White Mountain Zone Type 3 Team Assumes Command of the G22 Fire 

Thursday, April 08, 2021 

Location of Origin: 10 miles northwest of Cibecue, Arizona 

Start Date: April 3, 2021        Size: 1,000 Acres        

Cause: Under investigation    Percent Contained: 0                                                            

Personnel: 74                        Fuels: Grass/brush understory, snags, pine-stringers 

Resources Assigned: 5 Type 6 engines, 2 dozers, 20 person IHC crew, 19-person IA hand crew, 10 person IA hand crew, 2 water tenders, medical team, 1 type 3 helicopter, and other miscellaneous incident management overhead. 

The G22 fire transitioned from a Type-4 organization to a Type-3 complexity fire when the White Mountain Zone Incident Management Team assumed command today at 6:00 a.m.   

Operations: The G22 fire is burning within the Rodeo-Chediski fire scar, in rugged terrain with a large volume of snags/dead trees. Windy conditions continue to test fire contingency lines along the northeast portion of the fire, and to keep the fire in check, burnout operations along the 22H road to the G22 junction were conducted. The southern flank of the fire has experienced only minimal movement. Firefighters will continue to construct handline in the southeast flank along Spring Creek to the 32C road junction.  

Closures: The junction of the 27/28 road, north of Grasshopper Ranch and Salt Creek north of Chediski Lookout, is closed due to fire activity.    

Weather: Today’s forecast is calling for warm temperatures, with a high near 76 degrees. Winds are expected at 13 to 17 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph. Tonight will be clear with a low around 44. The drying trend is expected to continue with no precipitation in the near-term forecast. 

Values at risk: Fire fighter and public safety are the highest priorities for the incident management team. The G22 fire area includes important lands to the White Mountain Apache people. Firefighters are working to protect commercial timberlands, watersheds, riparian areas, rangelands, heritage sites, and recreation and wilderness areas. 

Safety: Smoke may be visible from Cibecue and along U.S. 60. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.    

Official fire information can be found on these sites. 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/
• ASNFs website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/asnf/news-events
• ADEQ Air Quality Information: https://azdeq.gov/node/7077

Arizona is approaching the disbursement of the COVID-19 vaccine in a priority phased style due to a limited initial supply of medication.  Navajo County is following this model and is currently vaccinating community members who fall into phase 1B.a and will continue to vaccinate those in the 1A category.  The 1B.a category includes Law enforcement, fire and corrections personnel, teachers and support staff, adults 75 years and older and those healthcare workers that were not included in the 1A category

Individuals who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccination must be a member of the current phase or one that has been previously completed, schedule an appointment (an email address is required to schedule the appointment), and provide appropriate identification at the vaccination site.

For more detailed information, and to schedule an appointment please visit the COVID-19 vaccination page at: 

https://reports.mysidewalk.com/523bc7fc44

(NOTE:  Individuals will only be able to schedule an appointment if they fall into the current open phase, or one that has previously passed.  You will not be able to proceed if the category that you fall into has not yet opened)

AZ Forestry will conduct a one day prescribed burn in Navajo/Apache counties on 9/15/2020. Ignitions will begin at 9 am in the area of US 60, near mile marker 370, northeast of Show Low. The burn is expected to last one day and is weather dependent. Smoke will be visible in the area throughout the day and likely into Wednesday. The burn helps reduce piles left from fuels reduction work in the area.