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Two large fires threaten communities near Globe, Arizona

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories WildfireTags , ,

Telegraph and Mescal Fires

10:53 a.m. MDT June 6, 2021

Map of the Telegraph & Mescal Fires
Map of the Telegraph & Mescal Fires at approximately 12:45 a.m. MDT June 6, 2021.

Two large wildfires east of Phoenix, Arizona are threatening communities near the city of Globe. They are both being driven by strong winds out of the southwest as they burn vegetation desiccated by drought. The hot, dry, and windy conditions that are expected to continue through Friday with 10 to 15 mph winds gusting at 20 to 25 or higher with humidity in the teens will make it a challenge for firefighters to stop the spread of these two fires.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Telegraph and Mescal Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.

air tanker drop Telegraph Fire
Tanker 914, a Douglas DC-10, makes a retardant drop on the western end of the Telegraph Fire late on the afternoon of June 5, 2021 outside of Superior, Arizona. Photo by Tom Story.

Telegraph Fire
The Telegraph Fire south of Highway 60 is 12 miles southwest of Globe, 1.5 miles south of Superior, and about 1 mile from Top of the World. Most of the spread over the last 24 hours has been to the northeast but it has backed into the wind on the west side. Highway 60 is closed.

There is extensive copper mine infrastructure on the northeast and southeast sides of the fire and is moving toward the community of Top of the World. At about 10 a.m. Sunday the sheriff’s office ordered a “GO! Evacuate!” order for the town.

The photo below was taken Saturday night.

Saturday evening the size of the Telegraph Fire was estimated at 25,000 acres. Sunday morning the incident management team announced it had burned 34,363 acres.

Telegraph Fire Arizona helicopters
Helicopter 406AS, the Payson Helitack Exclusive Use ship departs the Superior Helibase for a recon mission on the Telegraph Fire on the Tonto National Forest June 5, 2021. Helicopter 23HX, the Siskyou Rappel ship waits for it’s call to continue bucket work. Photo by Tom Story.

Mescal Fire
During the overnight mapping flight the Mescal Fire was north of San Carlos Reservoir, 2 miles south of Highway 70, and 12 miles southeast of Globe. It was spreading toward the communities of Peridot and San Carlos which Saturday night were 4 and 6 miles away, respectively. On Saturday firefighters conducted a strategic firing operation ahead of the fire along Coolidge Dam Road.

Saturday evening the size of the Mescal Fire was estimated at 25,600 acres. The overnight mapping flight will likely show that it has grown to more than 38,000 acres. (Update: at about 11:15 a.m. on Sunday the incident management team announced that the fire had burned 38,702 acres.)

Telegraph Fire Superior AZ
At sunset on June 5, 2021, the western edge of the Telegraph Fire had crested the ridge to the east of Superior, Arizona and began backing down the hill towards Highway 77. Photo by Tom Story.

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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.

4 thoughts on “Two large fires threaten communities near Globe, Arizona”

  1. Praying for all of the people who are struggling because of the fire and prayers to all the responders for their efforts in putting out the fires. It’s an unbelievable site. Thank you for sharing the pictures and giving updates on this site. ???

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  2. We were NW of there in the Sierra Ancha area last weekend. Stunning to see the lack of one hour fuels, dead brush and widespread juniper mortality. Very tough conditions.

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  4. My prayers are with each and every families in those towns. Listen and obey excuacte!!! Be safe!

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