Tonto National Forest Officials Announce Temporary Closure Due to Bull Flat Fire

Written by GKirkhorn on May 16th, 2012

May 16, 2012
4:30 PM

Tonto National Forest officials announced today a temporary closure due to the Bull Flat fire which began on May 10, approximately 9 miles northeast of Young, Ariz. Today the fire is about 1,900 acres in size and approximately 15 percent contained

The closure order is effective beginning 5 pm, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The following is a description of the closure area:

The closure boundary starts at the intersection of Forest Road (FR) 512 and FR 33 and follows FR 512 south to its intersection with FR 358, then following FR 358 east to its intersection with the forest boundary. The boundary then follows the forest boundary north and turns directly east to the intersection of FR 34 and FR 188, then follows FR 34 north to its intersection with FR 33 and follows FR 33 west to its intersection with FR 512.

FR 512 and FR 33 will remain open for travel during this closure The purpose of the closure is to provide for public and firefighter health and safety during the management of the Bull Flat fire.

The fire is currently burning on lands administered by the Fort Apache Agency and the Pleasant Valley Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest and is being managed by the Type 2 Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team.

 

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Update on Bull Flat Fire Located in Fort Apache and Tonto National Forest Still 1,900 acres and 15% contained

Written by GKirkhorn on May 16th, 2012

Contact: Jonetta Trued, 520-400-1007 Website: www.inciweb.org

Email: eazfireteam@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/firescoop

May 16, 2012
11:00 a.m.

Fire Facts

Date started: May 10, 2012
Number of personnel: 309

Location: Fort Apache Agency and Tonto National Forest
Equipment: 7 engines, 2 dozers, 2 water tenders
Cause: believed to be lightning, under investigation
Aircraft: 1 light and 1 heavy helicopter
Size: 1,900 acres
Percent contained: 15
Estimated containment date: May 25, 2012
Injuries to date: 0
Property threatened: none

Fire Activity: The fire continues to creep in grass, brush and dead and down fuels in the Bull Flat Fire area. Shifting high winds and very low relative humidities today are expected. Crews will focus mainly on continuing to secure the north side of the fire by extinguishing hot spots held in stumps and large dead fuels close to the outside edge of the fire. On the northeast, hand crews will construct fireline that will connect two existing portions of fireline and prepare for a burnout that will help to secure that portion of the fire perimeter. The burnout may be about 200 acres.

Closures/Restrictions and Advisories: The Tonto National Forest has closed the 188 and 89 roads. The Tonto National Forest has also initiated Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. No open campfires will be allowed on lands administered by the forest. Please see the Forest website for more information about all of the applicable restrictions. Residents and visitors in the Heber-Overgaard area may experience drift smoke from the Bull Flat fire along with other ongoing wildfires in the area. Those with respiratory challenges should take precautions. Smoke also settles in cool temperatures and may reduce visibility for motorists particularly during nighttime hours. The public is urged to drive cautiously in smoky conditions.

 

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Smoke Health Advisory For Communities Within Navajo County Due to Fires In Arizona

Written by GKirkhorn on May 16th, 2012

NEWS RELEASE

Date: May 16, 2012

Contact: John Zimmerman, Public Information Officer: 928-524-4750
Janelle Linn, Public Health Nursing Supervisor: 928-532-6050
Wade Kartchner, MD Health Director: 928-532-6050

Smoke Health Advisory
It is anticipated that wood smoke and particulate matter levels from the fires outside Navajo County will continue to periodically affect communities in Navajo County until further notice.

Shifting winds have been moving the smoke in many directions, and some communities may be periodically affected as smoke settles in for a few hours. We expect these conditions to continue for the next several days.

Itchy eyes, cough, and upper airway irritation are typical symptoms of short-term exposure to smoke. Other potential health effects could include headache, dizziness and nausea.

Closing windows and turning off evaporative coolers when smoke is present should reduce exposure to the smoke and should be adequate to protect persons without respiratory problems.
People who live in the area with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or other respiratory problems are at the highest risk for health symptoms. Individuals with these pre-existing conditions should avoid exposure to the smoke as much as possible, and consult their physician if they have any questions.

What to do if there is smoke present:

• Stay inside with windows and doors shut.
• Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on the air conditioner in your home or car.
• Avoid cooking and vacuuming, which can increase pollutants indoors.
• Avoid physical exertion.
• Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan.
• Keep airways moist by drinking lots of water. Breathing through a warm, wet washcloth can also help relieve dryness.

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National Weather Service, Flagstaff has issued a Fire Weather Watch… which is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening.

Written by eneitzel on May 16th, 2012

May 16, 2012

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITIES AND STRONG WINDS FOR MUCH OF
NORTHERN ARIZONA…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA…FIRE WEATHER ZONES
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN NAVAJO COUNTY
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN APACHE COUNTY
WHITE MOUNTAINS

FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITIES AND STRONG WINDS FOR MUCH OF
NORTHERN ARIZONA…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY…VALUES FROM 5 TO 12 PERCENT DURING THE
AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

 

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Bull Flat Fire at Fort Apache and Tonto National Forest 1,900 acres and 15% Contained

Written by GKirkhorn on May 16th, 2012

10:00 p.m. May 15, 2012

Contact: Jonetta Trued, 520-400-1007 Website: www.inciweb.org
Email: eazfireteam@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/firescoop

Advisories: Residents and visitors in the Heber-Overgaard area may experience drift smoke from the Bull Flat Fire. The fire is southwest of these communities and afternoon winds are expected to push smoke in a northeasterly direction. Those with respiratory challenges should take precautions. Smoke also settles in cool temperatures and may reduce visibility for motorists driving during nighttime hours.

The increase in acres burned reflects that the fire reached containment lines today established by firefighters on the west side of the Bull Flat Fire. Firefighters caught one spot fire on the north side of the fire’s perimeter.

There is a decrease in estimated containment because more intensive mop-up needs to be completed along firelines where heat is being held in stump holes and large, dead fuels that could produce flying embers during wind events.

On Wednesday, crews will focus on extinguishing hot spots along the fire’s perimeter and construct containment line on the northeast corner of the fire in preparation for a burnout that will help to secure that portion of the line.

Fire Facts
Date started: May 10, 2012 Number of personnel: 309
Location: Fort Apache Agency and Tonto NF
Equipment: 7 engines, 2 dozers, 2 water tenders
Cause: believed to be lightning, under investigation Aircraft: 1 light and 1 heavy helicopter
Size: 1,900 acres
Percent contained: 15
Estimated containment date: May 25, 2012
Injuries to date: 0
Property threatened: none

 

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