Smoke from the Hilltop Fire continues to settle in the White Mountains and surrounding communities Below is the most recent update from the Incident Management Team
Continued Hot and Dry Conditions Over the Hilltop Fire
Dii Jii K˛o’ Baa nagodi’
July 6, 2017
Start Date: June 25, 2017
Estimated Acres: 23,519
Location: 30 miles NW of San Carlos, AZ (near Hilltop Lookout) Cause: Lightning
Containment: 5%
Fuels: Timber (litter and understory), short grass, logging slash
Resources Assigned: 762
The Hilltop Fire, located 30 miles northwest of the town of San Carlos, is currently burning on the San Carlos Apache Reservation near the Hilltop Lookout. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, San Carlos Apache Tribe and White Mountain Apache Tribe are working with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 to manage the incident.
The fire continued to grow yesterday with the majority of growth to the east and northwest. Aircraft were used to drop retardant along the hottest areas to slow fire growth and buy some time for firefighters to improve the containment lines. The fire remains about a half mile south of the Salt River and crews are actively working to keep it from crossing over. The southern portion of the fire is holding at Sawmill Canyon as crews work to extinguish hot spots.
With hot and dry conditions predicted over the next few days, the fire is anticipated to continue spreading slowly north and east towards the Salt River. If today’s conditions are favorable, firefighters will strategically burn vegetation between the 1100 road and the east flank of the main fire. As a contingency plan, crews will use masticators along the roads north of the Salt River to improve control lines. The nearby Gimme Fire, which started the same day as the Hilltop Fire, is now 100% contained and will no longer be staffed by firefighting personnel.
The pre-evacuation notice for the Canyon Day and Cedar Creek communities has been temporarily lifted, however, residents should be alert for changing conditions on the fire. If fire becomes well established on the north side of the Salt River, pre-evacuation notices will be restored. To receive emergency alerts, please register through Ready Navajo County at https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612436#/login. For additional information regarding evacuations, log onto www.311info.net for updates.
A closure order remains in place for those lands located within the boundaries of the Hilltop Fire area. On the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Forest Road 1300 is closed on the east end at Sycamore Tank and on the west end at Dehorn. The 1100 Road is closed at Bear Canyon. On the Fort Apache Reservation, the following recreational areas are closed: Buzzard Hole, K & M Mines, and Black River Crossing. Please watch for fire traffic on Highway 60 if you are traveling between Globe and Show Low.
Fire Information: (928) 358-5757 (8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.) Email: hilltopfire2017@gmail.com
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5303/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY
Nowhi ni’

Yesterday morning at about 10 AM the “person of interest” was spotted by a forest service crew. When they attempted to make contact the suspect fire shots at the crew. He is supposed to be armed with a shotgun and a pistol.
The contact/shots fired took place approximately 1/4 mile south of Canyon Point Campground.
Residents of the campground have been evacuated as a precaution.
DPS, Coconino County and Navajo County Deputies, as well as Forest Service LEO’s are actively searching for the suspect.
He appears to be familiar with the forest and may be on the move.
Please familiarize yourself with this photo of the suspect and if any sightings happen, assume that he is armed and considered dangerous, so do not approach, but call 911 immediately.

7/3/17
The Hilltop Fire is approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile from the Black River on San Carlos Reservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team will be assuming control of the fire at 6:00 pm this evening. Cedar Creek and Canyon Day communities are still on pre-evacuation notice. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

White Mountain Apache Tribe Emergency Management has issued a pre-evacuation notice for the communities of Canyon Day and Cedar Creek due to the Hilltop Fire that began on San Carlos Apache Reservation. More information to follow.