Updated 12:08 p.m. MDT April 20, 2022
The Crooks Fire 8 miles south-southeast of Prescott, Arizona was 1,612 acres when it was mapped at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Most of the growth was toward the northeast as it burned south of Potato Patch and past Mt. Union as it approached Big Bug Mesa Road.
Red flag conditions in rugged terrain on Tuesday challenged firefighters and grounded aircraft through the day. Crews are looking for opportunities to construct indirect line hoping to keep the fire south of FSR 261 road and restrict its spread to the north.
A Type 1 Incident Management Team, California IMT 4, will assume command of the fire Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Resources assigned include 7 hand crews, 14 fire engines, and 5 helicopters for a total of 292 personnel.
Information about evacuations can be found at the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.
1:16 p.m. MDT April 19, 2022
A new fire, the Crooks Fire, broke out Monday eight miles south of Prescott, Arizona. Fire authorities said Tuesday the fire had burned 600 acres in the Prescott National Forest.
The fire is about two miles west of the Goodwin Fire that burned more than 28,000 acres in 2017.
The area is under a Red Flag Warning until 8 p.m. MDT Tuesday for 25 to 35 mph winds gusting out of the southwest at up to 50 mph with relative humidity around 10 percent.
Information from the Incident Management organization late Tuesday morning:
Ryan Barela’s Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management will assume command of the Crooks Fire [Tuesday] at 6:00 PM. The fire remained active last night as crews worked through the night on structure protection and burning fuels along Forest Road (FR) 261 and along Senator Highway. Firefighters will focus today on keeping the fire south of FR 261 and east of Senator Highway. Fires in Prescott, AZ typically are driven by southwestern winds that push the fire to the northeast, therefore, we are prioritizing working on the northeastern part of the fire.
The Southwest Area Coordination Center said Tuesday afternoon that a Type 1 Incident Management Team from California, led by Incident Commander Gamboa, has been ordered.
Crooks (AZ-PNF) CA Type 1 IMT (Gamboa) ordered.
— SWCC (@SWCCNewsNotes) April 19, 2022
(This article was corrected at 1:53 p.m. MDT Tuesday April 19 to correct conflation with the Crooks Peak Fire which is also in the Southwest Geographic Area.)
My son bought an older Cabin in ASH CREEK approx a year ago and has restored it and gated off…Approx 8 acre parcel. He/We can not tell how far down the Ash Creek wash this fire has gone. The statements are a little conflicting. His cabin is in a lower area in the middle of Ash Creek. Any update of burned structures would help as no information seems available in this area Thank you
With all the sad sobs and irresponsible individuals, hopefully this was not Arson. Hope this fire gets under control.
I live in the Philippines. My grandson has a house in potato patch and he is a firefighter. May fortune and the skill of the firefighters lead to a good outcome. My son has a house in Walker and he and the rest of the family are evcuated.
We are worried for everyone too.
Our daughter has property in the line the fire is moving.
We are in the UK.
Our daughter lives in Carefree.
God bless all.
David Macalister
We were evacuated from the Walker area yesterday afternoon. Prayers to all involved.
All we can do on the wind and the firefighters. Is pray that the wind stops. And the firefighters stay safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all???. And for the people they don’t believe in praying. Please do it this one time. Do it for the forest and the wildlife. And for the firefighters. They’re willing to risk their lives.Please
This is not useful … the fire does not care if you pray
The fire may not care if you pray, but I can certainly bet that there are plenty of people and animals that are grateful for anyone that prays for the safety of animals, human life and the firemen that are busting ass to save what they can. Praying the winds stop and firefighters get control of this fire!
Amen I’m a firefighter wife and our children love their daddy too! Keep praying!!
You’ve got that right.
So now their is a fire in NM because a prescribed burn got out of hand due to high winds. In the Southwest,the winds are always the highest in the late spring and early summer. Why wouldn’t the Forestry stick to the fall prescribed burns when there are less high winds ? This doesn’t make sense. If someone could explain the U.S.Forestry’s rationale,I would appreciate it.
Can’t have smoke and balloons in the air at the same time!!
