Salt Fire

Location: 11 miles north of Globe, AZ near the junction of Hwy. 188 and SR 288

Cause: Lightning

Size: 20,809 acres

Percent containment: 66%

Vegetation: Sonoran Desert Grass and Brush

Fire Strategy: Full Suppression

With several fires spread across the landscape in close proximity to communities around Globe-Miami, San Carlos and along Highway 60 north of Globe it’s important to become familiar with the Ready-Set-Go Evacuation Information Program: http://www.readygila.com/

Heavy smoke settled into the San Carlos, Globe and Roosevelt Lake areas overnight. It is extremely hard to predict where outflow winds will push heavy concentrations of smoke. Generally it will settle into lower canyons and valleys overnight and lift out of the area during the day. Daily smoke forecasts for these fires can be found at https://azdeq.gov/WildfireForecast

  Overview

·         The San Carlos communities of Upper Gilson and Skill Center have been put on “Set” Status.

·         Along Hwy. 60 north of Globe Winters Ranch and McMillianville are on “Set” Status.

·         The Griffin Fire continues to move in the direction of Upper Sevenmile.

·         Firefighters continue to suppress the Salt, Griffin and Champion Fires. Total resources on the ground for the fires are 553 personnel.

·         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.

·         Highway 60 has reopened for travel in both directions with a pilot car through the fire area. Allow extra time, and be prepared for travel delays.

·         Highways 188 and 288 are open.

·         Road 1300, near Highway Tanks, Road 900, and Indian Route 6, Old San Carlos Highway, 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.

UPDATE

Communities Affected:

The following areas along Highway 60 north of Globe are in “Set” status: Winters Ranch and McMillianville. For emergency alert and Red Cross evacuation information, visit http://www.readygila.com/.

Salt Fire:

Firefighters continue to patrol and monitor the fire perimeter. Occasional smoke, flames and ash whirls from within the burned area may be visible from the highway and nearby communities.

Roosevelt Lake Recreation:

Roosevelt Lake and adjacent recreation sites remains open to the public, with the exception of Bermuda Flat, Cholla Bay, and Bachelor’s Cove which are closed due to concerns for potential flooding after the Bush Fire earlier this summer.

Griffin and Salt Fires Smoke Report:

Weather conditions today are expected to be similar to yesterday, with above normal temperatures and thunderstorms in the late afternoon.  Winds will be out of the south to southeast early in the day before increasing and becoming thunderstorm driven in the early afternoon.  An increase in fire activity is expected to produce more smoke, and with the addition of smoke for other fires in the area, smokier conditions are expected throughout the day and overnight.

All communities located around the fires should anticipate hazy conditions with periods of heavy smoke. Overnight smoke will move into the drainages and low-lying areas adjacent to the fire. A northerly flow is expected to enhance the diurnal wind pattern, allowing smoke from the wildfires to the north to combine with smoke from the Griffin and Champion fires. This will cause heavier smoke impacts overnight into the early morning hours in the areas of San Carlos, Peridot, Globe, Wheatfields and Roosevelt. The heaviest of impacts are expected between 2am and 9am with the smoke lifting out by 10 am. Air quality is forecasted to be in the Unhealthy category.  https://azdeq.gov/WildfireForecast?fire=griffinfire

Closures and Restrictions: The Tonto National Forest has issued a Public Safety Closure Order for the area impacted by these fires, for more information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices or https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7019/

Values: Fire fighter and public safety are the highest priorities on these fires. The fire area includes multiple communities, power lines, mines, range improvements, historical sites and natural resources, which firefighters are working hard to assess and protect.

More Info: Official information on the fire can be found on these sites.

·         Salt Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7019/

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

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

·         Direct link to Gila County's Everbridge Emergency Alert Sign-up form: https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736724090/#/signupncident

·         Highway Closures and Restrictions: https://www.az511.gov/

Griffin Fire Continues to Progress into the Sevenmile Drainage
Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’
  
Salt Fire

Location: 11 miles north of Globe, AZ near the junction of Hwy. 188 and SR 288

Cause: Lightning

Size: 20,809 acres

Percent containment: 57%

Vegetation: Sonoran Desert Grass and Brush

Salt Fire Evacuation Area Lifted: Community Status: Returned To “Set” Mode

Gila County Sheriff’s Office and Gila County Emergency Management have determined that the following areas are safe for residents to return home. Areas on both sides of State Route 188 from Bixby Road to the 188/288 Junction, including all of Wheatfield and all areas of Hicks Road. Residents of these areas will remain in “SET” status on the “Ready, Set, Go model”
  

Salt Fire

Location: 11 miles north of Globe, AZ near the junction of Hwy. 188 and SR 288

Cause: Lightning

Size: 20,288 acres

Percent containment: 20%

Vegetation: Sonoran Desert Grass and Brush

Fire Strategy: Full Suppression

Gin and Griffin Fires Merge now called the Griffin Fire

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

Reopened

• Hwy. 188 and SR 288 have reopened. Drivers will be escorted via pilot car though the Salt Fire Burned Area and can expect delays from E Del Rio Ln (MM216) to Sr 188 Old Alignment (MM232).

