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Firefighters fill engines with water from large water tanks on the Preacher Fire. (Photo credit: C Martin)
A day after ignitions on the Preacher Fire, smoke still rises from the interior of the fire area as unburned pockets of fuel ignite. (Photo credit: C Martin)
The Preacher Fire is a lightning-caused wildfire that is burning four miles northeast of Pine, Arizona. The fire is being managed under a confine and contain strategy with the goal of protecting private lands and the communities of Tonto Village, Thompson Draw, Diamond Point Summer Homes, and Diamond Point Estates while reintroducing fire into a fire dependent ecosystem. The intended result is to reduce hazardous fuels, improve watershed conditions and wildlife habitat. This will decrease accumulations of fuels and the potential for future fires to burn with high severity that may be more difficult to suppress. The fire is being managed with the West Fire by the Tonto National Forest under Incident Commander, Tadd Fagerud.
The fire is now 100% contained. After September 24, 2024, please contact the Tonto National Forest for information about the Preacher Fire.
| Current as of | Tue, 09/24/2024 - 20:52 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Phoenix |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 8 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona |
| Incident Commander | Tonto National Forest Tadd Fagerud |
| Incident Description | The Preacher Fire is being managed with the West Fire under the Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 3. |
| Coordinates |
34° 17' 57'' Latitude
-111° 10' 50
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 0 |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,167 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | Dormant brush, hardwood slash, hardwood litter, timber (litter and understory) Predominate fuels are Ponderosa pine litter with areas of scabby pinyon-juniper with low continuity of available fuels and pockets of mixed conifer. Grass is currently fully greened up and not contributing to fire spread. |
| Significant Events | Minimal Smoldering Isolated smoldering. Minimal smoke production. |
| Planned Actions |
Area patrols are being conducted periodically by resources from the West Fire. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Isolated smoldering and continued consumption of logs and stumps. Minimal smoke |
| Weather Concerns | Warm and dry weather conditions will continue Wednesday and Thursday. Highs in the mid 70s to upper 80s both days. Minimum relative humidity levels will average 15-25%. Winds will be light out of the west or southwest both days. |
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