Foote Fire Update 6/24/24

Foote Fire Update

Monday, June 24, 2024

Location of Origin: 12 miles south of Alpine
Size: 4,553 acres
Start Date: June 14, 2024
Percent Contained: 0
Cause: Lightning/Natural
Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass
Personnel: 103
Resources Assigned: 4 Crews, 1 Helicopter, 1 Dozer, 1 Brush Chipper

The Foote Fire is located in the Blue Range Primitive Area and is being managed under a confine-contain strategy, in rugged and inaccessible terrain. Due to recent precipitation and higher relative humidities, the fire is exhibiting low fire intensity. Yesterday’s aerial Infrared flight revealed the only activity was along the northwest portion of the fire, and not actively moving down towards U.S. Highway 191. The Foote Fire will transfer command from the Type 3 Incident Management Team to a Type 4 organization at 7 a.m. on June 26, 2024. This will be the final update on the Foote Fire unless fire activity and weather conditions warrant.

Operations: Firefighters are chipping slash along Forest Road 567, and all planned dozer lines have been put in place. Weather: Today’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies, with a high near 85, and southeast winds of 5 to 7 mph. There is a 70% chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon with potential for strong, erratic outflow winds and lightning. Restrictions: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.

Smoke: The public can expect to see smoke in the immediate future, and there is a potential for a U.S. Highway 191 closure in the coming days to provide for the safety of the crews working along the highway edge, as well as for public safety due to smoke impacts along the highway. All areas within proximity of the fire can be impacted by smoke, depending on wind directions and ventilation. Go to fire.airnow.gov/ to see the latest smoke conditions in your community.

Evacuations: None at this time, and no structures are currently threatened.

Foote Fire Update 6/19/24

Foote Fire Update

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Location of Origin: 12 miles south of Alpine
Size: 2,000 acres (approximately)
Start Date: June 14, 2024
Percent Contained: 0
Cause: Lightning/Natural
Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass
Personnel: 64
Resources Assigned: 2 Crew, 1 Helicopter, 1 Dozer

The Foote Fire continues to burn in remote terrain in the Blue Range Primitive Area, consuming dead and down fuels with low to moderate intensity. Fire growth has been moderate with overnight spread to the northwest and southeast. Fire managers expect occasional torching and small fire runs when the fire reaches pockets of heavier fuel loading. The fire edge is currently about 12 miles south of Alpine, one mile east of the Josh Ranch, and approximately three miles east of Blue, AZ.

Operations: Firefighters are currently preparing US Highway 191 and FR 567 for use as containment lines. One helicopter is currently assigned and is being utilized for aerial observation to track the fire spread and behavior. Values at risk include three private homes along the FR 567, and crews are constructing fire line around the private property for protection, utilizing a dozer.

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for windy terrain influenced southeasterly flow sunny skies, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chances for thunderstorms increase Thursday afternoon, with potential for strong, erratic outflow winds and lightning. This increasing moisture will begin to raise minimum and overnight relative humidities starting tomorrow night.

Restrictions: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Expect Stage 2 Restrictions by the weekend. Learn more at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/asnf/alerts-notices/…

Smoke: The public can expect to see smoke in the immediate future, and there is a potential for a US Highway 191 closure in the coming days to provide for the safety of the crews working along the highway edge, as well as for public safety due to smoke impacts along the highway. All areas within proximity of the fire can be impacted by smoke, depending on wind directions and ventilation. Go to fire.airnow.gov/ to see the latest smoke conditions in your community.

Evacuations: None at this time

Official fire information can be found on these sites:• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

Foote Fire Update 6/17/24

Foote Fire Update

Monday, June 17, 2024

zLocation of Origin: 12 miles south of Alpine

Size: 1158 acres

Start Date: June 14, 2024

Percent Contained: 0

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Personnel: 55

Resources Assigned: 2 Crew, 1 Helicopter

Operations: Firefighters are currently on scene monitoring and assessing the fire we are looking at minimizing high fire severity burn by using fire in the right locations to maintain a low to moderate fire intensities in the vicinity of the fire. Crews continue prepping Forest Road 567 And Highway 191 corridor. The Foote fire behavior has been moderate to low burning naturally consuming down and dead fuels to ash. Currently no values are at risk. Th

e public is advised to drive with caution on Forest Road 567 and Highway 191 where fire personnel and vehicles are present. Starting today Monday June 17th, 2024, news releases will be posted every other day unless major changes.

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph with a Red Flag Warning in effect due to strong winds and low humidity

Restrictions: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, learn more at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/asnf/alerts-notices/?aid=87925

Smoke: Communities of Alpine and Blue might be affected by smoke, Go to fire.airnow.gov/ to see the latest smoke conditions in your community. Smoke may be visible from the surrounding communities.

Evacuations: None at this time

Official fire information can be found on these sites: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs • Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf