Playground Fire Update
The Playground Fire began as a lightning strike fire on August 28, 2015 at 1431 MST located on the Fort Apache Reservation. Fire management and communication is also being handled by the Fort Apache Agency. This fire is 9.5 miles NNE of Cedar Creek, AZ and south of the communities of Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low. It is on what is known as Faught Ridge. This is in an area where the terrain is difficult to maneuver due to the ruggedness and the overgrowth of trees and shrubbery. It has been quite some time prior to this event that any kind of treatment, whether mechanical, natural (fire) or otherwise has occurred in this area. Due to the large amounts of sustained moisture/humidity conditions this summer has produced, forest management officials are taking advantage of the opportunity to reduce the amount of dense vegetation in this area bringing it back to a healthier more defensible condition which ultimately could have devastatingly affected the communities of Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low.
Unfortunately with this type of forest fuels management we will experience periods of heavy and drifting smoke in the nearby communities. There have been reports of ashes falling in yards in the Pinetop-Lakeside areas. There is no immediate threat to any structures or the possibility of an evacuation at this time.
The goal for this fuels management burn is to treat approximately 5000+ acres of land. There have been primary and secondary containment lines established all around the outer perimeter of this management area and the fuels crews are actively burning the interior portions of the overall designated treatment area to maximize the effectiveness of the management goal. Ignition operations are expected to continue through the weekend with the goal to be completed by Sunday September 20, 2015 and then begin to just monitor the fire from that point on which should reduce the amount of smoke and ash being produced.
We encourage the public to continue to be vigilant in watching for public safety risks but with the infiltration of smoke from this fire to be sure before overwhelming our “911” system with “calls to check smoke odors” for any calls to “911” make sure that they are a true emergency.

There is also a small fire start on the Black Mesa Fire District called the Potato Patch fire.
The lightning caused Potato Patch fire was discovered on September 11. The fire is located 6 miles north of Forest Lakes. Smoke will be visible from the local communities and from AZ State Highway 260.

Basic Information
Current as of 9/18/2015, 3:47:41 PM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Friday September 11th, 2015 approx. 09:30 AM
Location 6 mi east of Forest Lakes
Incident Commander Greg Oyler
Current Situation
Size 105 Acres
Fuels Involved Timber and grass understory
Outlook
Projected Incident Activity Fire managers will monitor over the weekend.
Remarks Fire being managed for resource benefits. In addition, to a reduction of hazardous forest fuels, other objectives of the fire include improvement of wildlife habitat, understory vegetation enhancement, and forest disease and pest prevention.
Current Weather
Weather Concerns Thunderstorms/chance of precipitation likely for the next several days with some drying by Mon.

Friday September 18, 2015 the Forest Service will begin this treatment burn south of Vernon.
Springerville Ranger District
Apache-Sitgreaves NFS

9/18/15 –
BIA is finishing ignitions today on the 4,089 acre Playground fire. The fire continues to produce smoke that is visible in most areas in the White Mountains.
The BIA managed Playground fire burning on Fort Apache approximately 7 air miles south of Pinetop has been producing quite a bit of smoke that has been wafting over the White Mountains. The weather systems of late have spread the smoke as far as Winslow. People with respiratory problems should keep their windows and doors shut and limit their activity during times of unhealthy air quality. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality monitors air quality around the state and provides an hour by hour report of air quality. To check data from ADEQ’s Portable Particulate Monitor in Show Low, please go to this Web page: http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx.

9/14/15 – In the White Mountain Independent online edition today there is a poll asking readers “Are you prepared for any natural or manmade disasters or emergencies?”. The attached graph shows the current results as of 11:30 today’s date. It is encouraging that so many do feel they are prepared for an emergency or disaster and that there are still many that want to learn and get started. So for those folks that want to learn more about preparedness here are a few tips and bits of information to get you started. Who knows even those that feel that they are ready might find something new!

First step in being prepared, know the hazards in your area. In the White Mountains we have wildfires, monsoons and winter storms for potential natural disasters. However, we also have potential manmade disasters as well. Hazardous materials are shipped across the country daily in trucks and trains. Do you know what to do if there is a hazardous material that spills in your neighborhood?

Second, have a Ready Kit. A Ready Kit has enough supplies for you, your family and your pets to last a minimum of 72 hours. That includes water! There should be one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Other necessary items include non-perishable food items (check those expiration dates once a year at least), flashlights (with extra batteries – make sure those are checked also), a battery operated radio to get the latest updates, games and puzzles to keep everyone busy and a good first aid kit are just a few items you should have on hand.  Another option instead of battery operated radio is to have is a hand crank emergency radio.  There are several inexpensive ($20-$25 and up) ones on the market that include a variety of options such as additional lights, cell phone charger and more. Many of these can be found at local stores or online. To view a thorough list visit www.ready.gov to download what else you may want to have on hand for an emergency.

Third, have a plan! Talk to your family and make a plan. Know where you will meet if you are separated during a crisis. Make sure you have a contact outside of the immediate area that knows how to get ahold of you. And make sure everyone in the family also has that contact information available. If you are evacuated, follow evacuation instructions and make sure to check in at the shelter even if you are not staying there so that worried family and friends will have a way to see that you are safe and well.

Finally, stay informed! Keep up with the most current and accurate information by checking here at 311info.net, dialing 311 on your phone or by listening to local radio or news stations. If you are a citizen of Navajo County we encourage you to sign up for Ready Navajo County alerts by visiting the Navajo County website (www.navajocountyaz.gov) and click on the green Ready Navajo County logo. If you are a citizen of Apache County stay tune – an alert system is on the way.