6/20/16 @10:44 am

Pre-Evacuation is a notice for you to start getting ready to evacuate. This is your opportunity to gather your belongings, your photos etc. Get your medications ready, have your prescriptions refilled if you need to. Have a medication list with your medication numbers listed, in case you are displaced and need to have your medication refilled. Also, it is very important to have your important paperwork together. Insurance documentation, birth certificates, bank information, and other documentation that is important to you. Make plans for your pets, and your livestock. If you don’t want your animals to go to an animal shelter, start moving them now to a location of your choice. You may not have time to do it if they issue an evacuation notice.

Evacuation Notice is the notice for you to leave the area due to the area being unsafe. You have the option to evacuate to a pre-determined shelter. If you do not want to go to a shelter, you may choose to evacuate to an area of your choice that is outside the evacuation zone. If you have been given an evacuation notice, you may be advised to leave immediately, or you may be given a time to be out of the area. That will be determined by the fire activity. That is why it is good to have your things, and animals ready to go if they issue the pre-evacuation notice.

If you choose to not evacuate, you will not be allowed to leave your property. You will not be allowed to go to the store, or to check on your family and friends property. You may not receive services from medical or first responders. If you are found off your property during evacuations, you will be escorted out of the area without the opportunity of going home to get your belongings. All evacuated areas will be patrolled by law enforcement to ensure the safety of the evacuated citizen’s property. When you evacuate, please be mindful of the road signs, the possibility of unsafe driving conditions of heavy smoke, and of the fire crew’s trucks and heavy equipment. Please stay within the speed limits, if not under for the safety of the fire fighters that may be working in the area.

Official Fire update *****6/20/16 at 9:45 am******

Yesterday’s weather did in fact break records across Arizona including the local area, with extreme heat and low humidity which resulted in extreme fire behavior.

The fire grew approximately 14,000 acres yesterday, with all growth extending from the south side of the main fire. The current perimeter of the fire extends directly south and east of Highway60 across the Gila County/Navajo County boundary.

The eastern edge of the fire has crossed over the Cedar Creek drainage. The southern perimeter is still approximately 1 ½ miles east of Hwy 73, and approximately 2 ½ miles north of the Cedar Creek community and has reached an area with more sparse vegetation.

The Community of Cedar Creek is under a PRE-EVACUATION notice. . Community members that choose to leave the area now can go to either Snowflake High School or to the Eager Round Valley Dome. Livestock can be taken to the Taylor Rodeo Grounds or Holbrook Fair Grounds and small animals can be taken to Apache Eager Animal Control.

Early this morning, the winds did shift and are now coming from the south. The wind will limit future fire growth to the south. Firefighters were able to prepare and conduct burnout operations along the eastern flank of the fire near Faught Saddle, tying in a critical piece of the northeastern flank of the fire with completed line.

Fire crews will continue to work south along Hwy 60 to fortify the control points. In coordination with Navopache Electric, fire crews are looking for opportunities to conduct burnout operations along the highway. When they are able to conduct these operations, the electric cooperative may need to turn off the power line for a short time to provide for the safest possible environment for firefighters. Navopache Electric Cooperative will notify affected residents prior to turning off power. On the eastern flank, fire crews will be scouting opportunities to tie in the road system to existing control features related to the 2015 Playground Fire.

With the recent growth of this fire the Incident Management Team has ordered additional resources to support continued suppression efforts. As of this morning, resources include 23 Fire Crews, 37 Engines, 7 Dozers, 11 Water Tenders, 7 Helicopters, 4 Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) for a total of 770 personnel assigned to the incident.

The community is invited to hear directly from Incident Management leadership at 3 community meetings scheduled to take place today and Tuesday. Scheduled meetings include:
• June 20, 2016, 11:00am, Hon Dah Casino Conference Center, Whiteriver Conference room, 777 AZ-260, Pinetop, AZ
• June 20, 2016, 6:30pm, Blue Ridge High School, Main Auditorium, 1200 W. White Mountain Blvd., Lakeside, AZ
• June 21, 2016, 5:30pm, Show Low City Hall, Council Chamber, 181 N, 9th St. Show Low, AZ
The public can continue to get information on the Cedar Fire by calling the 311 Northeastern Arizona Public Information System at 928-333- 3412.

****6/20/16 at 8:45am*****

The Cedar Creek Community has been placed under a PRE-evacuation notice. There are NO evacuation orders at this time. IF an evacuation notice is given, Cedar Creek would be evacuated to Round Valley Middle school in Eagar via Highway 73. Again, CEDAR CREEK IS UNDER PRE-EVACUATION NOTICE ONLY, THERE ARE NO EVACUATION ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

There is smoke in the Highway 73 corridor, but the highway remains open.

Please do not call 911 or the police department for information, you can continue to get the latest updates on this site or by calling 311.