Hunters are advised that the “Mistake Peak Fire” in the Tonto National Forest (in the Mistake Peak/Greenback Valley area in Game Management Unit 23 South, about 11 miles east of Punkin Center, Ariz.), has resulted in some road closures that could potentially affect vehicle access for bear and archery deer hunts that begin on Aug. 24.

The fire, first reported on Aug. 8, has burned 2,700 acres as of Aug. 13 and is 15 percent contained, according to a Forest Service news release. About 120 fire personnel are working the fire.

The fire was moving north and east and has transitioned from grass/brush fuels to Ponderosa pine timber which will burn for a longer duration. Firefighters continue to clear vegetation beside key roads to serve as existing containment boundaries. Smoke may be visible.

Road closures in the area include:
• Forest Roads 236 and 236-A.
• Forest Road 71 is closed at the FR 609 and FR 236 junction.
• Forest Roads 486 and 416.
• Forest Road 609 is closed at the junction with FR 236 and FR 486.
Depending on conditions at the time, these road closures could potentially affect vehicle access for bear and archery deer hunts that begin Aug. 24.

Game and Fish officials pointed out that the fire is only affecting a portion of Unit 23 South specifically, and there are still plenty of areas in the unit unaffected by this fire.

For more information, including a map of the fire area, visit http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3141/ or http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5385773.

A THUNDERSTORM…MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH…WILL AFFECT PINETOP-LAKESIDE…UNTIL 415 PM MST. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED AND HAIL UP TO PENNY SIZED IS POSSIBLE. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF ONE HALF TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH…WITH HAIL POSSIBLY COVERING THE GROUND AND ROAD SURFACES.
RADAR IS ESTIMATING RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH PER HOUR WITH THIS STORM. HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY AND PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN DROPS IN VISIBILITY AND POOR TRACTION.

MUCH NEEDED MOISTURE IN NAVAJO COUNTY
ALLOWS COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO LIFT FIRE RESTRICTIONS
(HOBROOK, AZ) – The onset of the summer monsoons has reached the White Mountains,
providing some much needed moisture for the local communities, and a collective sigh of relief
as we enter into the rainy season. As a result, the Navajo County Board of Supervisors
unanimously approved the immediate cancelation of the Outdoor Fire Ordinance 01-06, Section
7, at their Board meeting on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. The ordinance has been in place since
mid-May of this year.
Navajo County’s Emergency Manager Dan Hinz informed the Board of Supervisors that all
indications are that the worst of the fire danger has passed, and conditions are such that the
United States Forest Service, Apache County Emergency Management, cities and towns within
Navajo County and local fire agencies are also taking similar steps to lift their restrictions.
Lifting this restriction will allow residents, and visitors, to use charcoal and small camp fires.
Local fire departments/districts will still have responsibility for issuing open debris burning
permits. Residents are encouraged to contact their respective fire departments/districts prior to
using their burning permit to verify conditions.