The following communities have been returned to "Ready" mode. 

• Roosevelt Resort
• Rockhouse
• Spring Creek
• Hay Hook
• Quail Run 
• Areas on both sides of State Route 188 from Bixby Road to the 188 / 288 Junction, including all of Wheatfields
  

New Areas on “Go” Evacuation Status

 
Salt Fire

Hear from the Agency Administrator, Fire Operations, Fire Behavior Specialist and the Incident Commander as they explain the plan of attack for the Salt Fire, Gin Fire and Griffin Fire.

 https://www.facebook.com/watch/SaltGinGriffinFire

 The Salt Fire is located 10 miles southeast of Roosevelt Lake near the SR-188/288 junction and is estimated at 21,000 acres. The Gin and Griffin Fire, located east of the Salt Fire, are also producing smoke.

Today and tomorrow, smoke is forecast to rise and disperse toward the east-southeast, with light to moderate impacts likely in Globe-Maimi. Light impacts are also possible in San Carlos as smoke moves over the area. There will be a continued chance of thunderstorms in the forecast, with outflow winds possible. As erratic outflows winds move over the fire, an increase in fire activity and smoke production is possible with brief periods of moderate smoke possible in areas impacted by the outflow.

Overnight, as winds weaken, expecting smoke to settle into Roosevelt and Globe-Miami. Smoke that settles into the region is expected to lift by 10 am.

Individuals who are sensitive to smoke are encouraged to be "smoke aware." If you smell smoke, you are breathing smoke; please take the necessary precautions to protect your health.

Visit https://azdeq.gov/wildfireforecast?fire=saltfire for more information about smoke.  

Order Number: 03-12-00-20-399
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST
GLOBE, AND TONTO BASIN RANGER DISTRICTS

Salt, Gin and Griffin Fire Public Safety Closure Order

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited within the
area described in this Order (the “Restricted Area”) and as depicted on the attached map, hereby
incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A, all within the Tonto National Forest, Maricopa and Gila
Counties, Arizona.

1.   Going into or being upon the Restricted Area.  36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e).

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.   Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the
effect of this Order.

2.   Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or firefighting
resource in the performance of an official duty.

RESTRICTED AREA
All National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the boundary beginning at the
intersection of National Forest System Road (NFSR) 216 and U.S. Highway (U.S.) 60, then following
northwest along the southwest edge of NFSR 216 to its intersection with Hess Canyon, then following
Hess Canyon northwest to NFSR 303, then following southwest along the eastern edge of NFSR 303 to
NFSR 645, then following the southern edge of NFSR 645 to NFSR 346, then following the western edge
of NFSR 346 to the Salt River, then following the southern bank of the Salt River in a general
southwesterly direction to Arizona State Route (SR) 288, then following the eastern edge of SR 288
in a southwesterly direction to its intersection with SR 188, then following the southwest edge of
SR 188 in a general northwesterly direction to its
intersection with NFSR 449, then following the southeastern edge of NFSR 449 in a
southwesterly direction to its intersection with NFSR 449A, then following the east edge of
NFSR 449A to the Campaign Creek trailhead for National Forest System Trail (NFST) 256 (Campaign
Creek Trail), then following the eastern edge of NFST 256 south to its intersection with NFST 212
(Miles Ranch Trail), then following the northern edge of NFST 212 east to the Miles Ranch
Trailhead, then following the northern edge of NFSR 287A east to NFSR 287, then following the
eastern edge of NFSR 287 in a general southeasterly direction to US 60, then following along the
northern and western edges of US 60 in a general northeasterly direction (excluding non-National
Forest System lands) to its intersection with NFSR 330, then following the north edge of NFSR 330
in a general southeasterly direction to its intersection with the San Carlos Apache Reservation,
then following the National Forest/San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary in a northeasterly
direction to its intersection with NFSR 2326, then following the north edge of NFSR 2326 in a
northwesterly direction back to the point of beginning at the intersection U.S. 60 and NFSR 216, as
shown in the map in Exhibit A.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to close the Restricted Area during firefighting and emergency
operations for the protection of public health and safety.

IMPLEMENTATION

1.   This Order will be effective on August 21, 2020, at  1200    , and shall remain in effect
until September 30, 2020, or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

2.   A map identifying the Restricted Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A.

3.   Any violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more
than $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six
(6) months, or both (see 16 U.S.C. § 551, 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(6),
18 U.S.C. § 3581(b)(7)).

4.   Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Tonto National Forest
Supervisor’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona, (602)225-5200, or at Mesa Ranger District Office,
(480)610-3300.

Dated this 21st day of August 2020, at Phoenix, Arizona

/s/ NEIL BOSWORTH
Forest Supervisor

New Areas on “Set” and “Go” Evacuation Status