The Mescal Fire grew by approximately 2,000 acres yesterday, bringing it to ~72,000 acres. The Telegraph is now at ~85,000 acres with a growth yesterday of around 400 acres.
Smoke production on the Telegraph fire overnight into this morning is less compared to what we have seen over the past few days. Smoke that is being produced is resulting in light to at times moderate impacts to the Globe-Maimi area. Smoke that has settled into the region is expected to lift by 10 am.
Winds today and tomorrow will be lighter, and later this afternoon have a westerly component to them. As a result, smoke is expected to disperse ENE today, with light to moderate impacts possible to the Globe-Miami area due to the proximity to the fire. Other areas that have been seeing moderate impacts further north and east of the fire, such as Cibecue, Show Low, and Eagar, may see smoke move overhead or through the region; however, impacts are expected to remain light. Whiteriver and the San Carlos/Peridot areas may see short periods of moderate smoke impacts, but for the most part, only light impacts are expected.
Overnight into tomorrow, forecasting similar smoke impacts to what is being seen this morning and what will be seen later today.
IR flights last night mapped the Telegraph fire at around 80,700 acres (which is ~4,400 acres of growth yesterday) and the Mescal Fire at approximately 70,000 acres (an increase of just over 3,000 acres yesterday).
On Tuesday, smoke production on the Mescal Fire was much less compared to the past few days. The Telegraph Fire continued to have a large smoke column that dispersed toward the northeast with light to moderate smoke impacts noted in Show Low and the surrounding areas.
Today, we are forecasting smoke to move toward the northeast with moderate to, at times, heavy impacts possible in Globe-Maimi due to the proximity to the fire. As smoke continues to disperse toward the northeast, moderate smoke impacts are likely this afternoon in places further north-northeast of the fire, including areas in/around Whiteriver, Cibecue, Show Low, Snowflake, and Eagar. Overnight, moderate to heavy impacts are possible in Globe-Miami, with moderate impacts forecast in Peridot/San Carlos. Only expecting light impacts in Superior today into tonight as the most active portion of the fire is now east of the region.
If you are in an area with heavy impacts, the suggested actions to take are (if possible): close windows and use fans or alternative cooling devices, turn off swamp coolers, use filtered HVAC systems, and avoid outdoor activities.
Tomorrow, there will be a slightly more westerly component, so the smoke is expected to disperse more toward the ENE.
To follow the smoke forecast visit https://azdeq.gov/WildfireForecast
Stage 2 fire restrictions for Apache and
Navajo counties begin June 11
Holbrook,
AZ – On June 7, the voting members of the White Mountain Fire Coordinating
Group met to discuss the current conditions of the forests throughout the
region. At that meeting a majority of the members voted to recommend the
enactment of Stage 2 fire restrictions throughout Apache and Navajo
County. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will
go into effect throughout unincorporated areas of both Apache and Navajo County
on June 11 as well as the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and City of Show Low.
The
group meets weekly and considers a multitude of criteria. These criteria
include forest conditions and fire behavior, weather forecast information, an
increase in human and/or lightning ignited fires, an increase of events that
attract visitors or local citizens to the forests such as hunts, and
availability of firefighting resources in the region/state. The partners that
provide reports are from local, state, federal and tribal entities that are
experts in their fields.
Under
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions the following acts are PROHIBITED
in unincorporated areas of Navajo and Apache Counties as well as the Town of
Pinetop-Lakeside and City of Show Low
until further notice:
Building, maintaining, attending, or
using a fire or campfire (unless noted in the exemptions below) including
on private property. The use of charcoal, coal and wood stoves including
on private property.
Smoking outside of an enclosed
vehicle or building on forest service land. Off forest service land smoking may be
permitted on/in a porch, carport, garage, parking lot or other areas that
are barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
The outdoor use of any tool that has
an internal combustible engine that would produce open flames or sparks
The outdoor use of welding, acetylene
or other torches with an open flame
The use of explosives
The operation of a motor vehicle,
including UTV’s, ATV’s, motorcycles off of a designated road
Use of any and all fireworks
The outdoor use of firearms of any
kind
Exemptions:
*An exemption does not
absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any
fire started by the exempted activity.
Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.
Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
All land within a city boundary is exempted unless otherwise stated by city ordinance.
Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
“Our joint effort in forest management practices,
especially during a drought is necessary,” said Gwendena Lee-Gatewood,
Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. This strategy helps reduce
wildfire risk that I know is a safety concern for all as we wait for conditions
to improve”. The Fort Apache Indian Reservations is in
Stage 2 restrictions as of June 10.
“Safety
is always our priority”, said Haley Nicoll, Public Health Emergency
Preparedness Manager for Apache County Emergency Management. It is important
that our citizens and visitors observe all restrictions that are in place
whether they are at home or in the forest.
Additional
agencies entering into Stage 2 Fire restrictions include the Bureau of Land
Management Gila District, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
(in Navajo and Apache Counties), and USFS Apache-Sitgreaves Forest.
