The Backbone fire is now at around 37,300 acres, increasing nearly 5,000 acres yesterday. Westerly winds yesterday sent smoke towards the east throughout the day. This caused light to moderate smoke impacts to Pine and Strawberry, and mostly light impacts in Payson and Show Low. Smoke has settled this morning causing heavier impacts in the Strawberry area.

Smoke Synopsis

Surface winds today will be a little breezy out of the west, then weakening and becoming more variable in the evening. During the day smoke should move off to the east. We could see light to moderate impacts to Strawberry, Pine, Payson, and Camp Verde. Areas further north may also see some smoke impacts, but more from the Rafael Fire.The heavier impacts will be later in the evening through the morning due to settling of the smoke. Smoke should lift tomorrow morning as the temperatures warm and the inversion lifts around 10-11am. During the day winds will be fairly light and out of the southwest. We will likely continue to see light to moderate smoke for the surrounding areas.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.