WHITE MOUNTAIN ZONE 

Incident Management Team 

Ben Plumb – Incident Commander

Public Information Officer: 928-245-1585                               

Red Flag Warning and Critical Fire Weather Conditions Persist 

G22 Fire Update: Thursday, April 15, 2021 

Location of Origin: 10 miles northwest of Cibecue, Arizona 

Start Date: April 3, 2021       

Size: 2,026 Acres        

Cause: Under Investigation   

Percent Contained: 50                                                           

Personnel: 159                     

Fuels: Grass/brush understory, snags, pine-stringers 

Resources Assigned: 4 Type 6 engines, 1 Type 4 engine, 2 dozers, 1-20 person IHC crews, 2-Type 2 IA hand crews, 10 person IA hand crew, 2 water tenders, 2 medical teams, 1 Rapid Extraction Medic Team (REMS), 1 type 3 Helicopter, and miscellaneous overhead. 

Operations: Fire crews on the G22 fire worked to assess all threats to fire lines yesterday and mopped up to extinguish any hot spots where burnout operations had occurred previously. Today, firefighters will patrol to look for threats and continue to mop up along containment lines on the north and east flanks. There are interior islands of unburned fuel that may still burn, and while these do not pose a threat, the primary objective is to maintain the fire within established containment lines. Some resources will be released this morning due to additional containment of the G22 fire.   

Alerts: A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 10 am to 8 pm, and is due to critical fire weather conditions that are either occurring or are imminent. A combination of strong winds and low relative humidities can contribute to extreme fire behavior. 

Weather: The forecast is callingforsouthwest wind gusts of 20-35 mph, and a high near 60 degrees. 

Closures: The junction of the 27/28 road, north of Grasshopper Ranch and Salt Creek north of Chediski Lookout, is closed due to fire activity.    

Values at risk: Fire fighter and public safety are the highest priorities for the incident management team. The G22 fire area includes important lands to the White Mountain Apache people. Firefighters are working to protect commercial timberlands, watersheds, riparian areas, rangelands, heritage sites, and recreation and wilderness areas. 

Safety: Smoke may be visible from Cibecue and White Mountain communities, and along U.S. 60 and 260. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. 

Official fire information can be found on these sites. 

• G22 Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7371/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/
• Apache-Sitgreaves NFs: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events 
• ADEQ Air Quality Information: https://azdeq.gov/node/7077 
• Red Flag Warning: https://bit.ly/3wVxowv 

White Mountain Zone 

Type 3 Incident Management Team

Alpine, AZ, March 31, 2021— The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plans to begin small portions of the Wallow West Unit 4 West prescribed burn starting the first week of April, and possibly into early May, depending on weather conditions and forecast.

The 9,000-acre prescribed fire area is bounded to the north and west by Forest Road 25; to the east by Forest Road 25G; and to the south by the Black River.

Fuel types include grass, mixed conifer, and ponderosa pine. The burn is intended to improve diversity of vegetative age classes, vegetative species, and vegetative structure. Prescribed burning enhances wildlife habitat and watershed conditions, while promoting forest health and protecting communities from the effects of future high severity wildfire.

Prior to lighting the burn, crews have constructed and designated firebreaks to help ensure the fire does not leave the burn area.  The burn will mimic historic natural fire as much as possible.  Fire will typically move slowly in most areas, but in tall grassy areas may spread more rapidly with high flames for short periods of time within containment lines.  Fire specialists will closely monitor local weather conditions, such as wind and humidity, and make adjustments in the schedule as needed to ensure the safety of both fire personnel and the general public. 

Smoke may be visible from Big Lake Recreation Area, the communities of Alpine, Nutrioso, Springerville, and Forest Service Road 25. Motorists are advised to drive safely when approaching areas where prescribed fire activities may limit visibility and/or hinder fire personnel operations.

All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignition begins. The ADEQ monitors air quality and determines whether or not it will be a good day for smoke dispersion. Although smoke from prescribed fire can still be noticeable, it is usually for a shorter time and considerably less smoke than wildfires produce. If you are sensitive to smoke or have respiratory problems, stay indoors if possible.

Questions or concerns contact the Alpine Ranger District at 928-339-5000 or visit the ASNFs website at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf