US 60 eastbound east of Globe: Eastbound lanes have reopened between mileposts 251 and 318 after the #GriffinFire. The speed limit between Globe and near Fort Apache Reservation will be reduced to 55 mph to accommodate continued firefighting. https://twitter.com/ArizonaDOT/status/1300511532199981056

Juniper Fire Operations Update Video for August 31, 2020 with Planning Operations Trainee Caleb Finch is now available on the Salt Gin Griffin Fire Information Facebook page at http://bit.ly/OpsUpdateVideo

There is also an option to watch the video in Apache.

Griffin, Alder, Rockhouse, Juniper Fires – August 31, 2020 Morning Update

Griffin Fire:      61,377 acres       77% contained                  Cause: Lightning                               Vegetation: Grass and Brush

The Griffin Fire (started 8/17) merged with the Gin Fire (started 8/16) and Champion Fire (started 8/23).

Location: 5 miles northeast of Globe, AZ in the Apache mountains west of Hwy 60

Alder Fire: 578 acres                   0% contained                    Cause: Lightning                               Vegetation: Grass and Brush Started 8/27     Location: 16 miles north of San Carlos, AZ

Rockhouse Fire: 19,440 acres  0% contained                    Cause: Lightning                               Vegetation: Grass and Brush Started 8/21     Location: 22 miles southeast of San Carlos, AZ

Juniper Fire: 2,963 acres            36% contained                  Cause: Under Investigation          Vegetation: Grass and Brush

Started 8/24     Location: 7 miles northeast of Roosevelt, AZ

Resources: 456 total including: 7 Crews; 31 Engines; 4 bulldozers; 11 water tenders; 2 masticators; 5 helicopters; 2 amphibious super scooper planes

Significant Progress Along Highway 60 Corridor Fires

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

Firefighters have made significant progress along the Highway 60 corridor. Firefighters continue to work in the area, monitoring, patrolling, and continuing suppression rehabilitation. Call 511, visit https://az511.gov/ or https://www.az511.com/about/mobileapp or follow https://twitter.com/ArizonaDOT for current road status.

Road 1300, near Highway Tanks, and Road 900 remain closed on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Please be careful while driving in the fire area as firefighters are working along roadways and travelling through communities to reach the fires. Observe posted speed limits, slow down in the vicinity of emergency vehicles and personnel, and drive with your lights on for safety.

For current emergency management information, visit Gila County Emergency Management at http://www.readygila.com  or San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission https://tinyurl.com/y50067jr

Learn more about Ready (Prepare Now) – Set (Be Alert) – Go (Evacuate) information at  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

No rain fell on the fire areas yesterday. Daytime sunshine quickly dried the moisture that fell the night before. The potential for scattered thunderstorms with outflow winds and lightning remain a concern today. A warming and drying trend is predicted through the end of the week.

The Griffin Fire has minimal fire behavior with interior pockets of vegetation burning. Heavy equipment is being used to repair bulldozer lines, grade roads, and chip woody material removed during suppression efforts in the Griffin Fire.

The Alder Fire was active with movement to the south and north. Firefighters have may drop buckets of water to slow the fire’s spread where they can do so effectively. They continue to the monitor fire activity and may conduct firing operations to protect values at risk as needed.

The Rockhouse Fire remains on the northwest, south, and east sides. Amphibious super scoopers dropping water have been effectively helping slow the fire’s spread, however without rain, the fire is expected to remain active and grow. Firefighters continue to assess values at risk in the area. 

Firefighting efforts prevented further movement on the Juniper Fire. It continues to creep and smolder.

Air attack personnel located a new fire, the Starlight Fire, east of the Rockhouse Fire yesterday and growth was quickly limited by firefighting resources already in the area.

Firefighters are focused on protecting values at risk where they can do so safely and effectively. Challenges include extreme temperatures, steep and remote terrain, flash flooding, lightning and outflow winds associated with thunderstorms. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority. Firefighters are working to protect local communities, power lines, mines, range improvements, historical, cultural, ceremonial sites and natural resources. We are working with nearby Incident Management Teams and agency administrators to share resources where they are needed most.

A South Central Arizona Smoke Outlook is available on https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/SouthCentralArizona.  Rain and clouds today and tomorrow should continue to moderate smoke generation. Sun breaks and outflow winds from storms add uncertainty to the smoke forecast. Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: https://tinyurl.com/y3xp4cy3.

The Tonto National Forest has issued Public Safety Closure Orders for the areas impacted by these fires. Visit  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices for details.

Temporary Flight Restrictions are in effect. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t! Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. knowbeforeyoufly.org

Fire Information: 928-421-4539 (public)      928-421-4579 (media)

Griffin Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7020/

Alder Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7113/

Rockhouse Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7103/

Juniper Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7106/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltGinGriffinFire/ and https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/

Arizona Fire Information: https://wildlandfire.az.gov and https://ein.az.gov/

Gila County Emergency Management: http://www.readygila.com/

San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission (TERC): https://tinyurl.com/y50067jr

Interactive Fire Map: https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/

Fire
Fire activity was light on Griffin (62,477 acres, 77% containment) on Sunday. Superstition and Meddler fires have been turned back to local control. Hidden (4,307 acres, 0% containment), Rockhouse (19,440 acres, 0% containment) and Juniper (2,963 acres, 36% containment) were most active as were a couple other smaller fires. 

Smoke 
Rain and clouds today and tomorrow should continue to moderate fire activity and smoke generation. Some areas may see peeks of sun which will increase fire activity in those areas. Outflow winds from storms will add an additional level of uncertainty to smoke forecast. 

Ozone
Ozone is expected to continue in the Moderate or Good categories. Ozone is currently driving the AQI numbers versus fine particulates (PM2.5)

Fire
Fire activity was light on Griffin (61,955 acres, 44% containment), Superstition (9,539 acres, 58% containment) and Meddler (4,452 acres, 44% containment) fires on Saturday. Hidden (4,307 acres, 0% containment) and Rockhouse (11,783 acres, 0% containment) were most active. Fire activity was light on Griffin (61,955 acres, 44% containment), Superstition (9,539 acres, 58% containment) and Meddler (4,452 acres, 44% containment) fires on Saturday. Hidden (4,307 acres, 0% containment) and Rockhouse (11,783 acres, 0% containment) were most active.

Smoke
Rain and clouds today and tomorrow should moderate fire activity and smoke generation. Some areas may still see peeks of sun which will increase fire activity in those areas. Outflow winds from storms will add an additional level of uncertainty to smoke forecast. 

Ozone
Ozone is expected to continue in the Moderate or Good categories. Ozone is currently driving the AQI numbers versus fine particulates (PM2.5)  

Juniper Operations Update Video for August 30, 2020 with Planning Operations Trainee Caleb Finch is now available on the Salt Gin Griffin Fire Information Facebook page at http://bit.ly/OpsUpdateVideo

There is also an option to watch the video in Apache.

Griffin, Alder, Rock House, Juniper Fires – August 30, 2020 Morning Update

Minimal Rain Over Fires Yesterday; Scattered Thunderstorms Possible Today

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect today. Scattered thunderstorms with locally heavy rain, outflow winds, and lightning are concerns today. Dry washes and valley drainages should be avoided during heavy rain. Keep inmind that heavy rain several miles away can flood a dry wash with little warning. Plan for an alternate route if this occurs.

All of the fires received minimal rain yesterday, ranging from 1/2” on the Juniper Fire to less than 1/10” on the Rockhouse Fire. Fire activity is expected to continue until these areas receive significant, widespread rain.

Firefighters are patrolling for hotspots and rehabilitating areas that have burned in the Griffin Fire along the highway.  They are cold trailing, making sure there are no active areas of heat near the fire’s perimeter on the northeast side. The portion of the Griffin Fire west of Highway 60 and the southeast flank of the fire on the San Carlos Reservation remain inactive. Firefighters plan to complete approximately ¾” miles of prep work along the 1300 Road on the northeast side of the Griffin Fire today. Firefighters continue work along the 1120 Road. They are also working on suppression repair including restoring dozer lines in areas of the fire that are now contained.

