3-D map of the Backbone Fire, looking west at 3:24 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021. The red dots along Highway 260 represent heat from the firing operation. The location of the dots is approximate.
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.
On this map of the Backbone Fire the red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 3:24 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021. The red line was the perimeter at 2 a.m. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours earlier. The red dots show the firing operation that began at the intersection of Highways 260 and 87. The red dots at upper-right north of 260 and 209 is the 71-acre Snake Fire.
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.
Firing operation on the Backbone Fire at the junction of Highways 260 and 87, June 21, 2021. Photo by Arizona Department of Transportation.
It has burned about 24,000 acres 20 miles southwest of Flagstaff
Updated at 9:16 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021
Rafael Fire map. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 4:12 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021. The red line was the mapped perimeter at 2:38 a.m. June 22. The white line was the approximate perimeter about 24 hours before.
The Rafael Fire 12 miles northwest of Sedona, Arizona was not as active Monday as in previous days. A satellite overflight at 4:12 a.m. Tuesday found heat along the eastern three-fourths of the fire perimeter, but the growth was incremental, advancing less than a mile to the north, east, and south. It has advanced on the eastern side to the bottom of Sycamore Canyon and Tule Canyon just southwest of Sycamore Point.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Rafael Fire, including the most current, click HERE.
A mapping flight at 2:38 a.m. Tuesday determined the Rafael Fire had burned about 24,000 acres.
Updated at 7:40 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021
The latest satellite overflight Monday at 3 p.m. MDT showed that the Rafael Fire continued to be active along portions of the north and south sides during the previous 12 hours, but at that time had not made any large runs. Later in the afternoon fire activity increased substantially.
We expect to have more detailed information including an updated map Tuesday morning.
The red areas on the map represent heat detected on the Rafael Fire by satellites at 3:42 a.m. MDT June 21, 2021. The red line was the perimeter about five hours earlier.
The lightning-caused Rafael Fire 12 miles northwest of Sedona, Arizona grew substantially Sunday while being pushed by strong winds. After spreading to the east-northeast, early Monday morning it was about 12 miles southwest of Flagstaff. The Incident Management Team reported Monday morning it was mapped at about 20,000 acres.
The blaze began as four fires ignited by lightning last week that burned together during the wind event Sunday. It now spans across three National Forests (Prescott, Kaibab, and Coconino) and two counties (Yavapai and Coconino).
A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered.
For the most current evacuation information visit the sites below:
Satellite photo, Colorado Fires at 6:15 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021. NASA.
The satellite photo above taken at 6:15 p.m. MDT Monday shows the three large wildfires in northwest Colorado were very active at that time, with large plumes of smoke blowing off to the southeast.
10:16 a.m. MDT June 21, 2021
Satellite photo of smoke from wildfires in Northwest Colorado and Northeast Utah at 6:36 p.m. MDT June 20, 2021. NASA.
Strong winds on Sunday caused four wildfires in northwest Colorado and northeast Utah to grow substantially. They are all in mountainous areas between 7,000′ and 9,400′. The three fires in Colorado listed here were all described as exhibiting extreme fire behavior. It is early in the year to have multiple large fires in Colorado. They are all in remote areas with difficult access and have the potential to continue to expand.
According to information available Monday morning there were a total of 84 personnel assigned to the four fires, which included one hand crew. With nearly 8,000 already committed to numerous fires in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and other states, it could cause a person to wonder about the availability of firefighting resources as we get deeper into the traditional fire season.
Oil Springs Fire
The largest of the four fires we’re looking at today is the 5,000-acre Oil Springs Fire in Colorado which has prompted evacuations. It has forced the closure of Highway 139 43 miles north of Grand Junction and 26 miles south of Rangely. Structures and oil and gas infrastructure are threatened. It is burning at elevations up to 7,400 feet. Winds gusting at 25 to 39 mph Sunday while the relative humidity was in the single digits resulted in the fire spreading several miles to the southeast and crossing Highway 139. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the area just south of the fire. The wind is expected to decrease Monday but the RH will be in teens in the afternoon. Resources assigned to the fire Sunday evening included 3 engines, no hand crews, and no helicopters for a total of 20 personnel. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered. There are two other smaller fires 8 to 10 miles east of the Oil Springs Fire.
Sylvan Fire
The Sylvan Fire is burning above 9,000 feet 13 miles south of Eagle, Colorado just west of Sylvan Lake. The strong wind on Sunday pushed it about two miles to the southeast while exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Using early Monday morning heat sensing data from a satellite it appears to have grown to approximately 800 acres. As of Sunday evening there were no firefighting resources on the fire.
West Fire
The West Fire is 41 miles southeast of Rock Springs, Wyoming on the Wyoming-Colorado border three miles east of the Utah border. It is burning at elevations up to 9,400 feet. The early Monday morning heat sensing data indicates it has burned about 1,700 acres. Structures, oil and gas infrastructure, and sage grouse habitat are threatened. Resources assigned to the fire Sunday evening included 1 hand crew, 3 fire engines, and 1 helicopter for a total of 64 personnel.
West Fire. Photo by Moffat County Sheriff’s Office June 20, 2021.
Sego Fire
The lightning-caused Sego Fire is in a very remote area of Utah 52 miles east of Price in rugged, difficult to access terrain. Smoke from the fire is very visible on the satellite photo at the top of this article. Heat sensing data indicates it had burned approximately 500 acres by early Monday morning.
