SE Zone Type 3

Incident Management Team

Darrell Howell, Incident Commander                                                                     Fire Information: Phone: 520 991 9226

                                                                                                                                       Email: gerald_perry@firenet.gov

                                                                                                                                                 Daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

                                                                 July 18, 2020

Size: 2,946 acres                                                     Containment: 70 %                                            Cause: Lightning                         

The Jackson Fire produced little smoke Friday after soaking rain occurred over night Thursday. By Friday morning the fire line was dormant and remained so until one small smoke appeared from a rocky outcrop Friday afternoon. Crews worked to further secure the perimeter on the north west segment and began suppression repair. Friday evening, fire managers declared containment to have reached 70 %.

Black Rock Road fire line construction residue was shredded and scattered and refuse and equipment removed from that area. Further suppression repair will be accomplished in the coming days as remaining resources will be assigned to patrol, monitor, and conduct suppression repair around the entire Jackson fire perimeter.

The Horse fire, on BLM land north of Aravaipa Canyon, grew to 228 acres by the time fire crews arrived Thursday afternoon to begin suppression. Aided by aerial retardant and water drops, the fire’s forward movement was stopped by evening when nighttime thunderstorms drenched the fire. Resources remained at the fire through the night and by Friday morning had achieved 50% containment. An element of rappelers remained throughout the day Friday before being removed by the end of the day. Resources will monitor the remote fire scar over the next several days to insure it remains secure. Today many resources are being reassigned to other incidents or returned to their home units to repair and replace materials, rest, and prepare for their next assignments.

This will be the final news release for these fires unless unanticipated developments require additional communication.

Incident Commander Darrell Howell offers his sincere thanks to all who were cooperators or stake holders on this incident for their assistance, willingness to share resources, and allowing his team to manage this incident. Your hospitality towards the entire team made it much easier to handle suppression of these two lightning ignited fires.

Closures: The Black Rock Canyon Road remains closed at the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary. The entire San Carlos Reservation is closed to the public.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction has been placed over both the Jackson and Horse fire areas.

Restrictions: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State, and Coronado National Forest lands. These restrictions prohibit open fires, fireworks, welding, target shooting and some other activities.

For further information, please visit the following links:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov                         

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMArizona

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire                                                                                                                        

Smoke Outlooks: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks

July 17, 2020

Fire manager’s plans to attack the Jackson fire directly Thursday with two crews supported by helicopter water drops proved to be an exceptional strategy. By afternoon little smoke was rising from the fire and late in the afternoon a thunderstorm arrived, dropping heavy rain. Crews working the fire pulled off the line and returned to their spike camp by evening.

Two crews and an engine completed structure protections around the three ranches along Black Rock Road and finished burn out preparation before afternoon thunderstorms arrived.

Friday the Jackson fire will be patrolled and mopped up with a brush chipping operation occurring along Black Rock Road. Additional crews will conduct suppression repair around the fire and back haul deployed equipment and residue from suppression efforts. Fire managers have declared the fire 60% contained and will be moving some previously assigned firefighting crews to a lightning ignited fire in a remote area north of Aravaipa Canyon.

The new fire, named the Horse fire, was burning along Horse Camp Canyon, a north-south oriented tributary of Aravaipa Creek. The fire was reported after a lightning ignition Thursday afternoon. By the time initial attack resources arrived it had grown to about 100 acres. Air tankers responded to drop retardant before one crew and five rappelling fire fighters were flown in to begin initial attack. By evening those resources made substantial progress towards containing its spread and remained overnight. Some moisture also fell into the evening on the Horse fire, which is aiding efforts to stop its forward movement.

Friday, both the Horse and Jackson fires will be assessed to determine what resources are needed. Unneeded resources will be demobilized to right size the work force for remaining suppression work. Those demobilized with either be reassigned to other area fires, or return to home stations to rest, resupply, and prepare for additional assignments.

Closures: The Black Rock Canyon Road remains closed at the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction has been placed over both the Jackson and Horse fire areas.

Restrictions: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State, and Coronado National Forest lands. These restrictions prohibit open fires, fireworks, welding, target shooting and some other activities.

For further information, please visit the following links:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov                         

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMArizona

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire                                                                                                                       

Smoke Outlooks: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks

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Firefighters achieved 10% containment of the Jackson fire Wednesday, a reflection of their continuous hard work over the last three days. An infrared flight flown Tuesday night revealed only small amounts of isolated heat exist on the south and eastern flanks of the fire but the western flank is quite active. Afternoon thunderstorms dropped a small amount of moisture, reducing fire behavior and slowing the fire’s growth to approximately 300 acres. Portions of the fire that previously burned onto San Carlos tribal lands are cold and no additional growth is anticipated.

