and Kendrick Park.
• Current closures: Highway 180 from Cedar Ranch to Kendrick Park.
• Recent and current operations: Firefighters are conducting burnout operations west of Highway 180 and hand crews, engines and dozers are being used east of Highway 180.

June 13 - Mammoth Creek Fire Update

Today will be the final update for the Mammoth Fire.

Today is the last operational shift for Type 2 Great Basin Incident Management Team 5 – Sam Hicks.  The Mammoth Fire will transition back to the local unit tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. and will be managed by Type IV Incident Commander Cody Turner.

Yesterday’s Operational Shift

• Crews made significant progress, expanding fire containment on the south and north perimeter.
• Fire crews focused on fire suppression repair and built waterbars on fire lines in steeper terrain to prevent soil erosion.
• Crews pulled up and backhauled hose and water handling equipment in preparation for future incidents.
• Fire line was patrolled on all areas of the perimeter to locate and extinguish any heat near the fire edge.
• Some fire resources were released and reassigned to other large Utah wildland fires.

Today’s Operational Expectations

• Crews will backhaul remaining equipment, complete fire suppression repair, and install waterbars on fire line.
• Fire resources and equipment will continue to be released from the Mammoth Fire to assist with other emerging large fires in the state of Utah.

Evacuations, Fire Restrictions & Closures

• Mammoth Creek Village remains evacuated. The evacuation is being evaluated today by the Garfield County Sheriff and fire managers. Changes to the evacuation status will be will posted to social media sites (above) or contact the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office at (435) 676-2678.
• The Dixie National Forest is revising the Area Closure Order for the Mammoth Fire. Updates to the Closure Order and can be viewed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/dixie/alerts-notices .
• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Dixie National Forest.

Utah remains critically dry and weather continues to trend hotter, drier and windier through the foreseeable period.

Please Recreate Responsibly

Yesterday’s Operational Shift

• On the south perimeter where the fire burned into a lava flow, crews used water from hose lays to mop-up pockets of heat to further secure the fire line.
• In steeper terrain on the fire’s western edge, crews used infrared technology to seek and mop-up remaining hot spots.
• Near structures and interior roads, crews assessed and removed hazardous trees.
• Fire crews built waterbars on fire lines in steeper terrain to prevent soil erosion.
• Where fire line is contained, crews backhauled hose and water handling equipment.

Today’s Operational Expectations

• Crews will continue to backhaul water handling equipment and begin fire suppression repair in areas of the fire where   containment has been achieved.
• Firefighters will continue felling of dead or partially dead trees called snags that pose a hazard near structures and along roads.
• Fire resources and equipment will be released from the Mammoth Fire to assist with other emerging large fires in the state of Utah.

Evacuations, Fire Restrictions & Closures

• Mammoth Creek Village remains evacuated; contact the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office for additional information (435) 676-2678.
• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Dixie National Forest.
• The Dixie National Forest has implemented a Closure Area for roads, trails, and lands surrounding the Mammoth Fire. View the Closure Order Map

Fire Resources

• 310 personnel, 5 crews, 12 engines, 3 water tenders, 2 helicopters

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