7:47 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021
Monday night firefighters began what will be a massive firing operation to defend against the 37,000-acre Backbone Fire that is threatening the communities of Strawberry and Pine, Arizona. The operation began at the intersection of highways 260 and 87 with crews working north and south on Highway 260. The stated goal of the project is to remove the fuel between Strawberry and Fossil Creek in order to protect the community.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Backbone Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
It is unknown how far the Incident Management Team intends to take the firing operation but I did some calculations. If the fire stayed where it is early Tuesday morning and they quickly completed the firing operation, it would encompass at least 20,000 to 40,000 acres.
The Incident Management Team said that Monday the fire continued to advance up Fossil Creek toward Highway 260.
Mapping and satellite data show the northeast part of the fire which is northwest of Strawberry has moved northeast over the last 24 hours, closer to Highway 260.
The fire has continued to spread to the northwest in the direction of Camp Verde, advancing less than a mile on Monday.
Firefighters have been working to construct firelines and improve the protection for Strawberry.
Pine and Strawberry are still under evacuation orders.
A new fire is burning 7 miles north of the intersection of Highways 260 and 87, visible on the map above at the upper-right. It is the 71-acre Snake Fire being managed separately.
Prayers for the safety of all.jw
Praying as well, sir.
Point of origin.
Progression.
Burn Scars.
Look at resources and look at actions and actual ones out there.
How many retired firefighters and Hotshots who live in that area and refused to evacuate?
Many.
Let’s see if that plays out in logistics and planning for the Backbone Fire.
Also delayed crucial information to the public will be another factor.
I know many know Roy Hall of 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire where 19 men died and us two hikers almost did as well and what we know since and what was offered in information that weekend. Roy Hall’s Public Information Officer Mike Reichling is participating in this ongoing fire. Please pray for Mike. He is pretty unprofessional towards concerned citizen of two properties and I get noone wants a ‘label’ yet after all you felt you were just doing your job. And as I dabbled in training in the Public Information Officer field, Mike told the concerned citizen correctly. It’s gathering information and figuring best way to share it yet recently someone needs to go back to the Academy on ethics, morale, professional attitude and stop delaying the information by days.
The Back Bone fire has the potential to be suppressed yet resources and etc. show it may be another “big box” theory moment in a slower fashion due to Mother Nature is not yet a helper for this fire to expand it.
Many of us are watching in town and from afar how IC manages this fire to it’s fully containment levels.
Every action on this fire is being watched because it affects many communities not just one.
Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers ?