The Wyrick Fire grows to 7,452 acres north of Heber-Overgaard, AZ

Updated 12:37 p.m. MDT June 24, 2021

Rainbow in the Wyrick Fire area
Rainbow in the Wyrick Fire area, June 23, 2021. Photo by Jeff Zimmerman.

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

map Wyrick and West Chev Fires
The red dots represent heat detected on the Wyrick and West Chev Fires at 4:12 a.m. MDT June 22, 2021 by a satellite. The red line was the perimeter of the Wyrick Fire at 4:29 a.m. MDT June 22.

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.

Wyrick Fire
Wyrick Fire. USFS photo.