CONTAINMENT INCREASES ON OCOTILLO FIRE AND EVACUATION ORDER TO BE LIFTED TUESDAY

Phoenix, AZ (6/1/2020) – Crews continue to make excellent progress on the Ocotillo Fire and have reached 67% containment. While active fire does remain within parts of the fire perimeter, crews are monitoring and patrolling the fire line checking for hotspots and smoldering debris.

Utility cooperators have worked diligently over the last few days to get electricity restored, to remove downed power poles and lines, and to mitigate leaking propane tanks.

Due to the substantial progress being made on the fire line and around the burn area, residents can safely return home Tuesday.

So, Tuesday at noon, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will lift the remainder of the evacuation order for residents impacted by the Ocotillo Fire.

A portion of the evacuation order was lifted Sunday and some residents were able to return home.

“We know residents are anxious to get back into their homes and we certainly appreciate everyone’s patience with the evacuation order and the repopulation planning process. It was important for us, the Sheriff’s Office, and the town that we did it methodically, safely, and timely,’ said Darrell Willis Ocotillo Fire Incident Commander.

The 980-acre fire started Saturday afternoon, along Ocotillo Road, roughly one mile northwest of Cave Creek. The human-caused fire forced the evacuation of an estimated 500 residences, destroyed eight homes, and 12 secondary structures.

More information can be found on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6728/.

SOME EVACUATIONS LIFTED ON OCOTLLO FIRE AND STRUCTURE DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS BEGIN

Phoenix, AZ (5/31/2020) – Today, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Town of Cave Creek, began the process of assessing structure damage and preparing plans for a full and safe reentry.

As of 5 pm today, some residents will be allowed to return home. That area includes, Rancho Manana and School House Road. Also, MCSO has reduced the hard closure area, and evacuations will remain in place, for the area north of Spur Cross Road and Grapevine and west of 60th Street and Fleming Springs.

The evacuation order for the remainder of the burn area will remain in place for the next 72-hours.

Due to hazards within the fire perimeter, it is not safe to lift the entire evacuation order at this time. Multiple power poles and lines are down, propane tanks are leaking, and hotspots remain within the perimeter of the fire.

Today, Arizona Public Service (APS) began assessing their hazards and restoring power to the impacted areas. Also, natural gas advisors worked to pinpoint the locations of leaking propane tanks.

Besides identifying and mitigating area hazards, a damage assessment is nearly complete. By 5 pm tomorrow, the Town of Cave Creek will notify those residents impacted with structure loss. Residents can then set up a time to be escorted back in to their properties by MCSO.

“Public safety remains our top priority and we must work as safely, yet as quickly as possible to begin the reentry process. We understand your frustration and we know you want to get back into your homes. However, we must mitigate all hazards before allowing residents to return,’ said Incident Commander Darrell Willis.

The human-caused Ocotillo Fire started Saturday afternoon off Ocotillo Road, northwest of Cave Creek. Five hundred people were evacuated with an estimated 10 structures damaged in the fire.

The fire remains at 1,216 acres with 10% containment.

For additional fire information please refer to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6728/.

Fire containment is 100%, 24 acres. Acreage decrease is due to more accurate gps data.

Fire containment is 95%, 60 acres. Today's plan is to continue to improve and mop up along containment lines.

Fire containment is 95%, 60 acres. Crews have made good progress on containment lines today and will continue to construct, improve, and mop up along the fire perimeter.

Fire containment is 75%, 60 acres. Crews are continuing to construct, improve, and mop up along containment lines.

Fire containment is 50%. 60 acres. Aerial and ground resources are making good progress on constructing and improving containment lines.

Fire containment is 30%, 60 acres. The Lone Star State Handcrew Module is currently staffing the fire along with 3 SEATS, 1 helicopter, 6 engines, and 2 dozers.