Location: Southeast of Whiteriver
Size: 16, 891 acres
Containment: 25%
Cause: Human caused, under investigation

Fire activity: On Sunday aerial ignitions were utilized to successfully burn out the largest unburned interior island west of Forest Road 25. Increased acreage reported today is a result of interior burning. Fire operations were coordinated along both the southeast and southwest flanks of the fire by strengthening constructed fire lines. Fire line repair was completed for contingency lines north of the Black River. Today tactical firing operations are planned as weather conditions permit along Forest Road 25 east of Reno Lookout toward Highway 191 and along the 309 Trail east of Anderson Flat also toward Highway 191. Over the next several days fire managers will work to tie-in these two major firing operations near Highway191. Numerous resources continue to be relocated to areas with high priority work to assist with safe and timely suppression efforts.

Safety: Motorists should be prepared for possible delays and/or a temporary road closure as firefighters conduct burnout operations along Forest Road 25 and the 309 Trail up to Highway 191. Timing of the firing operation will be dictated by safety, weather, and operational progress. ADOT personnel are in position to implement safety measures if and when the highway is affected by smoke and fire. Checkpoints will be located at Hannagan Meadow to the north and Stray Horse to the south on Highway 191.

Weather: A warming trend will bring higher daytime temps, dryer relative humidity and light winds from the west. No significant wind events are forecast for the next several days. Today smoke will drift to the east then shift and settle into Eagle Creek, Blue River and San Francisco upper Gila River valleys overnight. On Tuesday valley smoke will lift out by 9a.m., will drift to the east throughout the day then shift and settle to the south. The heaviest smoke impacts will peak from 3-5p.m. over the next few days on highway 191 between mile markers 226 north to 245, visibility could be limited to 1.5 miles.

Values: Resource advisors are deployed on the Rattlesnake Fire, and are identifying values at risk so that firefighters can employ tactics to reduce impacts to threatened and endangered species and their habitat within the fires footprint.

Closures: Closures are in place on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, White Mountain Apache Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Visit the Rattlesnake Fire Inciweb page for details.

Restrictions:  Today the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests entered into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in order to reduce human-caused fires and protect public safety. San Carlos Apache Reservation implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on April 17, 2018. Modified Stage 2 Fire Restrictions continue on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5740) – BIA Fort Apache Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/ – Stage 1 Fire Restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/fire/?cid=fseprd538403 – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality https://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx

Rattlesnake Fire:

Location: Southeast of Whiteriver
Containment: 25%
Cause: Human caused, under investigation
Size: 15,423
Fire Activity:
Fire managers continue to monitor containment lines along the western flank near the Black River. There remains a few areas of concern as small pockets of fire are still active in that area.  Burnout operations were conducted along Forest Road 25 on Saturday, and fire crews continue to monitor the fire line along the northern and eastern sides of the fire.  Numerous resources are being relocated to areas with more fire activity to assist with suppression efforts.  Planned firing operations will increase smoke and are expected to impact Alpine and Luna Lake today.

Safety:  Motorists should be prepared for possible delays and/or a temporary road closure as firefighters plan to conduct burnout operations to improve fire line to the east along Forest Road 25 and anchor containment lines to highway 191.  Timing of the firing operation will be dictated by safety, weather, and operational progress.  ADOT personnel are in position to implement safety measures if and when the road is affected by smoke and fire. Checkpoints will be located at Hannagan Meadow to the north and Stray Horse to the south on Highway 191. Firefighters are being reminded to drive with caution during
low visibility and to be mindful of Forest visitor traffic.

Closures:  Closures are in place on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, White Mountain Apache Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.  Visit the Rattlesnake Fire Inciweb page for details.

Restrictions:  On Monday, April 23 at 1:00 a.m., the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will enter into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in order to reduce human-caused fires and protect public safety.  San Carlos Apache Reservation implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on April 17, 2018.  Modified Stage 2 Fire Restrictions continue on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5740) – BIA Fort Apache Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/ – Stage 1 Fire Restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/fire/?cid=fseprd538403 – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality https://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx

Apache County Public Health Department has issued the following:

We are being affected by smoke from a wildfire on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. With the predicted early fire season the following information is to help the public respond to smoke issues.

Particulate matter is a component of smoke from wildfires and consists of fine particles such as soot and ash that can reach deep into the lungs and may contain irritating and toxic compounds. Some of the symptoms related to exposure to smoke from wildfires include:

• Eye, nose, mouth and/or throat irritation;
• Coughing;
• Trouble breathing;
• Tightness of the chest; and/or
• The onset of symptoms related to pre-existing respiratory ailments like asthma or emphysema.

If smoke from wildfires is affecting you and your family consider some of the following actions:

• If you smell smoke and/or are beginning to experience symptoms, consider temporarily locating to another area as long as it is safe for you to do so.
• Move indoors and stay there with doors and windows closed.
• Run the air conditioning, the fan feature on your home heating system with the heat turned off. The filtration systems on home systems can provide some benefit.
• Run room air filtration units.
• Reduce your physical activity level. Do not exercise.
• If symptoms persist or become more severe, please contact your primary health care provider – even persons considered healthy can experience symptoms when exposed to smoke from wildfires!

There are a few population groups considered especially at risk from exposure to smoke from wildfires.

• Elderly persons;
• Young children (especially children 7 and under);
• Individuals with pre-existing health conditions like asthma, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease; and Individuals with respiratory infections like colds or flu.

The ADEQ Springerville smoke monitor is operational and can be viewed at http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx.