Bear Fire Bear Fire Summary

Location: 5 miles sw of Cibecue, AZ

Fire Cause: Undetermined, Under Investigation

Fire Size: 520 acres

Fuel Type: Pinyon-Juniper, Grassland

Containment: 0%

Resources: Air Resources, 2 Type 1 Crews, 2 Type 2IA Crew, 1 dozer, 1 Type 6 Engine Fire start: Saturday, June 8, 2024

Summary: Yesterday, air resources were utilized to slow the progress of the Bear Fire. Fire activity was low overnight allowing retardant lines to hold. This morning, air resources completed retarndant lines around the fire. Fire crews will take advantage of weather conditons and will look for opportunities to conduct direct fire tactics. The White Mountain Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team under the leadership of Ben Plumb, Type 3 Incident Commander will assume command of the fire at 0700 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2024. Closures: The G-3 and G- 4 roads are closed. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the number one priority. Wildfire smoke may impact Cibecue and the White Mountain communities. The public is encouraged to take precautionary measures. Announcement: The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions year around. This means that campfires are not allowed outside of designated campgrounds. Smoking is also not allowed outside of an enclosed vehicle or building. Fireworks are always prohibited. If you have any questions regarding the Bear Fire, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 205-5752 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.

###

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz., Oct. 24, 2023 – Fire managers plan to move operations to the Lakeside Ranger District this week when they begin the Mud Springs prescribed fire, slated for Wednesday, Oct. 25. The 1,829-acre prescribed fire is 3 miles south of Vernon. Fire managers advise there will be temporary smoke impacts in Vernon and surrounding areas. Check air quality information at https://www.airnow.gov/. 

The project boundary is along and within Forest Road 224/Apache County Road 3140, Forest Road 5B, Forest Road 5, Forest Road 3D, Forest Road 44, and Forest Road 3. 

Fire crews expect smoke to be visible from Highway 60 and 260 that could last for several days after initial ignitions and significantly decrease each day afterward. Crews are currently assessing weather and fuel conditions to determine whether they are within the criteria outlined in the prescribed burn plans. The project will be canceled if fuel moisture, temperature, wind, or humidity are not within the burn plan prescription. Multi-day prescribed fire operations require a daily assessment of conditions and line officer approval before operations can continue. 

Prescribed fires are an effective tool for restoring fire-dependent ecosystems and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds.

Landscape treatments such as these planned on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health. 

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf  and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

###

St. Johns, AZ- On Monday, August 14, 2023, the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group met to discuss the current fire restrictions. Upon review of current conditions, it was determined that the unincorporated areas of Apache and Navajo Counties, the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, the towns of Taylor and Snowflake, Eagar, Springerville as well as the City of Show Low and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will rescind all fire restrictions beginning Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.

The decision to rescind fire restrictions included the analysis of several key data points including the energy release components (ERC) of the fuels in the region. The ERC is valuable in determining fire danger because it acts as a fuel moisture index for all types of live and dead fuels. It tells fire managers how hot and fast the fuels will burn. The ERC’s are now in approximately the 50^th percentile which is a good indicator of the fuel moisture content. Another key data set is the number of fires (human or natural caused) throughout the region, which have been minimal in previous weeks. In addition, the 6 to 10- day and monthly weather outlooks are also a deciding factor in restrictions and the projected weather forecast is for monsoon activity to continue across North Eastern Arizona for the rest of the week. Finally, the group also assesses the availability of resources that would be called upon should a fire start. Most, if not all, of our local resources that have been sent to other areas to combat fires, have or are returning to their home base locations. Additionally, the USFS has a task force stationed in Lakeside as well as a large number of available federal resources. Further, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management as well as the BIA Fort Apache Agency have access to additional resources.

All these pieces come together to form the deciding factors in entering or lifting fire restrictions and is a coordinated, regional effort. That being said, even with increased moisture across the region and more forecast in the future, it is imperative that our community members and visitors stay vigilant and follow good land stewardship practices that will ensure our forests, homes and businesses are protected year-round. Therefore, we ask that our residents and visitors continue to practice fire safety with campfires and debris burning. Never leave a fire of any kind unattended. When extinguishing any fire, be sure to drown it with water, stir the water in, and feel the area with the back of your hand for any heat, repeating as necessary to ensure the fire is completely out.

The White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group would like to thank all of our residents and visitors for their compliance to fire restrictions, together we are able to keep our communities safer.

Please continue to follow the Apache County Emergency Management and Preparedness Facebook page as well as the Navajo County Emergency Management and Preparedness Facebook page and 311info.net for updates on fire restrictions and other pertinent, vetted information pertaining to local hazards and preparedness.