The Blue River Fire has burned 18,602 acres 6 miles northeast of San Carlos, Arizona since it started from a lightning strike June 5. The fire is being managed by the Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team.
It is burning in desert grass and brush with Ponderosa pine at the higher elevations.
The team is working to ensure all fire resources are meeting the requirements of the Centers for Disease Control as well as the standards set by the San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission related to COVID-19. All firefighters and team members are temperature tested before entering tribal lands. Firefighters will be “spiked-out”, camping in designated remote areas safely adjacent to the fires.
The team members assisting with incident support will be working remotely from Globe, 22 air miles to the west-southwest. Firefighters will be fed and supported at their remote spike camps by local drivers that meet the tribal COVID-19 testing requirements, delivering food and supplies several times a day.
The fire has been spreading north-northeast pushed by strong, gusty winds. Smoke has been settling into the San Carlos area at night and during the day has been affecting the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