Highway 60 remains closed north of Globe from S. Parker Street (MM251) north to MM318 in Show Low. Highways 188 and 288 are open. Call 511, visit https://az511.gov or https://www.az511.com/about/mobileapp for current road status.

Road 1300, near Highway Tanks, Road 900, are closed on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Please be careful while driving in the fire area as firefighters are working along roadways and travelling through communities to reach the fires.

Firefighters are monitoring fire activity on the Alder Fire, located northeast of the Griffin Fire. They are prepared to conduct firing operations if needed. The fire is located in steep terrain where it is primarily spreading laterally due to the steep terrain when burning vegetation rolls downslope, then runs back upslope.

Yesterday firefighters made significant progress helping to secure the Juniper Fire, constructing line and using burnout operations to tie in within roads in the area. Direct suppression continues today.

Fire activity and movement will continue to be driven by dry fuels, terrain, slope and potential of winds from thunderstorms through the area. We are expecting higher temperatures and lower humidity over the fire area for the next several days. The chance of afternoon thunderstorm buildup and outflow winds will remain a concern for public and firefighter safety. 

Firefighters are focused on protecting values at risk where they can do so safely and effectively. Challenges include extreme temperatures, steep and remote terrain, flash flooding, lightning and outflow winds associated with thunderstorms. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority. Firefighters are working to protect local communities, power lines, mines, range improvements, historical, cultural, ceremonial sites and natural resources. We are working with nearby Incident Management Teams and agency administrators to share resources where they are needed most.

The communities along the east side of Highway 60 (north of Globe) from ADOT yard north to Winters Ranch including    Johnson Ranch and McMillianville remain in a “Go” evacuation Status. The San Carlos communities of Upper Gilson and Skill Center have returned to “Ready” status. For emergency alert and Red Cross evacuation information, visit http://www.readygila.com/. Ready (Prepare Now) – Set (Be Alert) – Go (Evacuate) Info: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

A South Central Arizona Smoke Outlook is available on https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/SouthCentralArizona. Rain and clouds today and tomorrow should moderate fire activity and smoke generation. Some areas may still see peeks of sun which will increase fire activity in those areas. Outflow winds from storms will add an additional level of uncertainty to smoke forecast. Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: https://tinyurl.com/y3xp4cy3

The Tonto National Forest has issued Public Safety Closure Orders for the areas impacted by these fires. Visit  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices for details.

Temporary Flight Restrictions are in effect. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. knowbeforeyoufly.org

Fire Information: 928-421-4539 (public)      928-421-4579 (media)

Griffin Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7020/

Meddler Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7072/

Rockhouse Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7103/

Juniper Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7106/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltGinGriffinFire/ and https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/

Arizona Fire Information: https://wildlandfire.az.gov and https://ein.az.gov/

Interactive Fire Map: https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/

 Griffin, Meddler, Alder, Rock House , Juniper Fires – August 29, 2020 Morning Update 

Resources: 456 total including: 8 Crews; 31 Engines; 5 bulldozers; 11 water tenders; 5 helicopters, 2 masticators 

Outflow Winds and Flash Flooding a Concern with Thunderstorms Today
Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ 

Strong gusty winds may accompany thunderstorms with sudden changes of wind direction. A flash flood watch is in effect this afternoon through tonight. Dry washes and valley drainages should be avoided during heavy rain. Flash floods can occur within minutes after the onset of a rainstorm. Even areas that are not traditionally flood-prone are at risk after a wildfire, due to changes to the landscape caused by fire. Learn more: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go 

Highway 60 remains closed between Globe and Show Low. Firefighters are constructing direct and indirect fireline on the Griffin Fire where possible and may have to conduct burnout operations using the roadway as an anchor to keep the fire east of the Highway.  

West of Highway 60 crews will monitor and hold existing firelines and continue prep in the Tucker Ranch area. The portion of the Griffin Fire west of Highway 60 has been inactive over the last several days. 

The south flank of the fire on the San Carlos Reservation has been inactive the past few days. Crews will continue to hold and monitor lines in this area. 

