The fire has grown to over 77,000 acres
Continue readingPlanet Ranch Fire breaks out southeast of Lake Havasu City, AZ
East of Havasu Springs Resort
Continue readingFirefighters employing defensive firing to stop spread of Rafael Fire
A drone is assisting with aerial ignition on the fire southwest of Flagstaff, Arizona
Continue readingWeather prevented firefighters from continuing firing operations Tuesday night on the Backbone Fire
The fire has burned over 38,000 acres near Strawberry, Arizona
Continue readingRafael Fire spread about 4 miles to the east Tuesday
9:05 a.m. MDT June 23, 2021
Not much information is available about the Rafael Fire from the Incident Management Team (IMT). The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office posted this on Facebook:
Based on information recently received from fire incident command. Some rural ranches in the area of North FSR 525 and Bill Grey Road, West of Sedona, have been notified, in person, of a “Go” status. Several additional properties were placed on “Set” status via in person notification. YCSO will continue to work with the fire incident command on this fire and assess the need for any other “ready”, “set” or “go” alerts that will be sent out through our Code Red Emergency notification system.
If you are not signed up for Code Red you can sign up at https://www.ycsoaz.gov/…/Emergency-Notification-System if you live in Yavapai County and https://www.coconino.az.gov/ready if you live in Coconino County. We will also continue to post updates here on our Facebook page.
The Arizona Central West Type 3 IMT is managing the 26,746-acred Rafael Fire plus six other wildfires that range from 27 to 567 acres.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Rafael Fire, including the most current, click HERE.
The fire was active on the northeast and east sides during the day Tuesday and into the night. Based on satellite heat detection data at 3:54 a.m. Wednesday it spread north about a mile and to the east more than four miles in the previous 24 hours. Most of the south and west sides were relatively quiet.
The Rafael Fire is now about 9 miles northwest of Sedona and 17 miles southwest of Flagstaff.
The Wyrick Fire grows to 7,452 acres north of Heber-Overgaard, AZ
Updated 12:37 p.m. MDT June 24, 2021
Showers slowed the spread of the Wyrick Fire Wednesday. It was not enough to completely extinguish the fire, but it was a wetting rain a local told us, that reduced the rate of spread for a while.
The evacuations have been cancelled, and residents can return to their homes.
The precipitation will give firefighters an opportunity to build fireline directly next to the fire, taking advantage of the temporary reprieve to make progress toward containment.
On Wednesday, the West Chev Fire seven miles west of the Wyrick Fire remained active. Helicopters were used to keep the fire from moving to the south in the timber that lines the steep canyons. Firefighters are assessing how to safely construct fireline to contain the blaze.
The Incident Management Team reported Thursday that the Wyrick Fire had burned 7,452 acres. Clouds prevented satellites and mapping aircraft from gathering intelligence about the two fires Wednesday night.
10:26 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021
The Wyrick Fire was active on the eastern two-thirds of the fire on Monday but did not make any massive runs. A mapping flight early Tuesday morning determined it had burned about 7,100 acres and was about three miles from Heber-Overgaard.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Wyrick Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
Evacuations are in effect. The Incident Management Team (IMT) announced on Monday:
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.
A Type 2 IMT led by Incident Commander Mark Bernal is scheduled to assume management of the fire Tuesday, June 22.
Another fire is burning 7 miles west of the Wyrick Fire. The West Chev Fire has burned 288 acres 14 miles northwest of Heber-Overgaard.
Firefighters begin firing operation on Hwy 260 to defend against Backbone Fire
Near Strawberry, Arizona
Continue readingRafael Fire grew rapidly Sunday, 12 miles northwest of Sedona, AZ
It has burned about 24,000 acres 20 miles southwest of Flagstaff
Continue readingWyrick Fire grows rapidly northwest of Heber, AZ
Updated at 8:12 p.m. MDT June 21, 2021
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.
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.)
Backbone Fire prompts evacuation of two communities in Arizona
Pine and Strawberry, AZ
Continue reading