Three crews, an engine, and a fire use module are assigned Thursday to complete construction of fire line, preparation for burnouts, and structure protection for the three ranches along Black Rock Canyon Road. After completion of these actions, burnouts could be conducted in this area should the need arise.

Utilizing previously placed water dip sites, fire managers plan to begin helicopter water drops Thursday morning along the western flank of the fire to extinguish hot spots. These flights will be flown during the period of cooler early morning temperatures and increased humidity. The intent is to stop fire spread north and west into steep, fuel rich, uneven terrain where it will be more difficult to engage. Fire managers also plan to capitalize on predicted 30% afternoon chances of wetting rain and the water drops to stop the fire’s progress towards Black Rock Canyon Road.

One crew and an engine are assigned on the southwestern perimeter to continue to hold the fire north of Four Mile Canyon Thursday.

Closures: The Black Rock Canyon Road is closed at the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction has been placed over the Jackson fire area.

Restrictions: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State, and Coronado National Forest lands. These restrictions prohibit open fires, fireworks, welding, and target shooting and other activities.

For further information, please visit the following links:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov                         

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMArizona

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire                                                                                                                       

Smoke Outlooks: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks

                                                                                             ###

Based on aerial GPS mapping Tuesday afternoon, the Jackson fire grew an additional 1,200 acres during the previous 24 hours. Much of the fire’s growth occurred northward within the Santa Teresa Wilderness and adjacent BLM lands with the fire also making some movement along Four Mile canyon. Fire fighters were able to directly attack the portion of the fire on tribal lands as it burned into lower elevation sparse fuels and died out. Approximately 332 acres of the fire’s perimeter occurs on tribal lands where it is unlikely to continue burning.

Fire lines were under construction around the fire however steep, rough terrain on the west is challenging fire managers. Scouting continues in that area to locate defensible terrain features such as trails, roads, or continuous ridges. Firefighters continued point protection actions around structures along Black Rock road. At the southern end of the fire, crews constructed line westward along Four Mile Canyon.

Three crews and a fire use module are currently assigned to the fire. They have been supported by two helicopters and two engines along with five water tenders. Air tankers will be available as needed. Additional resources are arriving.

Today’s crew work assignments will be to continue to scout on the west, construct line and prepare it for possible burnouts on the north and south, and monitor and patrol the eastern portion. Line construction along Black Rock road continues westward for possible burnout if needed. Crews will also continue point protection work around structures and residences along Black Rock road. The fire continues to be managed with a full suppression strategy with minimal impact suppression tactics applied in the Santa Teresa Wilderness. Although resource advisors have identified no historic cultural sites within the fires planning area, fire fighters are vigilant for any indications of sites that might be identified as they construct fire lines.

Closures: The Black Rock Road is closed at the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction has been placed over the Jackson fire area.

Restrictions: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State, and Coronado National Forest lands. These restrictions prohibit open fires, fireworks, welding, and target shooting and other activities.

For further information, please visit the following links:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov                         

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMArizona

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire                                                                                                                       

Smoke Outlooks: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks

                                                                                             ###

The Jackson fire was ignited by lightning the evening of Saturday July 11 near Jackson Peak in the Santa Teresa wilderness on Bureau of Land Management lands northwest of Safford, Arizona.The fire burns in very steep and rocky terrain composed of thick brushy fuels and grass. Due to increasing complexity, a decision was made to call out the Southeast Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team to manage the fire. Command of the fire was transferred to the incident management team on July 13 at 6 p.m.
 
An infrared flight surveyed the fire Monday and determined the fire had burned 939 acres. It was moving to the northeast towards San Carlos Apache Reservation lands. Due to the difficulty of the terrain, Monday’s effort was to initiate point protection for local structures and residences and to scout to identify defensible terrain barriers around the fire. Single engine air tankers were employed to slow the fire’s spread.
 
Two crews and a fire use module are currently assigned to the fire, with another hotshot crew arriving Tuesday. They will be supported by two helicopters and two engines. Air tankers will be available as needed. Additional resources have been ordered. Crews today will again scout and look for opportunities to engage the fire in accessible terrain and continue point protection around structures and residences. The fire is being managed with a full suppression strategy.
 
Closures: The Black Rock Road is closed at the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary.
 
Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction has been placed over the Jackson fire area.
 
Restrictions: Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State lands and the Coronado National Forest which prohibit open fires, fireworks, and target shooting.

For further information, please visit the following links:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMArizona
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire
Smoke Outlooks: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks                                                                         

                                                                                                 ###

July 17, 2020 Update  

July 16, 2020 Update