Start date:  May 29, 2021

Location:  Approximately 30 miles north of Cuba and 11 miles northwest of Regina on the Cuba Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), Rio Arriba County

Cause:  Human. The Wolf Draw Fire was caused by an illegal abandoned campfire that escaped the fire ring over the Memorial Day weekend. The west side of the SFNF is currently under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which prohibit dispersed campfires.

Size:  712 acres                                   

Percent Contained:  75%

Resources:  2 hand crews and 1 Type 3 helicopter

Fuels:  Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer

Operations:  The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team turned command of the Wolf Draw Fire over to a local Type 4 team at 6 a.m. this morning. Today, crews continued implementing both mop-up and suppression repair. Firefighters are also monitoring fire behavior, which is for the most part creeping and smoldering through vegetation on the ground.

Weather: A warming, drying trend with above-normal temperatures and decreasing humidity recovery is forecast for the area. Dry, hot and unstable conditions are expected through the week with the possibility of moisture returning next weekend.

Objectives: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Other objectives  on the Wolf Draw Fire include limiting fire impacts on cultural resources, oil and gas infrastructure, private property, canyon ecosystems and Mexican spotted owl habitat.

Smoke:  Minimal smoke impacts are expected from the Wolf Draw Fire due to its remote location. Depending on fire behavior, smoke may be visible in the Dulce area. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website, Inciweb and on the SFNF Facebook and Twitter.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Start date:  May 29, 2021

Location:  Approximately 30 miles north of Cuba and 11 miles northwest of Regina on the Cuba Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), Rio Arriba County

Cause:  Human. The Wolf Draw Fire was caused by an illegal abandoned campfire that escaped the fire ring over the Memorial Day weekend. The west side of the SFNF is currently under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which prohibit dispersed campfires.

Size:  712 acres                                   

Percent Contained:  75%

Resources:  1 Type 3 engine, 1 Type 6 engine, 2 hand crews, 1 Rapid Extraction Module (REM) Team, 1 air attack platform and 1 Type 3 helicopter

Fuels:  Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer

Operations:  Another day of minimal fire activity gave crews the opportunity to continue mop-up operations along the control lines. The Type 3 Incident Management Team also started suppression repair, removing unneeded equipment and rehabbing the area from ground disturbances created while fighting the fire. The Type 3 team will turn command of the Wolf Draw Fire over to a local Type 4 team at 6 a.m. Monday.

Weather: The same pattern of scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue into Sunday night with a 40% chance of precipitation and north winds from 10 to 15 mph. Drier air moving into the area will bring an end to the sporadic rainfall with 0% chance of precipitation and lower relative humidities on Monday.

Objectives: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Other objectives  on the Wolf Draw Fire include limiting fire impacts on cultural resources, oil and gas infrastructure, private property, canyon ecosystems and Mexican spotted owl habitat.

Smoke:  Minimal smoke impacts are expected from the Wolf Draw Fire due to its remote location. Depending on fire behavior, smoke may be visible in the Dulce area. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website, Inciweb and on the SFNF Facebook and Twitter.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Start date:  May 29, 2021

Location:  Approximately 30 miles north of Cuba and 11 miles northwest of Regina on the Cuba Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), Rio Arriba County

Cause:  Human. The Wolf Draw Fire was caused by an illegal abandoned campfire that escaped the fire ring over the Memorial Day weekend. The west side of the SFNF is currently under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which prohibit dispersed campfires.

Size:  712 acres                                   

Percent Contained:  70%

Resources:  1 type 4 engine, 1 type 6 engine, 4 hand crews, 1 ambulance, 1 Rapid Extraction Module (REM) Team, 1 air attack platform and 2 Type 3 helicopters.

Fuels:  Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer

Operations:  Crews completed direct control line around the perimeter of the Wolf Draw Fire and will continue mop-up operations through Sunday. Fire behavior is minimal with some smoldering and creeping. The Type 3 Incident Management Team is planning to return command of the Wolf Draw Fire to a local Type 4 team at 6 a.m. Monday.

Weather: The same pattern of scattered showers and thunderstorms continued today, but drier air filtering in from the west will reduce the chance of precipitation on Sunday and Monday. A 30% chance of precipitation tonight will be accompanied by winds out of the north at 10 to 15 mph.

Objectives: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Other objectives  on the Wolf Draw Fire include limiting fire impacts on cultural resources, oil and gas infrastructure, private property, canyon ecosystems and Mexican spotted owl habitat.

Smoke:  Minimal smoke impacts are expected from the Wolf Draw Fire due to its remote location. Depending on fire behavior, smoke may be visible in the Dulce area. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website, Inciweb and on the SFNF Facebook and Twitter.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Warren Fire perimeter is holding. Host spots remain within the interior.  With the increase in containment, the incident has begun to release resources and make them available to assist with other fires throughout the southwest. Resources will remain on scene until the fire reaches full containment. Assigned resources are one Agency Administrator , one helicopter, and two hotshot crews.  This will be the final update unless significant activity occurs.

WHITE MOUNTAIN ZONE

Incident Management Team

Ben Plumb – Incident Commander

McDonald Tank Fire Transitions Command Today

McDonald Tank Fire: Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Location of Origin: 25 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona

Start Date: May 23, 2021      

Size: 3,550 Acres

Cause: Under investigation   

Percent Contained: 66

Personnel: 115         

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Tall Grass

Resources Assigned: 2 type 6 Engines, 1 type 3 Engine, 2 Hand Crews, 1 Water Tender, 1 type 1 Helicopter, 1 type 3 Helicopter, and other miscellaneous incident management overhead.

Transition: The McDonald Tank fire started on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation on May 23, 2021. Conditions at the time were very dry and the fire quickly grew beyond the capacity of available firefighting resources under the command of a Type 4 organization. On May 25 the White Mountain Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire, led by Incident Commander Ben Plumb. Today the fire will transition back to a Type 4 fire organization led by Incident Commander Carlton Guseyen. This is the final update from the White Mountain Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team unless conditions worsen, or factors determine otherwise.

Operations: The forecasted thunderstorms and the potential for dry lightning may create strong, gusty winds which could affect fire behavior and have the potential to threaten containment lines. Fire crews will continue to patrol perimeters, mop up and mitigate any threats to the containment lines.

Alerts: The Fort Apache Indian Reservation has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The San Carlos Apache Tribe initiated modified stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Closures: The junction at Y70/Y30, the Y40/Y70 junction, and everything south of Maverick and Tonto Lake is temporarily closed. The Malay Gap Management Unit on the San Carlos Apache reservation is closed.  

Safety: Smoke may be visible along U.S. 260 and 60 and in nearby communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Weather: The chance for showers and storms will continue today with a 40% chance of precipitation and a high of 75 degrees. 

Values at risk: Firefighters will continue to work to protect commercial timberlands, critical watersheds,  riparian areas, rangelands, and recreation and wilderness areas.

Official fire information can be found on these sites.

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7501/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/

• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events

WHITE MOUNTAIN ZONE

Incident Management Team

Ben Plumb – Incident Commander

Firefighters Gaining Ground On McDonald Tank Fire  

McDonald Tank Fire: Monday, May 31, 2021

Location of Origin: 25 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona

Start Date: May 23, 2021

Size: 3,550 Acres

Cause: Under investigation

Percent Contained: 58

Personnel: 167

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Tall Grass

Resources Assigned: 4 type 6 Engines, 1 type 3 Engine, 3 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 1 type 2 Crew, 1 type 2 Initial Attack Crew, 5 Water Tenders, 1 type 1 Helicopter, 1 type 3 Helicopter, 2 Dozers, and other miscellaneous incident management overhead.

