North winds push Crooks Fire to the south

The fire is eight miles south of Prescott, Arizona

4:38 p.m. MDT April 25, 2022

Crooks Fire map, 3:15 a.m. MDT April 25, 2022
Crooks Fire map, 3:15 a.m. MDT April 25, 2022

A wind from the north on April 25 pushed the Crooks Fire three miles to the south in Ash Creek, increasing the size to 5,893 acres according to a fixed wing flight very early Monday morning. The northern edge of the blaze is 8 miles south of Prescott, Arizona. The east side is about a mile west of the Goodwin Fire that burned about 28,000 acres in 2017 (see map above).

The north wind provided good conditions Monday to complete firing operations on the north side to prevent spread to the northwest into Lookout Mountain and Dosoris Canyon. Throughout the day and into the night, firefighters extended the fireline south of Lookout Mountain toward Ash Creek and from Moscow Peak west to Senator Highway.

Crooks Fire
Crooks Fire as seen from Mt. Union Lookout, April 23, 2022. IMT photo.

Fire managers are planning contingency lines south and west of the fire in case winds push the fire in those directions.

Resources assigned include 19 hand crews, 38 fire engines, and 12 helicopters for a total of 675 personnel.

Weather

At 3:30 p.m. MST Monday at the Prescott Airport (elevation 5,043) the relative humidity was 9 percent, the temperature was 72, and the wind was east-southeast at 3 mph. The elevation at the fire ranges from 5,000 to 7,000 feet.

The weather on Tuesday and Wednesday could produce an increase in the rate of spread of the fire. The forecast for the area on Tuesday is for 20 mph winds out of the south gusting around 30, with relative humidity in the teens and the temperature in the 60s. On Wednesday the conditions will be similar but with winds a little stronger, 23 mph gusting to 26 mph. Thursday will be about the same as Wednesday.

Satellite photo smoke Crooks Fire
Satellite photo showing smoke from the Crooks Fire at 3:01 p.m. MDT April 25, 2022.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.