We now have wildfires all over the state and the two largest ones are in the White Mountains near Hannigan Meadows and the closer Horseshoe 2 Fire in the Chiricahuas. The Forest Service officially closed the White Mountains a few minutes ago and is busy evacuating all the campers. This doesn't bode too well. The fire there is spreading too fast with today's high winds.
Effective Now: Evacuation orders for everyone in Alpine to leave the area by 8 p.m. tonight
Posted: Thursday, June 2, 2011 5:15 pm
This is an evacuation order: EFFECTIVE NOW, Everyone in the Alpine Area is required to have left the area by 8:00 PM Tonight
Alpine Area Evacuees are requested to go to Blue Ridge High School in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, or to call and register with the Wallow Fire Joint Information Center if they go to a different location. Please call 928-333-3412 to register.
The evacuation route is as follows: Take U.S. Highway 180 north to Springerville, then U.S. Highway 60 west to Show Low, then State Route 260 east to Pinetop-Lakeside. It is requested that you DO NOT TAKE State Route 260 west to Pinetop-Lakeside.
The northern evacuation route for residents of Blue, AZ is blocked. Residents of Blue should plan to take Forest Road 232 (Pueblo Park Road) into New Mexico.
An American Red Cross shelter has been established at Blue Ridge High School, 1200 West White Mountain Boulevard.
All evacuees are required to check in with Red Cross personnel after arrival. The shelter that has been established is a no-pet shelter.
For more information call: 928-333-3412 or call 593 from a landline or Cellular One cell phone.
NOTE: A Community Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. tonight at the Alpine Community Center. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests personnel and Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team representatives will present information about the Wallow Fire and answer questions.
Stay posted to WMIcentral.com and the White Mountain Independent for additional updates.
Prior Post 06/02/2011, 4:27 p.m. - Pre-evacuation alert for Alpine in effect
This is a 12-24 hour pre-evacuation alert. There is a possibility of an evacuation within 12 hours in the Alpine area. It is recommended that residents within that area prepare for the shelter and care of their animals. It is also recommended that irreplaceable personal property, such as important documents, be gathered and packed. Pack sufficient clothing for a possible extended stay. If possible, arrange for lodging with friends or relatives.
Once again, this is an alert of the possibility of an evacuation within 12 hours in the Alpine area. This is a preliminary notification. This warning notice applies only to residents of Alpine, AZ.
The northern evacuation route for residents of Blue, AZ will be blocked if an evacuation order is issued.
Any evacuation notice will come from the Apache County Sheriff’s Office. Fire and other emergency services personnel will also attempt to notify residents in the event of an evacuation. Notification will be delivered to residents by direct contact or by telephone.
This is only a pre-evacuation alert. In the event of an evacuation order you will be notified about evacuation routes and centers.
A call center has been established. Person calling for information can call the following numbers: Frontier or Cellular One customers can dial 593. All other callers may call 928-333-3412.
“I want to encourage all residents to avoid rumors and hearsay, please use the official information sources. If an evacuation is ordered, residents will be notified by Apache County personnel either in person or by telephone. My deputies and other emergency services personnel will make all the necessary notifications when they become necessary, stated Sheriff Joseph Dedman.
The United States Forest Service has closed the Apache Sitgreaves Forest. The following campgrounds and areas are closed, including Big Lake Recreation area, Hannagan Meadows, KP Campground, Gabaldon and Mt Baldy Wilderness areas. Law enforcement personnel from USFS, Apache County Sheriff’s Office, AZ Game and Fish, AZ DPS and the Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office are currently evacuating remaining visitors from the closure areas.
These closures are due to the continued growth of the Wallow Fire, which was estimated to have consumed over 40,000 acres as of this morning. The Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team continues to direct the fire fighting efforts of over 600 personnel in the effort to bring containment to this fire.
Prior Post 06/02/2011, 9:30 p.m. - Wallow Fire grows to 40,509 acres as of today; more area closures in effect
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests has announced it is expanding the Closure Area affecting the Alpine Ranger District effective immediately. The new closure area also includes the following:
· Big Lake Recreation Area
· The road to Big Lake will be closed at the scenic overlook
· Gabaldon Campground is closed
· Mt. Baldy Wilderness is closed
· The entire trail system within the wilderness is closed
Permitees who have a legitimate need to access the area must obtain a permit from the District Ranger.
