Recording of the virtual community meeting August 5, 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/651609008775512/

 The daily operational video is now available on the Cassadore Springs Fire Facebook page in both English and Apache 
https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/290569678710058/
https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/219494979387279/ 

Cassadore Springs Fire Threatens Sontag and Alder Creeks

Cassadore Springs Fire – August 6, 2020 Daily Update

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’         

Acres: 18,387 acres

Start Date: August 1, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 15%

Total personnel: 269

Location: 11 miles north of San Carlos, AZ

Fuels: Brush, grass, ponderosa pine

Fire Activity: The lightning-caused Cassadore Springs Fire is burning in the Hilltop area on the San Carlos Apache Reservation lands. On Tuesday the fire grew by approximately 3,000 acres to the east in steep rugged country above Mud Springs and across the 1220 Road. It is also established in steep terrain near Alder Creek to the west and now has potential to run up the canyon. Yesterday, fire behavior was moderated to the north as it reached the canyon tops and moved into flatter ground with heavier fuels. Growth on Wednesday was again mostly to the east towards the Sontag Creek drainage. The southern side of the fire is less active and is currently being held at the Blue River Fire scar and the 1120 Road. The incident management team is reporting 15% containment in that area.

Operations: Into the night on Wednesday, firefighters took advantage of less active fire behavior and conducted burnout operations along the 1183 and 1177 Roads in an attempt to stop the fire’s progress toward the heavy timber to the north. Crews will take advantage of that anchor point today, building fireline and burning out to build a “catcher’s mitt” ahead of the north end of the fire. Air tankers and helicopters applied retardant and water on the steep canyons to the east in attempt to keep the fire out of the Sontag Creek drainage. If fire reaches the creek, it has the potential to run up that drainage to the top of the rim.  The incident management team has received some additional resources to support this full suppression operation, bringing the total personnel to approximately 270 people. Crews are operating in small groups and dispersed into isolated camps to provide the firefighters better social distancing. There is no traditional fire camp to prevent large group gatherings. The safety of the public and the wildland fire responders is the number one priority for this incident.

Weather: Hot and dry conditions will continue today. High temperatures will peak in the 92 to 102 range across the fire area with relative humidity levels dropping as low as 12 to 15 percent. The southwest breeze will be just a bit stronger with peak gusts around 30 mph. Once again, thunderstorm activity is expected south and east of the fire, with minimal threat in the evening from storm outflows pushing north across the fire area. As we move into the weekend, conditions will remain dry with lighter winds, however temperatures will rise a bit higher, running about 10 degrees warmer than normal. For information on smoke impacting your area, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/wildfireforecast?fire=cassadorespringsfire.   

Nowhi ni’ nłt’eego ánłsih

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6913/

Cassadore Springs Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/

The daily operational video is now available in both English and Apache language on the Cassadore Springs Fire Facebook page.

English: https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/303294537787151
Apache: https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/763976781007797 

Media & Public Information Contact
Email: 2020.CassadoreSprings@firenet.gov
Phone: 928-487-0798
Hours: 8 A.M. – 8 P.M.  

Virtual Community Meeting for the Cassadore Springs Fire Tonight
Cassadore Springs Fire – August 5, 2020 Daily Update
Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

Acres: 16,856 acres
Start Date: August 1, 2020
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 0%
Total personnel: 218
Location: 11 miles north of San Carlos, AZ
Fuels: Brush and grass

Highlights: The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 will host a virtual community meeting tonight at 8:00 P.M. at https://facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/. An American Sign Language interpreter and CART captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up. We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting, or you can email us your questions in advance at 2020.CassadoreSprings@firenet.gov.  

Fire Activity: The lightning-caused Cassadore Springs Fire is burning in the Hilltop area, northwest of the scar from the Blue River Fire that burned in June 2020 on the San Carlos Apache Reservation lands. The fire is burning aggressively to the northeast in grass and brush in rugged, steep country towards commercial timber stands and the Hilltop Lookout.   

Operations: Efforts to contain the fast-moving northeastern edge of the fire were abandoned as flames spread across control lines yesterday.  Engines, crews, and dozers are attempting to hold the fire south of the 1100 road by building fireline along the fire’s flanks toward the north and east. Orders for additional resources have not yet been filled due to competition from multiple fires burning throughout the western states.  