Map of fires in Northwest Colorado and Northeast Utah. The red areas indicate heat detected by satellites at 3:42 a.m. MDT June 21, 2021.
The red dots on the map represent heat detected on the Wyrick Fire by satellites at 3 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021. The other colors were detected earlier.
On Monday during a 3 p.m. satellite overflight the Wyrick Fire was about 2 miles north of Highways 260 and 277 at the closest points, and was three miles from the intersection of the two highways. Most of the spread of the fire on Monday was on the southeast side toward Heber.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Wyrick Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
From the Incident Management team at about 6 p.m. Monday:
“The Wyrick Fire has advanced toward Heber, and reached a starting point for setting evacuations into motion in Heber and Overgaard. Current status as of 3 pm:
“Areas in READY Status: Overgaard south of Highway 260 High Country Pines in Heber Kendall Ranch / Camp Ponderosa.
“Areas in SET Status: Areas in Heber not identified as Ready or Go status Chevelon Ranches and Retreat Communities in Overgaard south of Highway 277 and North of Highway 260.
“Areas in GO Status (leave now): Antelope Valley Despain Ranch Heber and Overgaard North of 260 AND 277.”
Originally published at 9:56 p.m. MDT June 20, 2021.
Wyrick Fire by Jeff Zimmerman, 7 p.m. June 20, 2021.
During the first four hours after it was reported at 2 p.m. Saturday June 19, the Wyrick Fire in east-central Arizona was mapped at 173 acres. But Sunday the lightning-caused fire grew substantially while being pushed by outflow winds from thunderstorms. Based on heat detected by satellites, by 3:18 p.m. MDT it had grown to at least 450 acres.
An advisory from the Incident Management Team Sunday afternoon said it was 1.5 miles from 95A and was spreading in all directions.
Late in the afternoon it was producing a very large smoke column topped by a pyrocumulus cloud and causing spot fires up to one-quarter mile ahead. It is burning in pinyon-juniper and grass.
At 3:18 p.m. Sunday the fire was in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest 5 miles northwest of Heber, 3 miles north of Highway 260, and 48 miles east of the Backbone Fire. (See the map below.)
The red dots represent heat detected by satellites on the Wyrick Fire at 3:18 p.m. MDT June 20, 2020.
The latest satellite overflight Monday at 2:12 p.m. MDT showed that the Backbone Fire had spread approximately a half mile along portions of the north and northeast sides during the previous 12 hours. There are reports that later in the afternoon fire activity increased.
We expect to have more detailed information including an updated map Tuesday morning.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Backbone Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
Updated at 1:38 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021
The red line on the map was the perimeter of the Backbone Fire at 8:15 p.m. MDT June 20, 2021. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.
The Backbone Fire two miles west of Strawberry, Arizona has burned 32,757 acres as of Sunday night. It is about 7 miles southeast of the suburbs southeast of Camp Verde.
Sunday and Sunday night firefighters continued to monitor the progression of the Backbone Fire on both the western and eastern flanks and prepared containment features to support Monday’s operations. Firefighters and heavy equipment will reinforce firelines south and west of Strawberry and Pine, and are preparing for future burnout operations as necessary to strengthen the firelines and protect the communities. Air tankers and helicopters will focus on keeping the fire from moving into Deadman Mesa and Hardscrabble Canyon.
Another day of extreme fire behavior is expected on Monday with growth to the north and east.
Weather
Extreme temperatures will continue Monday with single digit humidity. Scattered dry thunderstorms may develop to the north and west in the afternoon and linger into the evening. Afternoon southwest winds will increase with gusts of 20 – 25 mph.
Evacuations
Evacuation orders were issued for the communities of Pine and Strawberry. Residents and visitors should contact their county or visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go for further information.
Closures
State Route 260 is closed between Camp Verde and State Route 87 and State Route 87 is closed north of Payson to Clint’s Week. Motorists are advised to visit https://www.az511.com for current road closures.
3:33 p.m. MDT June 20, 2021
Map of the Backbone Fire. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 4 a.m. MDT June 20, 2021. The red line was the mapped perimeter at about 7 p.m. MDT June 19, 2021.
The Backbone Fire 8 miles southeast of Camp Verde, Arizona has prompted the evacuation of two communities with a combined population of about 2,700 residents, Strawberry and Pine. Early Sunday morning the fire was 2 miles west of Strawberry. (More information about the evacuations.)
On Saturday large quantities of aerial retardant were used to slow the spread of the fire to east toward Strawberry and Pine and to keep it out of the big drainage to the south, Hardscrabble Canyon.
Today firefighters and heavy equipment will construct and reinforce control lines south and west of Strawberry and Pine and prepare for future burnout operations as necessary to strengthen protection for the communities. Some of the control lines will be “plumbed” with fire hose to be used during the burning. Helicopters and air tankers will help firefighters keep the fire from moving into Deadman Mesa and Hardscrabble Canyon.
Sunday at 1:22 p.m. MST the temperature in Pine was 95° under clear skies with 16 percent relative humidity and winds out of the south-southwest at 11 mph gusting to 22. The temperature is predicted to reach 99°. The forecast for Monday and Tuesday is for similar conditions.
The hot, dry, windy weather combined with drought and low moisture in vegetation have led to an expectation of another day of extreme fire behavior on Sunday with growth to the north and east.
State Route 260 is closed between Camp Verde and State Route 87. Motorists are advised to visit AZ511 for current road closures.