Operations: Firefighters were able to accomplish additional containment yesterday and were successful in strengthening and holding control lines. Today crews will continue mopping up, assessing threats, and patrolling the perimeter to mitigate any threats to the fire lines. One of the top priorities for the White Mountain Zone Team is to be good stewards of the land while operating on wildland fire assignments. A key component of this is managing the incident in a manner that is environmentally responsible. During this incident a recycling plan was put into place to process cardboard, plastic bottles, batteries and various other products that were generated by the hundreds of firefighting personnel.

Alerts: The Fort Apache Indian Reservation has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The San Carlos Apache Tribe initiated modified stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Closures: To ensure the safety for both firefighters and the public, the junction at Y70/Y30, the Y40/Y70 junction, and everything south of Maverick and Tonto Lake is temporarily closed. The Malay Gap Management Unit on the San Carlos Apache reservation is closed.  

Safety: Smoke may be visible along U.S. 260 and 60 and in nearby communities to the north and north-east. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Weather: Today’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of rain and possible dry lightning, and a high near 80 degrees.

Values at risk: The McDonald Tank fire area includes important lands to the White Mountain Apache people. Firefighters are working to protect the Ten O’ Diamonds Ranch House, the Paddy Creek Ranch, commercial timberlands, critical watersheds,  riparian areas, rangelands, and recreation and wilderness areas.

Official fire information can be found on these sites.

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7501/ 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/ 

• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events 

• ADEQ Air Quality Information: https://azdeq.gov/node/7077 

WHITE MOUNTAIN ZONE
Incident Management Team
Ben Plumb – Incident Commander

Public Information Officer: 928-245-1585

Firefighters Get Significant Containment On McDonald Tank Fire  

McDonald Tank Fire: Sunday, May 30, 2021

Location of Origin: 25 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona

Start Date: May 23, 2021

Size: 3,576 Acres

Cause: Under investigation

Percent Contained: 31

Personnel: 164

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Tall Grass

Resources Assigned: 4 type 6 Engines, 1 type 3 Engine, 3 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 1 type 2 Crew, 1 type 2 Initial Attack Crew, 5 Water Tenders, 1 type 1 Helicopter, 1 type 3 Helicopter, 2 Dozers, and other miscellaneous incident management overhead.

Operations: Yesterday firefighters utilized an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) drone as a critical recon tool to assess hazards, look for heat signatures and to identify any threats to control lines. With control lines holding, crews were able to begin mopping up to further strengthen containment efforts. Today firefighters will mop up and begin rehab work where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The primary objective is to keep the fire on the north side of the Black River, south of Y40 road, east of 57A road and west of 40K road. Fire line construction and suppression efforts have been successful in keeping the fire from spreading into the steep and rugged Black River drainage.

Alerts: The Fort Apache Indian Reservation has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The San Carlos Apache Tribe initiated modified stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Closures: To ensure the safety for both firefighters and the public, the junction at Y70/Y30, the Y40/Y70 junction, and everything south of Maverick and Tonto Lake is temporarily closed. The Malay Gap Management Unit on the San Carlos Apache reservation is closed.  

Safety: Smoke may be visible along U.S. 260 and 60 and in nearby communities to the north and north-east. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Weather: Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies, with a high near 82 degrees and winds up to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Values at risk: The McDonald Tank fire area includes important lands to the White Mountain Apache people. Firefighters are working to protect the Ten O’ Diamonds Ranch House, the Paddy Creek Ranch, commercial timberlands, critical watersheds,  riparian areas, rangelands, and recreation and wilderness areas.

Official fire information can be found on these sites.

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7501/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/

• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events

• ADEQ Air Quality Information: https://azdeq.gov/node/7077

WHITE MOUNTAIN ZONE

Incident Management Team

Ben Plumb – Incident Commander

Exceptional Drought Conditions Factor Into Strategic Firefighting Decisions  

McDonald Tank Fire: Saturday, May 29, 2021

Location of Origin: 25 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona

Start Date: May 23, 2021

Size: 3,576 Acres

Cause: Under investigation

Percent Contained: 0

Personnel: 175

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Tall Grass

Resources Assigned: 4 type 6 Engines, 1 type 3 Engine, 3 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 1 type 2 Crew, 1 type 2 Initial Attack Crew, 5 Water Tenders, 2 type 1 Helicopters, 2 type 3 Helicopters, 2 Dozers, and other miscellaneous incident management overhead.

Operations: An Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) drone was utilized in yesterday’s operations. UAS flights along fire lines and down into the Black River were conducted, assisting crews, seeking out heat signatures and threats to control lines, where these threats were then mitigated. These UAS are equipped with infrared cameras and provide command staff with real-time intelligence and surveillance of the fire’s activity. The primary objective is to keep the fire on the north side of the Black River, to hold and secure previous burnout operations, and to improve fire containment lines as needed into the Black River drainage.

Alerts: The Fort Apache Indian Reservation has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The San Carlos Apache Tribe initiated modified stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Closures: To ensure the safety for both firefighters and the public, the junction at Y70/Y30, the Y40/Y70 junction, and everything south of Maverick and Tonto Lake is temporarily closed. The Malay Gap Management Unit on the San Carlos Apache reservation is closed.  

Safety: Smoke may be visible along U.S. 260 and 60 and in nearby communities to the north and north-east. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Weather: Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies, with a high near 83 degrees and winds up to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Values at risk: The McDonald Tank fire area includes important lands to the White Mountain Apache people. Firefighters are working to protect the Ten O’ Diamonds Ranch House, the Paddy Creek Ranch, commercial timberlands, critical watersheds,  riparian areas, rangelands, and recreation and wilderness areas.

Official fire information can be found on these sites.

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7501/ 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/ 

• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events 

WHITE MOUNTAIN ZONE

Incident Management Team

Ben Plumb – Incident Commander

Public Information Officer: 928-245-1585

Firefighters Deploy Cutting-Edge Aerial Technology 

McDonald Tank Fire: Friday, May 28, 2021

*CORRECTED: No Plastic Sphere Dispenser operations on 5/27/21*

Location of Origin: 25 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona

Start Date: May 23, 2021

Size: 1,738 Acres

Cause: Under investigation

Percent Contained: 0

Personnel: 171

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Tall Grass

Resources Assigned: 4 type 6 Engines, 1 type 3 Engine, 3 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 1 type 2 Crew, 1 type 2 Initial Attack Crew, 3 Water Tenders, 2 type 1 Helicopters, 2 type 3 Helicopters, 2 Dozers, and other miscellaneous incident management overhead.

Operations: Fire managers utilized an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) drone equipped with infrared cameras to identify heat sources, to spot active smokes, and to recon areas that may be inaccessible to firefighters. Burnout operations were conducted yesterday to ignite unburned pockets of fuel to mitigate any threats to control lines. The fire continued to spread north up McDonald Creek, both on the east and west flanks. Firefighters will continue to scout road systems today and will work to secure the fire lines down into the Black River.

Alerts: The Fort Apache Indian Reservation has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting all campfires from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The San Carlos Apache Tribe initiated modified stage 2 fire restrictions today, prohibiting all campfires from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Closures: To ensure the safety for both firefighters and the public, the junction at Y70/Y30, the Y40/Y70 junction, and everything south of Maverick and Tonto Lake is temporarily closed. The public is urged to drive with caution on the Y70 road due to logging truck traffic and timber operations. The Malay Gap Management Unit on the San Carlos Apache reservation is closed due to the McDonald Tank fire. 

Safety: Smoke may be visible along U.S. 260 and 60 and in nearby communities to the north and north-east. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Weather: Warm and very dry weather is expected to continue through Saturday. Today’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies, with a high near 83 degrees and winds up to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Values at risk: The McDonald Tank fire area includes important lands to the White Mountain Apache people. Firefighters are working to protect the Ten O’ Diamonds Ranch House and other historical structures, commercial timberlands, critical watersheds,  riparian areas, rangelands, and recreation and wilderness areas.

Official fire information can be found on these sites.

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7501/  

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/  

• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events  

• ADEQ Air Quality Information: https://azdeq.gov/node/7077