6/27/14 1300 – The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has issued a temporary closure order to protect public health and safety during fire suppression and rehabilitaion for all National Forest System lands, roads and trails within the boundaries described below:

Beginning at Forest Road (FR) 283 at its intersection with Apache County Road 3144 east along the southern side on CR 3144 to the Forest Boundary; East along the Forest Boundary to FR 177; South along the eastern side of FR117 to Arizona State Route 260; West along SR260 to the Forest Boundary; West along the Forest Boundary to FR 271; North along FR 217 to FR 283; North along FR 283 to the intersection of CR3144. This closure includes restriction of access to FR 117 due to large numbers of fire supppression equipment utilizing this road.

This order will remain in effect until the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest rescinds it. Any violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for individuals and $10,000.00 for organizations and/or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months.

6/27/14 11:00 The following roads are closed to traffic at this time. Forest Service Road 224 at the FS Rd 267 junction, Apache County Road 3140 at the Carlock Ranch junction, Forest Service Road 117 at US 60, Forest Service road 117 at Highway 260, Forest Service Road 117 at Forest Service Road 61, Apache County Road 3140 at Apache County Road3261. Please avoid travel on these roads and areas so that firefighters and crews can access the fire without delay.

Round Valley Middle School is ready as a reception center at this time, located at 126 W. Second St, Eagar.  At this time the 311 lines have been converted to a call center which will give callers accurate information regarding the fire.

A Type 2 Incident Management team lead by Matt Reidy will take over at 1800 this evening. The fire is believed to be 1500 acres as of the briefing this morning.

Springerville, AZ –June 26, 2014—A wildfire called the ‘San Juan’ was reported around 11:43 a.m. on the Fort Apache agency near San Juan Flats and has crossed over to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest’s Springerville Ranger District (latitude 34,7.968 x longitude 109,39.714).

The wildfire is in mixed-conifer and is currently estimated at 1,000 plus acres, and the resources on scene are from the Fort Apache Agency and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNFs) and consists of: Four Hotshot Crews, Air Attack, a lead plane, Round Valley Helitack, 1 Seat, Cibecue Fuels, 2 Type 3 Engines, 2 Dozers, and 5 Heavy Air Tankers.

The Apache County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Advisory (not mandatory at this time) for the areas of Red Cabin Ranch, Greens Peak Hideaway and the Whiting Homestead. For further evacuation questions call the Apache County Sheriff’s Office at 928-337-4321.

“The San Juan Fire is heading north-easterly into an area where the White Mountain Stewardship Project has been thinning and that will definitely help slow down any fire activity,” according to Apache-Sitgreaves Nationals Forest Supervisor Jim Zornes.

Forest Service Road 117 is closed for public access. The public is advised to look for fire personnel and vehicles entering off highways US 60 and Arizona State 260.

The Fort Apache Agency is the lead agency for the San Juan Fire and will transisiton to a Type II team sometime Friday. Candy Lupe is the Public Informaton Officer for the Fort Apache Agency at 928-205-5662.

Updates regarding the fire can be found at: www.311info.net and by calling 311 or 928-333-3412 ASNFs website at www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

###