Weather: Today will be another hotter and drier than normal day with high temperatures peaking in the 90s across the fire area and relative humidity levels dropping as low as 13 to 15 percent, quite low for early August. It will be a bit breezy once again this afternoon with southwest winds peaking around 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Thunderstorm activity is expected well south and east of the fire, however an outflow from one of those storms could push north across the fire area during the evening hours. For information on smoke impacting your area, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/wildfireforecast?fire=cassadorespringsfire.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area. The public is encouraged to stay safely clear of the area that is currently closed to protect firefighter and public safety. The 1120 road to the south, 1122 road to the west, 1300 road to the north, and 1220 road to the east are closed due to fire activity and firefighters working along these roadways.

Ko’ doo bena golde’ da

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6913/
Cassadore Springs Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/
San Carlos Apache Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY

Join fire managers for an online community meeting tonight August 5, at 8:00 p.m. 

An American Sign Language interpreter and captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up.  https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/

We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting or you can e-mail us your questions in advance at 2020.cassadoresprings@firenet.gov

We will try to answer as many questions as we can. 
A recording of the informational meeting will be available on the Facebook page for later viewing.  

The daily operational video is now available on the Cassadore Springs Fire Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CassadoreSpringsFireInfo/videos/294393091783945

Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 Assumes Command of Cassadore Springs Fire

Cassadore Springs Fire – August 4, 2020 Daily Update

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’

Tusayan, Ariz., August 8, 2020—For Immediate Release. The 97 acre Halfway Fire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has shown no additional growth and is not expected to increase in size. This lightning caused fire did make an impressive run on August 3, however an aggressive initial attack plan was promptly initiated and suppression efforts proved successful in stopping the spread that same day. 

With public and firefighter safety being the number one objective, Incident Commander Adam Pahl said he was pleased to report there were no accidents or injuries, and there were no losses or damage to any resources or private property throughout the duration of the incident.
 

 HALFWAY FIRE OVERVIEW

Start Date: August 1, 2020. Cause: Lightning. Location: 3 miles east of the Town of Tusayan

Current Size: 97 acres.  Containment: 100%.  Incident Commander: Adam Pahl ICT4.

Resources: One - Type 2 Hand Crew, 2 - Type 6 Engines.

Current Status: The Halfway fire has reached its maximum growth at 97 acres. There has been no movement on the perimeter and officials predict no additional growth will occur.

Firefighters will remain on scene daily to ensure containment lines hold and to mitigate any hazards that may still exist near the burn area.

Smoke: Light smoke may linger in the immediate vicinity of the burn area and may occasionally be noticeable in the early morning hours as diurnal winds shift each evening.

This will be the final update on the Halfway Fire unless conditions change.

Additional information about the Halfway Fire, and the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

 TUSAYAN, Ariz., August 5, 2020 – The Halfway Fire which was ignited by a lightning strike on the Tusayan Ranger District over the weekend grew to 97 acres on Monday, however a combination of initial attack resources including aircraft, hand crews, engines and a dozer working steadily throughout the day and were able to stop forward progress of the fire by early that evening.

Additional resources arrived on Tuesday which reinforced efforts as crews worked to fortify lines and knock down hot spots preventing any further spread. Approximately 80 personnel have been assigned to the incident at this time. The fire is 3 miles east of Tusayan and is now 20% contained. Crews will continue working the next several days improving and securing constructed fire lines, holding the perimeters, and begin mopping up.

 Smoke may continue to be visible from the town of Tusayan, Grand Canyon Airport, highway 64, and from areas inside the Grand Canyon National Park. Overnight inversion may cause haze and smoke to drift into the town on Tusayan in the early morning hours over the next few days but is expected to lift and ventilate out rapidly as surfaces warm.

 A small portion of the Arizona Trail was affected by the fire, however it remains open. Hikers are asked to follow temporary detour signs encountered on the trail near the burned area. Motorists and visitors are asked to be aware of apparatus and fire personnel when travelling through the area and to avoid driving in the immediate vicinity of the fire where active operations are occurring.

Additional Information can be found from the following sources: