Firefighters on the Rafael Fire southwest of Flagstaff are using tactical burnouts ahead of the fire to build a barrier to the spread to the north and east. The burning operations are being conducted primarily from existing roads and are expected to continue for the next few days as long as weather conditions allow.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Rafael Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
On Saturday firefighters will continue Friday’s burnout, bringing fire south from the Sycamore Falls Climbing Area to White Horse Lake. They will also begin to back the fire down the slopes into Sycamore Canyon by aerial ignition with helicopters and drones. Fire managers said this activity is designed to minimize fire effects to soils and vegetation on the steep terrain of Sycamore Canyon. Burning operations are expected to continue for the next few days as long as weather conditions allow. Smoke will be more noticeable the next few days due to burnout operations.
With the firing activity taking place 2 to 5 miles north and northeast of the fire, the Rafael Fire is now:
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- 6 miles south of Interstate 40
- 11 miles southwest of Flagstaff
- 7 miles west of Highway 89A, and
- 8 miles northwest of Sedona
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Evacuation information is available on Facebook for Coconino and Yavapai Counties.
On Friday widespread cloud cover and lighter winds reduced active fire movement throughout much of the fire area. But it picked up in the early afternoon in Sycamore Canyon, Hog Hill, and Mooney Canyon.
The Incident Management Team reported Saturday morning the fire had burned 45,899 acres. That number is likely to increase after the overnight mapping is accounted for.
The Rafael Fire now involves the Prescott, Kaibab, and Coconino National Forests and Yavapai and Coconino Counties.
On June 24 the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team 2 led by Incident Commander Dave Bales assumed command of the fire.