The Wallow Fire has also forced the closure of sections of State Routes 261 and 273 (the main access roads to Big Lake and Crescent Lake), SR 261 is closed starting seven miles south of SR 260 to Crescent Lake and SR 273 is closed between Sunrise Park and Big Lake. US 191 is closed between Alpine and the Strayhorse Campground. There is no estimated time for reopening these highways.
Due to the fire and road closures the following areas should also be avoided: Tonto Lake, Reservation Lake, Pacheta Lake and Drift Fence Lake on the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
NOTE: A Community Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. tonight at the Alpine Community Center. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests personnel and Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team representatives will present information about the Wallow Fire and answer questions.
The Wallow Fire is about 12 miles shy of Alpine having increased in size from 6,700 on Wednesday to its current size of 40,509 acres.
Before yesterday's activity, the fire was moving at an average of a half-mile to a mile every day. Yesterday the fire increased in size by over 5 miles.
The Eastern Arizona Interagency Incident Management Team (one of four Type II teams in the United States) is directing the fire battle under the direction of Incident Commander John Philbin.
Containment is currently estimated at zero percent.
Forest Service public information officer Bob Dyson said given the continued dry windy weather, the forecast is not favorable for firefighters' efforts.
The fire has prompted evacuations of residents in Apache County whose homes are threatened and is threatening Hannagan Meadow Lodge. The lodge is still open, however the area is smoke ridden and there is flying ash in the air. Campgrounds in the area have also been evacuated.
“It’s staying on the west side of Fish Creek. The wind is out of the east this morning and it’s supposed to come out of the southwest later today," Lodge Manager Janice Muldoon said on Wednesday.
As of Thursday morning there were 601 personnel and 16 handcrews assigned to the fire.
Equipment resources include 14 engines, six water tenders, four dozers, three heli-tankers, two air attack planes, one medium and two light helicopters and four airtankers.
Additional crews are on their way to help battle the blaze.
Dyson said the plan Thursday is to conduct defensive operations and try to keep the fire from reaching Big Lake or from moving west onto the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
"What we need now is boots on the ground," he said.
In addition to Hannagan Meadow Lodge there are two guest ranches to the northeast of the fire and directly in the path of the wind driven fire.
Dyson said both were “defensible.” noting that the Forest Service has performed extensive work over the last couple of days to protect Hannagan Meadow Lodge.
On May 31, the Forest Service imposed fire restrictions across the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
No campfires are allowed except those in fire grills in developed recreation sites. Smoking in the forest is also prohibited except in a closed vehicle or within a building.
Although Highway 191 remains open, the Forest Service has closed two campgrounds, the KP Cienega and Hannagan campgrounds, and some roads on the west side of 191. The main water source for the fire crews is Acre Lake and the road to it has been closed.
Fire Facts
Date started: 5/29/2011
Personnel: 601, including 16 handcrews
Current location: 12 miles SW of Alpine, AZ
Equipment: 14 engines, 6 water tenders, 4 dozers
Cause: under investigation
Aircraft: 3 heli-tankers, 2 Air Attack planes,
Size: 40,509 (infrared flight)
1 med. and 2 light helicopters, 4 Air Tankers
Percent contained: 0
Estimated containment date: Unknown
Injuries to date: 0
Cost to date: $1,768,122
Prior Post 06/01/2011, 7:30 p.m. - Evacuations in effect due to Wallow Fire's progression; up to 15,000 acres burned
After briefing the public at a community meeting held tonight at the Round Valley High School Auditorium in Springerville, officials are estimating the Wallow Fire has consumed up to 15,000 acres.
Smoke today has made it impossible to obtain a clear acreage count. Infrared survalliance is expected to gain more accurate acreage numbers tonight.
Three airial attack helecopters are on scene. According to officials, the fire is actively burning at night and is at zero percent containment.
Hannagan Meadow Lodge has been evacuated in addition to campgrounds and ranches in the area.
The fire is approximately 15 miles from Alpine Arizona and the town and neighboring residences have not been evacuated.
See prior updates for areas under mandatory evacuation at this time.
