UPDATED at 8:13 p.m. MDT June 7, 2021
The Telegraph Fire southwest of Globe, Arizona was active again Monday due to the continuous cured grass and brush, low fuel moistures, and weather conditions — temperature in the upper 90s, 7 percent relative humidity, and 15 mph winds gusting to 24 mph.
At least 3,500 residences are threatened by the fire.
On Monday the fire made runs on the east side near Highway 60 and lofted embers across the road igniting a spot fire north of the Pinal Creek Bridge south of Miami.
Crews are conducting burnout operations where strategically feasible, generally along roads, to remove fuel ahead of the fire .
The fire is expected to continue spreading to the north. Where the perimeter has not been secured on the north side it could fill in some of the gaps where it has not yet reached Highway 60.
At 6 p.m. Monday it had burned about 61,000 acres.
Resources assigned to the fire include 6 hand crews, 8 engines, 1 dozer, and 5 helicopters for a total of 276 personnel.
1:50 p.m. MDT June 7, 2021
Telegraph Fire
Additional evacuations were ordered for the Telegraph Fire which has been spreading rapidly 27 miles east of Mesa, Arizona, 5 miles southwest of Globe. Sunday evening the Gila County Sheriff’s Office announced a “GO” notification for all Miami residents west of the Miami town limits. Earlier evacuations had been ordered for the Top-of-the-World Community between Superior and Miami. (see map above)
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Telegraph and Mescal Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
All of these communities are along US 60. The next one to the northeast, the direction the fire is moving, which could be threatened later is Claypool, and after that Central Heights-Midland City, and Globe. They were not under evacuation orders as of Monday morning at 10:27 a.m. MDT.
Sunday night the incident management team said the Telegraph Fire had burned 41,109 acres. After the overnight mapping flight data has been analyzed that figure will likely increase to more than 56,000 acres. (Update at about 1:50 p.m. MDT June 7: the incident management team revised the size estimate to 56,625 acres.)
The Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Dave Bales, assumed command of the Telegraph Fire early Sunday morning and additional resources continue to be assigned to the fire.
The fire was reported around 1:30 pm Friday, June 4; its cause is under investigation.
Mescal Fire
The Mescal Fire is 13 miles east of the Telegraph fire, 9 miles southwest of Globe. Firefighters have been conducting strategic firing operations north of San Carlos Reservoir and east of Cutter along US Highway 70.
Evacuation orders were previously issued for Coyote Flats, Peridot Heights, the San Carlos High School Area, and all residents along Route 3.
Air tankers and helicopters are being utilized extensively to support firefighters on the ground as needed.
Sunday evening the incident management team said the Mescal Fire had burned 49,631 acres. After the overnight mapping flight data has been analyzed that figure will likely increase to more than 52,000 acres. (Update at about 1:50 p.m. MDT June 7: the incident management team revised the size estimate to 52,887 acres.)
