Bighorn Fire Morning Update, June 28, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

Bighorn Fire Info: (520) 329-7439 & (520) 276-8981, 8AM-8PM

Media Phone Line: (520) 329-7640, 8AM-8PM

Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6741/

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

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

Burned Area Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6796/

Incident Statistics

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Size:      104,690 acres

Containment:    45%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Injuries:  7 minor

Estimated cost  $30.1 MM

Resources: 26 Hand Crews, 9 Dozers, 90 Engines, 28 Water-tenders, 10 Helicopters, 1,168 Personnel

Weather:    RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT TODAY AND MONDAY   

Southwest winds gusting to 35 mph will increase fire behavior today. 

Yesterday’s Activity:

Work focused on limiting fire spread east towards Redington. Ground and aerial resources provided point protection for structures west of Redington. Structure protection and mop up operations continued along the Catalina Highway between Summerhaven and Willow Canyon. Firing operations were conducted south of Willow Canyon along the Catalina Highway. Firefighters monitored and patrolled the Sabino Canyon area and the western and northern sides of the fire.

Today’s Activities:  

High winds may limit aircraft use. Firefighters will use direct attack where it is safe to engage the fire west of Redington. Crews and dozers will work to connect fireline from Donovan Ridge to Forest Road 4431 (Bellota Spring). Contingency line construction will continue along the Arizona Trail and Redington Road. Hotshot crews will construct fireline on the south side of Green Mountain tied into the Catalina Highway. Structure protection and mop up operations will continue between Summerhaven and Willow Canyon. East of Saddlebrook, equipment backhaul will continue and crews will patrol and mop up the fireline. Line along the fire’s south, west, and north sides will be patrolled. Suppression repair activities will continue in these areas. Sabino Canyon will be monitored.

Virtual public meeting tonight at 8 PM at Bighorn Fire Info https://www.facebook.com/bighornfireinfo.

Evacuation Notices:  Visit pima.gov/bighorn or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement

GO - Evacuate

Redington community bordered by county lines on the north and east      

East slope of the Catalina Mountains south of the Pima County line and west of the community of Redington

Mt. Lemmon Summerhaven

Mt. Bigelow

Lower Catalina Highway/Lower Mt. Lemmon Communities from Organization Ridge Road to South Willow Canyon

SET – Be Alert

No areas currently at Set _ Be Alert Stage

READY – Prepare Now

Community of Oracle

Portions of east Golder Ranch area

Catalina Foothills areas east of Kolb Road within northern areas of Ventana Canyon neighborhoods

Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road and Campo Benito

Oro Valley areas from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road

Catalina Foothills areas from First Avenue to Alvernon Way

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Kolb Road, north of Skyline Drive

Sign up to receive emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t. knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Closures: Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, and Catalina State Park are closed. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Oracle Control Road is closed.

National Forest conditions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/coronado/alerts-notices

Bighorn Fire Evening Update, June 27, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

Bighorn Fire Info: (520) 329-7439 & (520) 276-8981, 8AM-8PM

Media Phone Line: (520) 329-7640, 8AM-8PM

Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6741/

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

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

Burned Area Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6796/

Incident Statistics

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Size:      95,225 acres

Containment:    45%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Estimated cost: $30.1 MM

Injuries:  7 minor

Resources: 26 Hand Crews, 9 Dozers, 90 Engines, 28 Water-tenders, 10 Helicopters, 1,168 Personnel

Weather: FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY

There is a thunderstorm threat early this evening. Minimum temps will be 56 to 61 degrees in upper elevations and 67 to 73 at the valley floor.

Today’s Activity: On the eastern flank, winds pushed the fire east outside of this morning’s fire perimeter. Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters dropped retardant and water to check fire spread and allow dozers to continue contingency line construction. Structure protection crews deployed to ranches in the area and burnout operations were conducted to protect property ahead of the fire. Firefighters improved line near Willow Canyon, Palisade Canyon, and Green Mountain. There was minimal fire activity on the fire’s west side, however, helicopters and ground crews reinforced line just east of Saddlebrooke. Equipment backhaul continued from fireline along the south, west, and north sides of the fire. There were no calls for initial attack on new fire starts.

Tonight’s Activities:  Work will focus on limiting fire spread east towards Redington. Crews will use road systems 1½ miles west of Redington as primary line. Point protection of structures west of Redington will continue. A structure protection group will be working along the Catalina Highway between Summerhaven and Willow Canyon. Firing operations will continue south of Willow Canyon along the Catalina Highway. Fireline along the fire’s south, west, and north sides will be in patrol status.

Virtual public meeting tonight at 8 PM at Bighorn Fire Info https://www.facebook.com/bighornfireinfo.
 

Evacuation Notices:  Visit pima.gov/bighorn or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement
 

GO - Evacuate   

East slope of the Catalina Mountains south of the Pima County line and west of the community of Redington

Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven, Mt. Bigelow

Lower Catalina Highway/Lower Mt. Lemmon Communities from Organization Ridge Road to South Willow Canyon

Redington community bordered by county lines on the north and east  
  

SET – Be Alert                   

Portions of east Golder Ranch area

Catalina Foothills areas east of Kolb Road within northern areas of Ventana Canyon neighborhoods

READY – Prepare Now

Oro Valley areas from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road

Catalina Foothills areas from First Avenue to Alvernon Way

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Kolb Road, north of Skyline Drive

Community of Oracle near Peppersauce Canyon
 

Sign up to receive emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.
 

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t. knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Closures: Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, and Catalina State Park are closed. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Oracle Control Road is closed.

National Forest conditions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/coronado/alerts-notices

Pima County Upgrades Evacuation Status to GO!, Saturday June 27, 2020 1:47 PM

❗️ GO! – Evacuate❗️

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

As part of the Ready, Set, GO! process, the area below is now in the “GO!” state and is being evacuated. If you are in the area below, EVACUATE NOW. Safely move away from the Catalina Mountains. Do not delay leaving the area.

The evacuation zone is the Redington community bordered by the county lines on the north and east sides. The western and southern boundaries do not follow any specific road. Please refer to the interactive map at http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details. If you are in this area, you are in the GO! area.

Redington Road will be closed at the end of the pavement.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department will be going door to door to make contact with those affected residents who may not have received the message.

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate.

Additional messaging will be sent as the situation changes.

 Small animal sheltering will be done at Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 North Silverbell Road in Tucson.

 Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

 Bighorn Fire information can be found here: http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn 

 Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here:  https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov/

 Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here:  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

 Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and tell your neighbors about the program

GO! –  Evacuate

Bighorn Fire Morning Update, June 27, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

Bighorn Fire Info: (520) 329-7439 & (520) 276-8981, 8AM-8PM

Media Phone Line: (520) 329-7640, 8AM-8PM

Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6741/

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

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

Burned Area Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6796/

Incident Statistics

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Size:      95,225 acres

Containment:    40%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Injuries:   7 minor

Estimated cost: $28.1 MM

Resources: 28 hand crews, 6 dozers, 90 Engines, 28 Water-tenders, 10 Helicopters, 1,187 Personnel
 

Weather: The area is under a fire weather watch today. Temperatures 76 to 83 degrees upper elevations and 100 to 103 valley floor.  The fire will be active today due to increasing wind and a chance of thunderstorms.

Yesterday’s Activity: Last night, burnout operations south of Davis Spring Road and 4 miles west of Redington were conducted to reduce the risk of eastward fire spread. Aerial ignition operations were conducted near Palisade Canyon and Green Mountain to improve firelines and reduce the risk of uncontrolled fire reaching the Catalina Highway. East of Saddlebrook, a firing operation improved firelines. Holding, mop up and structure protection was the focus in Summerhaven, Willow Canyon, and Saddlebrook. Biosphere, Oracle, and Sabino Canyon were in patrol status.

Today’s Activities: Crews will hold and improve line near Willow Canyon, Palisade Canyon, Green Mountain, and south of the Davis Spring Road. Hotshot crews will build fireline on the south side of Green Mountain. A ground crew will work to extinguish a hotspot approximately three miles northeast of Catalina State Park. Sabino Canyon and the south foothills will be patrolled and monitored. East of the fire, construction will continue on contingency lines by connecting to existing road systems. Structure protection will be in place for Saddlebrook and along the Catalina Highway. In Summerhaven, equipment backhaul and suppression repair activity will take place. Initial attack resources are pre-positioned around the fire.

Virtual public meeting tonight at 8 PM at Bighorn Fire Info https://www.facebook.com/bighornfireinfo.

Evacuation Notices:  Visit pima.gov/bighorn or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement

GO - Evacuate   

East slope of the Catalina Mountains south of the Pima County line and west of the community of Redington

Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven, Mt. Bigelow

Lower Catalina Highway/Lower Mt. Lemmon Communities from Organization Ridge Road to South Willow Canyon

SET – Be Alert   

Redington community bordered by county lines on the north and east

Portions of east Golder Ranch area

Catalina Foothills areas east of Kolb Road within northern areas of Ventana Canyon neighborhoods

READY – Prepare Now

Oro Valley areas from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road

Catalina foothills areas from First Avenue to Alvernon Way

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Kolb Road, north of Skyline Drive

Community of Oracle near Peppersauce Canyon

Sign up to receive emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t. knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Closures: Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, and Catalina State Park are closed. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Oracle Control Road is closed.

National Forest conditions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/coronado/alerts-notices

Pinal County Alert Status Update, June 26, 7:00 PM

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Peppersauce Canyon area near Oracle has been downgraded to the "Ready" alert for the #BighornFire. For an interactive map that shows all the affected areas on both sides of the county line, visit: https://tinyurl.com/PinalBighornFire

Bighorn Fire Update

June 26, 2020 Evening Update 

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander 


Bighorn Fire Info: (520) 329-7439 & (520) 276-8981, 8AM-8PM

Redington Area Set Alert

Fri Jun 26 2020 19:35:15 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

SET – Be Alert!

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

If you are in this area, know there is significant danger in the below area from the Bighorn Fire.  Ready, Set, Go is the state’s evacuation alert system. The three steps encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, to be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger, and to GO, to evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

As part of the Evacuation Process, the Redington community bordered by the county lines on the north and east sides is now in the "SET - Be Alert" stage.  The western and southern boundaries do not follow any specific road.  Please refer to the interactive map at http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details.  If you are in this area, you are in the SET area.

Residents should consider voluntarily relocating outside the affected area with family/friends. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating. Grab your emergency go kit. Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.

Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO.

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here: http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn   and on Facebook here   facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here:  https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here:  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and tell your neighbors about the program.

Pima County Announces Second New Evacuation Friday Afternoon, June 26

Redington Area Set Alert

Fri Jun 26 2020 19:35:15 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

SET – Be Alert!

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

If you are in this area, know there is significant danger in the below area from the Bighorn Fire.  Ready, Set, Go is the state’s evacuation alert system. The three steps encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, to be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger, and to GO, to evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

As part of the Evacuation Process, the Redington community bordered by the county lines on the north and east sides is now in the "SET - Be Alert" stage.  The western and southern boundaries do not follow any specific road.  Please refer to the interactive map at http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details.  If you are in this area, you are in the SET area.

Residents should consider voluntarily relocating outside the affected area with family/friends. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating. Grab your emergency go kit. Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.

Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO.

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here: http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn   and on Facebook here   facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here:  https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here:  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and tell your neighbors about the program

Pima County Announces New Evacuation, June 26, 4:20PM

❗️GO! – Evacuate❗️

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

As part of the Ready, Set, GO! process, the area below is now in the “GO!” state and is being evacuated. If you in this area, EVACUATE NOW. Safely move away from the Catalina Mountains. Do not delay leaving the area.

The evacuation zone is on the eastern slope of the Catalina Mountains south of the Pima County line and west of the community of Redington. The southern boundary does not follow any specific road. Please refer to the interactive map at http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details.

Redington Rd will be closed at the end of the pavement.

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate.

Additional messaging will be sent as the situation changes.

Small animal sheltering will be done at Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 North Silverbell Road in Tucson.

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here: http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here: https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov/

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and tell your neighbors about the program.Pima

Return To Ready!

Friday, Jun 26, 2020 12:39:13 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

The Catalina Foothills areas from North Alvernon Way on the west to North Kolb Road on the east, from East Skyline Drive on the south to the forest service boundary on the north, formerly set to “SET - Be Alert “ have been downgraded to "READY”.  All residents who self-evacuated from these areas may return to their residences.  Please refer to the interactive map at http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details.  Maintain vigilance and be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community.

Those areas previously in the "SET" stage of alert and not mentioned above will remain in the same status. The Mt. Lemmon/Mt. Bigelow area remains under a "GO! - Evacuate" alert.

Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here: http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn 

Fire specific Facebook page located here:   facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here:  https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov/

READY – Prepare Now

SET- Be Alert

GO – Evacuate

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here:  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and tell your neighbors about the program.