Eight miles northwest of Ruidoso
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Hualapia Mountain Park and Pine Lake are threatened
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Continue readingMargo Fire destroyed 12 homes near Dudleyville, Arizona
The fire has burned 1,148 acres
Continue readingMargo Fire prompts evacuations in Dudleyville, Arizona
Updated at 1:14 p.m. MDT April 9, 2021
The Margo Fire has burned approximately 500 acres at Dudleyville, Arizona, according to information released Friday morning by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. They expect to have a more accurate estimate of size after they have GPS’d the perimeter.
On Friday firefighters are continuing to secure the open fire line on the south side and intend to keep the fire within the Gila River bed, north of the agricultural fields, south of San Pedro Road, and west of the town of Dudleyville.
Afternoon winds on Friday will likely pose another challenge for firefighters as they continue toward full suppression efforts. The weather forecast predicts 17 mph afternoon winds out of the northwest gusting to 25, with 90 degrees and 5 percent relative humidity.
Aircraft will be utilized again Friday to assist firefighters. Approximately 75-100 personnel are assigned to the fire.
Evacuation orders remain in place for the town of Dudleyville. That status will be evaluated later on Friday. Before the power lines can be reenergized, they must be assessed for damage.
Originally published at 6:37 p.m. MDT April 8, 2021
The Margo Fire is burning in the town of Dudleyville, Arizona along the river bottom through dense tamarisk. As of 1:30 p.m. on Thursday all residents of Dudleyville were ordered to evacuate by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
Firefighters are challenged by strong winds and multiple spot fires.
An emergency shelter has been sent up at the Ray High School in Kearney. The Arizona Department of Transportation has closed NB State Route 77 at mile post 128.
Dudleyville is north of Tucson, on Highway 77 about 20 air miles north of Oracle.
At 6:10 p.m. on Thursday, a spokesperson for Arizona State Forestry said the fire had burned about 150 acres. Approximately 75 to 100 personnel are assigned. The agency said 12 structures are confirmed destroyed. They did not specify if the structures were residences or outbuildings.
Gila Fire burns more than 2,000 acres in southwest Arizona
Firefighters have been battling the Gila Fire in southwest Arizona since it was reported at 7:15 a.m. on April 2, 2021. The fire is near the Gila River, north of Interstate 8, and south of Hyder Road. It is 8 air miles northeast of Dateland and 74 miles southwest of Phoenix. A power line is threatened but no structures are endangered.
The Bureau of Land Management said at 2:27 p.m. on Sunday it had burned about 2,112 acres.
Fire resources have conducted burnout operations to reduce fuel ahead of the fire to manage fire intensity and tie in to natural features such as rock outcroppings, roads, and areas of lighter vegetation to assist with containment.
Ground and air resources from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management are on scene. On Sunday a total of 22 personnel were assigned to the fire.
At 3:52 p.m. Sunday MDT the Oatman weather station northeast of the fire recorded 94 degrees, 5 percent relative humidity, and 12 mph southwest winds gusting to 18 mph.
The forecast for the fire area is not good news for the firefighters. It calls for winds decreasing Sunday night, but on Monday a high of 97 degrees, 7 percent relative humidity, and 16 mph southwest to west winds gusting to 24 mph in the afternoon.
Two USFS Forestry Technicians posted on Facebook about COVID — one was fired and the other was not rehired
Their primary jobs were to fight wildland fires for the U.S. Forest Service
Continue readingSpread of Punkin Fire south of Payson, AZ stopped after burning more than 300 acres
The Punkin Fire that led to an evacuation Monday near Punkin Center, Arizona burned 304 acres before firefighters stopped the spread. The blaze burned very close to State Route 188 which had to be temporarily closed.
On Monday the fire was being pushed by winds out of the south and southeast with gusts of 15 to 30 mph while the relative humidity was 10 percent.
The Punkin Fire is 40 air miles south of Payson and 15 miles northwest of Theodore Roosevelt Lake.
Investigators determined it was caused by an escaped pile burn on private land.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Jeff.
Update — Wildfire southeast of Winslow, Arizona mapped at 461 acres
Updated at 6:28 p.m. MST March 2, 2021
The “Little Fire” six miles southeast of Winslow, Arizona was mapped Monday at 461 acres. Much of the additional growth can be attributed to a burnout operation along two miles of the Little Colorado River, which incidentally, removed invasive salt cedar near the river.
The cause is still listed as human, but no ignition source has been released.
Originally published at 12:20 p.m. MST February 28, 2021
The “Little Fire” that started Saturday six miles southeast of Winslow has burned at least 100 acres, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said in a Sunday morning update. Firefighters from Winslow, Joseph City, and the ADFFM stopped the spread Saturday night but winds are predicted to increase Sunday afternoon out of the north at 16 to 22 mph. The temperature will be in the low 40s.
The Little Fire started on tribal property and moved onto state protected land, burning through salt cedar near the Little Colorado River. Smoke has been visible from Interstate 40 near mile markers 261-263.
Investigators determined the blaze is human-caused, but the ignition source is unknown.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Jeff.
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