Rock Creek Fire Update
Fire Facts
| Date started: Friday, June 21 9:45 a.m. | Number of personnel: 215, including 6 20-person hand crews |
| Location: 8 miles East of Whiteriver, AZ | Equipment: 5 engines |
| Cause: Human, under investigation | Aircraft: 3 helicopters |
| Size: Mapped at 750 acres | |
| Percent contained: 0% | Estimated containment date: 6/26/2013 |
| Injuries to date: none | Cost to date: $120,000 |
| Structures threatened: None | |
Fire Activity: Gusty afternoon winds are expected in the area of the Rock Creek Fire today, as 6 hand crews continue to build containment line around the perimeter of the fire located in the Rock Creek drainage. The fire’s northern progression was stopped when it moved into an area of a prescribed fire conducted by local fire managers in November of last year. Better mapping, conducted Saturday, established the fire at 750 acres. Today crews will continue to reinforce hand and dozer lines that were built Saturday. They will have air support in the form of Air Attack and two helicopters. Fire managers expect to see unburned fuel within the existing perimeter burn today as winds progress. Smoke may be visible to residents and visitors in Whiteriver, Hawley Lake and many communities north and northeast of the fire area.
Significant Events: A fire weather watch for extremely dry and windy conditions is forecast for Monday. Beginning Tuesday, weather conditions are forecast to become increasingly hot and dry but with less wind.
Closures: The R30 road is closed at Eastfork on the south end and at Diamond Creek on the north end.
General Information: The Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire Saturday evening. The Incident Command Post is located at the Rick Lupe Fire Management Center in Whiteriver, AZ.
Fire managers are expecting to see down drainage smoke from the Rock Creek Fire collecting in the Eastfork and Whiteriver valleys. Area residents and visitors are urged to use caution while driving in the area as smoke can suddenly become thick and obscure visibility. Additionally, those who have respiratory issues should remain indoors and away from smoke saturated areas.