This morning City and County Officials met to continue strategic planning and communication pertaining to the Cottonwood Ridge Fire burning near Show Low. As the BIA-Fort Apache agency shares an update, we will provide the information.

To ensure the safety of the air crews fighting the fire there is a no-fly zone around the area, including drones. If there are unauthorized flights in the area, air attack on the fire will be immediately shut down thus creating unnecessary risk to the community.

For the safety of the public and fire personnel who are actively building a buffer zone, law enforcement has established a road closure on the Rim Road (FS300) at Hwy 60, Rim Rd at Juniper Ridge and 1.5 miles south of Hwy 260 on Joe Tank Rd.

The Ready, Set, Go program has been established to ensure the public safety in evacuations for all hazards, including wildfire. This is a reminder that every household should be in READY status at all times. For more information visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

We highly encourage our community members, both part-time and full-time, to subscribe to the Ready Navajo County alerting system at https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612436/login

We ask that our community members utilize only vetted sources of information on this incident and any future emergencies. Information and updates can be found at the Navajo County Emergency Management and Preparedness Facebook page and 311info.net.

We again thank the BIA-Fort Apache agency and any other tribal suppression resources for their continued effort in fighting this fire. We also thank the U.S. Forest Service and AZ Department of Forestry and Fire Management for their continued support. We continue to extend gratitude to our community leaders for their proactive and assertive approach in ensuring our communities safety.

Lastly, thank you to the citizens of Navajo County for your continued support of our public safety members and officials.

The Cottonwood Ridge Fire started on Sunday, July 23, 2023 within the old Rodeo-Chediski burn scar. It is approximately 70 acres, in steep and rugged terrain that is difficult for firefighters to access. The fire is located about 10 miles southwest of Show Low. Fire resources include a Type 3 Helicopter, a dozer and Fort Apache Fuels Crew. Fire resources are working on tactics to fully suppress this fire. Smoke will be visible in surrounding areas.

The Guzzler wildfire outside of the Heber area is throwing up a significant amount of smoke that may settle into low lying areas such as the Joe City, Holbrook corridor and even up into tribal lands as the evening progresses and into the early morning hours tomorrow. Those with health issues and smoke sensitivities are encouraged to take proper precautions to protect themselves and their family members.