Minimal fire activity has been observed on the Salt Fire and Meddler Fires. Management of the Salt Fire has been turned back to the Tonto National Forest. Three engines continue to monitor and patrol firelines on the Meddler Fire.  

The Incident Management Team has assumed command of the Alder, Juniper, and Rockhouse Fires.  Juniper Fire is approximately 20 miles east of San Carlos. It started 8/27. The lightning caused Alder Fire (120 acres) is burning northeast of the Griffin Fire between the fire’s edge and the 1300 road contingency line. It started 8/27. The fire will be monitored by air today as managers asses access to the remote area and develop strategies to protect values at risk. 

The Rockhouse Fire is burning in remote location 3.5 miles southeast of San Carlos Reservoir. The fire is threatening powerlines that provide electricity to the San Carlos community. An Air Attack plane and two super scooper aircraft will be working to help protect values at risk in the area. 

Fire activity and movement will continue to be driven by dry fuels, terrain, slope and potential of winds from thunderstorms through the area. We are expecting higher temperatures and lower humidity over the fire area for the next several days. The chance of afternoon thunderstorm buildup and outflow winds will remain a concern for public and firefighter safety.  

Firefighters are focused on protecting values at risk where they can do so safely and effectively. Challenges include extreme temperatures, steep and remote terrain, flash flooding, lightning and outflow winds associated with thunderstorms. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority. Firefighters are working to protect local communities, power lines, mines, range improvements, historical, cultural, ceremonial sites and natural resources. We are working with nearby Incident Management Teams and agency administrators to share resources where they are needed most. 

The communities along the east side of Highway 60 (north of Globe) from ADOT yard north to Winters Ranch including Johnson Ranch and McMillianville remain in a “Go” evacuation Status. The San Carlos communities of Upper Gilson and Skill Center have returned to “Ready” status. For emergency alert and Red Cross evacuation information, visit http://www.readygila.com/. Ready (Prepare Now) – Set (Be Alert) – Go (Evacuate) Info: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go 

A South Central Arizona Smoke Outlook is available on https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/SouthCentralArizona. Clouds building in on Saturday may lead to rain today and Sunday. Valley winds until Saturday afternoon and then generally from the west. Outflow winds from storms will add an additional level of variability. Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: https://tinyurl.com/y3xp4cy3 

Highway 60 is closed north of Globe from S. Parker Street (MM251) north to MM318. Highways 188 and 288 are open. Call 511, visit https://az511.gov or https://www.az511.com/about/mobileapp for current road status information.  

Road 1300, near Highway Tanks, Road 900, are closed on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Please be careful while driving in the fire area as firefighters are working along roadways and travelling through communities to reach the fires. 

The Tonto National Forest has issued Public Safety Closure Orders for the areas impacted by these fires. Visit  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices for details. 

Temporary Flight Restrictions are in effect. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit: http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. 

Fire Information: 928-421-4539 (public)      928-421-4579 (media)  
Griffin Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7020/  
Meddler Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7072/ 
Alder Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov 
Rockhouse Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov 
Juniper Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltGinGriffinFire/ and     https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/ 

Arizona Fire Information: https://wildlandfire.az.gov 
Interactive Fire Map: https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/ 
Arizona Emergency Information Network: https://ein.az.gov/ 

October 22nd, 2020: The Slink Fire closure has been reduced by 126,805 acres and is now confined to the fire’s footprint, meaning that areas that are burned or within the perimeter of the fire remain closed. Mill Canyon Road is now open. 
Please refer to the map at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/map/7105/0/110494.

This will be the last smoke outlook for the Slink Fire.

Today, the incoming Type 3 Team will take command of the Slink Fire. There is now 71% containment and the fire is holding at 26,700 acres. For the last few days, there has been minimal activity on the fire which has given crews opportunities to better secure the lines, especially on the western perimeter of the fire. With similar weather and smoky conditions in the forecast, we expect similar fire behavior today and Thursday.

Fires to the south of us will continue to be very active and smoke will continue to impact the reporting area for the rest of the week. We may see a little less smoke today, but we still expect Very Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions in the area. On Friday, winds will begin to shift more from the west and sites will start to see improved air quality.