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: The Rock Creek Fire moved into a prescribed fire conducted by local fire managers in November of last year, and fire activity dropped significantly as a result. Last night’s burnout operations also contributed to halting the fire’s south and easterly progression as firefighters worked to secure those burned out areas today. Hand and dozer line were completed today by 5 p.m. by the 6 20-person hand crews assigned to the incident. Fire managers used GPS coordinates to map the fire, establishing it at 750 acres.
Significant Events: Higher winds are expected during Sunday afternoon and a fire weather watch for extremely dry and windy conditions is forecast for Monday.
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 at 6 p.m. today. 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.