Brady— I am still trying to get the documents on the Caples RX Burn, October 2019 for my research.
Thursday, March 10th, 2022, at 8:57 AM, Latanga Rush stated I am currently number 7 of 49. And I asked for that immediately after the fire. What I find truly ridiculous is the four P’s — Poor Leadership. Politics, Promotions, Profit keeps rolling as the delays of Public Records and FOIAs happens….Tuesday, June 2, 2020, I was number 16 of 25 in the queue to be processed. VERY SLOW process to gather documents and it gets tiresome watching the omissions.
I am actually trying to get documents “still” on the very fire I eye witnessed and documented – where 19 men died, and I almost did by 11 minutes, and I was with them up on the WEAVER MOUNTAINS June 30, 2013.
– So yeah, that will be almost 9 years now and so when does “accountability” ever take importance and priority…I can share right now I have whistleblowing evidence but does it matter – it has been locked on the narrative for so long – do people even care about T R U T H S anymore? I showed the document back channel to some of the GMHS loved ones. Their reaction seems to be spliced.
Now, as for prayers…I prayed on 6-28-6-30-13 and I also know I helped 483 folks right after the fire and we buried in our communities that first year over 150 — since then appx 1/3 of our communities are gone — I would love a sit down and talk “Administration” and “Planning and Budget” with the one requesting billions of dollars…I have a great system for you folks that helps the boots on the ground and the whole enchilada…and yes, I do all this because like Laurie, I believe in the wildlife and prayers do work but it all takes us civilians to be “proactive” too at times.
Remember the old boat scenario where the man was on his roof and the boats came to save him and then when he eventually drowned and was in Heaven, he asked God about how come he did not save him — God mentioned those boats that came to his rescue —
so most important — PAY ATTTENTION to the origin of the fire, document as best you can, watch the progression, and be curious why CA has a type 1 in our state —use your gut and if you need more tools than “common sense” – reach me…
The forensic weather folks are watching and they also find it quite strange …It’s in an area with decadent dense fuels that last had any fire quite some time ago and it has a perfect alignment to come into Prescott and it is dry, dry, dry. Besides the winds, the high nighttime temperatures will ensure large fire growth. God be with all involved not just the firefighters.
I’ve been reading everything on here and I wanted to let you know that I hear you and appreciate what you’re sharing.
I would like to hear more and also learn about different things that I could do because these wildfires are devastating!
God Bless all of the Fire Fighters / First Responders.
God Bless all of the animal’s and everyone being affected.
Julia-
I am available to “public calls” Monday through Thursday 4 8 0 5 5 9 1 9 7 1 from 5:30pm- 9pm to share how you can get the proper guidance for your lifestyle and ways in how you can do your part living in a Wildland Urban Interface community- we all have ways we can do our part. and so, I agree to God Bless all being affected and those watching too that have been affected by Significant Historical Fires. We need to get “proactive” and I am always willing to share –
God Bless and protect our firefighters and help them put out this fire! Please calm the winds Lord!?
1404 hrs. Substantial spot fire near Mt Union. Aircraft grounded due to high winds.
1404 hrs: Substantial spot fire near Mt Union. Aircraft grounded due to wind.
Alignment and high winds place Walker, est. pop. 3500, at high risk. Walker is approximately 1 1/2 miles ahead of the fire. Ingress and egress routes are very limited, so ground resource activity is likely to be limited in in that area, and with the aircraft down due to high winds, the potential for this afternoon isn’t looking so good.
This article was corrected at 1:53 p.m. MDT Tuesday April 19 to correct correct conflation with the Crooks Peak Fire which is also in the Southwest Geographic Area.)
Fix this please. Crooks is in Arizona in Yavapai County. As of this morning the fire had burned 600 acres. CWZ Type III Team managing fire until Cal Type I team arrives. Numerous subdivisions and homes threatened. Red Flag with 50 mph gusts today.
This morning I watched the fire boss say that the fire was at 750 acres. Just sent an email to Bill to point out that the info re: fire near Mora, NM has been conflated with the fire in Yavapai county AZ.
The type 3 team was the CWZ type 3 team from AZ. Not new mexico. Just an FYI.