The following roads are closed except to residents

• Navajo Route 7 is closed from Sawmill, AZ to Chinle
• N-26 is closed from the intersection of N-27 east to Route 7

• N-27 road remains open
• N-201 road is open 

Residents in the Fluted Rock Lake area may see smoke near the intersection of Route 7 and N-26 this afternoon, June 30,2020. Crews are burning near the corner of Route 7 and N-26 to keep the Wood Springs 2 Fire on the west side of Route 7.  

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 Takes Command of the Fire

Location:  3 miles east of Wood Springs, AZ

Cause:  Lightning

Percent containment:  0%

Fire Strategy: Full Suppression

Size:  5,816

Vegetation:  Pińon Juniper, Pine, Sage, Grasses

Fire activity: The Wood Springs 2 Fire, which started on June 27, 2020, is now 5,816 acres and 0% contained. This is a full suppression fire. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 took command of the fire this morning at 6 am. The fire’s growth yesterday can be attributed to winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour throughout the day.  The fire is located three miles east of Wood Springs, AZ and five miles from Sawmill, AZ. It is burning in mostly pińon juniper and pine vegetation. Fire behavior yesterday was described as extreme with 200-foot flame lengths because of the intense winds. Today winds will be mild with only 4 to 6-foot flame lengths anticipated. The fire crossed N-26 around midday Monday and it continues to spread northeast towards Route 7. No structures have been damaged and no injuries have been reported. Calmer winds today will provide crews the opportunities to scout the fire area and work to build fire lines to quickly and safely to contain the fire.

Communities Affected: The communities of Sawmill and Fluted Rock are on high alert. Please begin collecting important items and be ready. If you are asked to evacuate, please contact your local chapter house for information on evacuation shelters.

Smoke: Smoke will be visible from Highway 264, Window Rock, Ganado, Sawmill, Nazlini, Chinle and other surrounding communities. Smoke from the fire will travel to the northeast today, shifting toward Navajo, Fort Defiance, and Window Rock overnight. A full smoke report is available through https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/Arizona.

Weather:  Winds are expected to be lighter today compared to yesterday, gusting to 10-15 miles per hour. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with relative humidity levels at 8-13 percent. No rain is forecasted.

Values:  Fire fighter and public safety are the highest priorities on the Wood Springs 2 Fire.  The fire area includes multiple communities, power lines, sheep camps and cultural and historical sites, which firefighters are working hard to protect. 

Closures and Restrictions: Navajo Route 7 from Sawmill, AZ to the west towards Chinle and Wood Springs, AZ is closed. Residents should avoid the wildfire area.  

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

 The communities of Sawmill and Fluted Rock are on high alert. Please begin collecting important items and be ready to evacuate. If you are evacuated, please contact your local chapter house for information on evacuation shelters.

Creede, Colo., July 2, 2020 – From mid-morning to early evening, three heavy helicopters made effective water drops on the Goose Creek Fire on Wednesday. Containment on the fire is now estimated at 35% and the acreage is unchanged at 149 acres. “Our firefighting pilots have been doing a great job keeping the fire in check,” says Incident Commander Derrick Rader. “We are very fortunate to have them.” When multiple fires are burning, resources such as heavy helicopters are not always available.

The Goose Creek Fire is located on a steep ridge within the Weminuche Wilderness Area and in a place that would be difficult and dangerous for firefighters on the ground to access. Because of continued suppression efforts, the fire has been putting off minimal smoke. No roads or trails are currently closed and no structures are immediately threatened. 113 people are assigned to the fire, including engines, one medium and one light helicopter and support personnel.
An incident-specific web page on this fire is on Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6812/

Due to anticipated low fire activity, the next news release update may be several days from now. Interested parties are encouraged to continue to monitor Inciweb and Facebook for information.

Fire danger remains very high across the Rio Grande National Forest and Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place. Visitors and residents are encouraged to be careful with anything that might start a new fire.

For additional information follow the Rio Grande National Forest on Face book at: https://www.facebook.com/USFSRGNF/ and Twitter @RioGrandeUSFS

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Creede, Colo., July 1, 2020 – Heavy lift helicopters will continue to drop water today on the still-smoldering Goose Creek Fire in the Weminuche Wilderness Area. Two helicopters made an estimated 40 water drops on hot spots Tuesday. Drawing from the nearby Lake Humphreys, the pilots are able to make quick turnarounds and get more water on the fire before they have to refuel. High winds can keep the helicopters grounded but today’s plan calls for their continued use, conditions permitting.

Firefighters on the ground have been assessing structures at the Humphreys Ranch and preparing trails near the fire in case those trails might be needed for access to the fire or as fire lines. “There is currently no threat to structures” says Incident Commander Derrick Rader, “but it’s prudent to look ahead and make contingency plans in case the fire activity should increase,” Rader added. Still estimated at 149 acres, containment is now 20%. In addition to the helicopters, 108 people are assigned, along with engines and support personnel.

An incident-specific web page on this fire is on Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6812/

Fire danger remains very high across the Rio Grande National Forest and Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place. With the Fourth of July approaching, residents and visitors are reminded to be exceedingly careful with anything that could spark a new fire.

For additional information follow the Rio Grande National Forest on Face book at: https://www.facebook.com/USFSRGNF and Twitter @RioGrandeUSFS

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender

Mahogany Fire Leads the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area to Close 7,200 Acres for Public Safety and Recovery Efforts

Las Vegas, July 25, 2020 – The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA) on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has assembled a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team to address safety concerns and recommend emergency treatments on National Forest System (NFS) lands recently burned during the Mahogany Fire.

The Mahogany Fire BAER Team consists of scientists and specialists with expertise in soils, hydrology, natural and cultural resources, engineering, and recreation. The team used field surveys, remote sensing data (e.g., satellite imagery), and models to conducted a BAER Assessment that outlines short and long-term emergency treatments needed to minimize threats to human life and mitigate unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources in the Mahogany Fire burned area.

The team identified multiple safety hazards that require the USDA Forest Service to close 7,200 acres for public safety and to allow the area to naturally recover. Additional information can be found in the attached Closure Order and map. The main hazards include those related to burned trees, including falling trees and stump holes, runoff, and the possibility of vehicles being stranded on Forest Service Roads 560 and 560A during or after rain events.

Although the area is likely to produce more runoff during rain events than before the fire, the risk of significant debris flows is lower than what the region experienced after the Carpenter 1 Fire. The BAER Team is collaborating with the United States Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help determine these risks and develop strategies to help forecast when damaging rainstorms are likely to impact the fire area.

Over the next year, the SMNRA will assess the need for additional resource protections and repairs to roads, trails, and other infrastructure in the Mahogany Fire area that cannot be addressed through BAER or suppression repair authorities.