Prior Post 06/01/2011, 4:15 p.m. - Evacuations in effect due to Wallow Fire's progression
Apache County Sheriff's deputies started evacuating dozens of campers in the Sprucedale area this afternoon, June 1, along Forest Road 26 about 18 miles northeast of the area where the Wallow Fire originated.
It was reported that fire crews were planning back-burns near two guest ranches in the Sprucedale area.
The movement of the fire has prompted the forest to announce the closure of the Alpine Ranger District of the Apache Sitgreaves National Forests effective immediately.
The southern boundary of the Closure Area is the Mogollon Rim and goes north to Forest Roads 249 and 116. The western side of the closure is the boundaries of the San Carlos Apache and White Mountain Apache Indian Reservations and goes east to Highway 191.
Highway 191 is closed from Alpine, AZ on the north, to the Strayhorse Campground on the south.
Portions of both Greenlee County and Apache County are affected by the closure.
A mandatory evacuation of all residents and visitors within the closure area is also in effect immediately. Private property within the closure area includes Sprucedale, Beaver Creek Ranch, Beaverhead, Brentwood and residents along Forest Road 26. Campgrounds include West Fork, and all of the campgrounds along the East Fork of the Black River. There is no access to the Black River.
Big Lake Recreation Area including all of the surrounding campgrounds remain open. Access to the area is from Highway 261 and Highway 273.
EDITOR'S NOTE: William Wiltbank owner of Beaver Creek Guest Ranch in the Sprucedale area signed an evacuation refusal with Apache County Sheriff's deputies late this afternoon. Deputies reported that he was gathering up horses at the ranch.
Prior Post 06/01/2011, 9:00 a.m. - Wallow Fire consumes 6,699 acres; community meeting tonight at 6 p.m.
A Community Meeting will be held beginning at 6 p.m. tonight at the Round Valley High School Auditorium in Springerville. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests personnel and Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team representatives will present information about the Wallow Fire and answer the public's questions.
The Wallow Fire has grown to 6,699 acres as of Tuesday morning. Single and group tree torching with short sustained crown runs in heavy fuels were observed Tuesday. The fire continues to spot ahead and is actively backing down slopes. The fire remains active during nighttime hours due to poor relative humidity recoveries.
Forest Road (FR) 24 at the junction of FR 26 and Acre Lake Loop, also known as FR 8312, will be closed today. KP Cienega and Hannagan Campgrounds were closed Tuesday. An Emergency Road Closure is in effect at the junction of Forest Roads 24 and 25 off of Highway 191 to the Black River Bridge. Residents who live in Springerville, Eagar, Nutrioso, Alpine, and Luna, NM will continue to see and smell drift smoke from the Wallow Fire. Residents in Reserve, NM and Clifton, AZ have also reported significant smoke. Please see this link for information on proper precautions: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/wildfire.htm
The A-S National Forests Fire Restrictions went into effect at midnight on May 31. The restrictions prohibit campfires, except in fire grills provided in developed recreation sites, smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, and welding with an open flame. Please see the Forest website for more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/
Fire Facts
Date started: 5/29/2011
Personnel: 418, including 10 handcrews
Current location: 18 miles SW of Alpine, AZ
Equipment: 10 engines, 3 water tenders, 2 dozers
Cause: under investigation
Aircraft: 2 heli-tankers, 2 Air Attack planes,
Size: 6,699
1 med. and 1 light helicopter, 4 Air Tankers on order
Percent contained: 0
Estimated containment date:
Injuries to date: 0
Cost to date: $916,542
Prior Post 05/31/2011, 12:30 p.m. - Wallow Fire grows to 2,616 acres; zero percent containment
The Wallow Fire is actively spreading at a rate of up to a mile in a 24-hour period. Isolated and group torching of trees has been observed with the fire spotting ahead an average of 100 to 150 feet. The fire is currently located both inside and outside of the Bear Wallow Wilderness area and is burning in grass, brush and mixed conifer with a large dead and down component.
Firefighters are scouting for containment opportunities that include roads and terrain features. They are also assessing needs for protection of structures along Forest Road 26 including Hannagan Lodge, Josh Ranch, Beaver Creek, Sprucedale and the Reno lookout.
An Emergency Road Closure is in effect at the junction of Forest Roads 24 and 25 off of Highway 191 to the Black River Bridge. Motorists traveling Highway 191 may have limited visibility due to smoke. Residents who live in Springerville, Eagar, Nutrioso, Alpine, and Luna, NM will continue to see and smell drift smoke from the Wallow Fire.
The Incident Command Post is located at the Alpine Elementary School.
Strong sustained and gusty winds are expected at various times throughout the coming week. Please check for RED FLAG conditions and updates by dialing 593 or 928-333-3412 or on the website 593info.org, the A-S National Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/ or here on WMIcentral.com.
Fire Facts
Date started: 5/29/2011
Number of personnel: 207
Current location: 18 miles SW of Alpine, AZ
Equipment: 10 engines, 3 water tenders, 2 dozers
Cause: under investigation
Aircraft: 2 helit-tankers, 2 Air Attack planes,
Size: 2,616
1 med. and 1 light helicopter, 4 Air Tankers on order
Percent contained: 0
Estimated containment date:
Injuries to date: 0
Cost to date: $50,000
Prior Post 05/30/2011 - 9:45 a.m.
The Wallow Fire burning southwest of Alpine, Arizona is actually two fires burning very close together. One has spread to 850 acres, the other is estimated at 600 acres. They are about a mile apart. A Type II Team will be taking command of the fire today.
Prior Post 05/29/2011 - 10:00 p.m.
A wildfire called the “Wallow Fire” is located about 15 miles southwest of Alpine, Arizona (legal: T3N, 28E, Sec 16) in the Bear Wallow Wilderness area. Currently the fire is at approximately 100 acres and is believed to be human caused. Resources on the scene are two engines, a dozer and a Type II team and additional resouces are enroute. The Type II Team will be briefed and transitioned on Monday at Noon.
The Reno Fire Lookout and some campers have been evacuated, and Hannagan Lodge residents have been notified. The Forest Service is asking recreationists and travelers to avoid the area at this time.
A road closure is in place from Wildcat Point on Forest Service Road 25 to Highway 191. The public is asked to avoid this area as well.
Strong winds are predicted for Monday with gusts as high as 34 mph. Please check for RED FLAG conditions and updates by dialing 593 or 928-333-3412 or on the website 593info.org at the ASNFs website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/ or here on WMIcentral.com.
Another wildfire occurred Saturday afternoon called the “Club Fire” and was located in the Pinetop Country Club area. The fire is being called contained at 13.5 acres with a dozer line around the perimeter. No structures were threatened and no evacuations were called on this fire with fuel types of pine and grass.
A reminder, northern Arizona is very dry and we ask you call to inquire about fire restrictions for the Apache-Sitreaves National Forests or any area you plan on camping or recreating.
Here is quick overview of what RED FLAG means to you. The use of campfires and charcoal grills are prohibited on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests during RED FLAG conditions, as is smoking, except within a building, an automobile, a developed recreation site, or within a minimum 3 feet diameter area cleared of burnable material. Pressurized gas stoves are allowed. Private property owners may have to get a permit from their local fire department to do any burning, or may be prohibited from any open burning until red flag conditions subside.
Forest Service offices and local fire departments fly the RED FLAG when severe fire weather conditions are present.
The Forest Service continues to promote safety messages to those visiting any national forest. As dry conditions exists, please use extreme caution if camping on the A-S or any national forest. There are no fire restrictions currently on the A-S, but check prior to heading out to camp to check if there are any restrictions in place or Red Flag Warnings.
Safety tips to follow when visiting public lands or other areas:
When finished with the use of a campfire, completely extinguish your campfire by drowning the fire, stirring it, and drowning it again. Never leave a campfire unattended!
Be careful with gas lanterns, barbeques, gas stoves, and anything that can be a source of ignition for a wildfire.
Park vehicles away from dry grass and avoid driving through tall grass.
Dispose of a lit cigarette or other smoking materials appropriately.
http://www.wmicentral.com/news/pre-evacuation-alert-for-alpine-in-effect-apache-sitgreaves-forest/article_39ab81fe-8a47-11e0-abac-001cc4c002e0.html
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