5/18/14 2:30 pm
Skunk fire has burned 27,441 acres as of the update from today from PIO Victoria Wesley

5/18/14 @ 2:03 pm
Residents in the White Mountains will be experiencing heavy smoke due to two fires on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
The Skunk fire is at 18,144 acres, and was lighting caused. It started on April 19, 2014, and has been spreading for 27 days. Total acres are now 18,144 acres. The fire is traveling in a north westerly direction in ponderosa pine/juniper forest and easterly through a step canyon. The south end of the fire is secured and holding. Fire is mostly driven by steep terrain and wind. Road Closure from the junction of Road 1520, 1522, top rim Road Junction 1522 and 1523. Old Summit area down to road 1521 is closed due to the Skunk Fire. Structure protection is in place at the Ash Creek Ranch and Ash Creek ceremonial ground

The Barlow fire is on the San Carlos Apache reservation south of Barlow Tank estimated at 440 acres and headed in northwesterly direction. It started on Saturday May 17th, 2014.The fire is still under investigation. It is a northwest drainage in Ponderosa Pine and Doug Fir fuel type. Fire management is managing for full suppression. Resources at risk are the electric line along rd#1700, IDT Ranch and Seneca Ceremonial Grounds.

5/18/14 6:18 am
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN APACHE COUNTY (FIRE WEATHER ZONE 114)-WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM (FIRE WEATHER ZONE 115)- EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM (FIRE WEATHER ZONE 116)- BLACK MESA AREA (FIRE WEATHER ZONE 139)- NORTHEAST PLATEAUS AND MESAS SOUTH OF HWY 264 (FIRE WEATHER ZONE
140)-
RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…
…FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…
…FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…

* AFFECTED AREA…MUCH OF NORTHERN ARIZONA FROM THE YAVAPAI COUNTY
MOUNTAINS AND MOGOLLON RIM NORTHWARD.

* TIMING…CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY FROM LATE
THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY EVENING. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER IS
POSSIBLE MONDAY AND TUESDAY FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY
EVENING.

* 20 FOOT WINDS…SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 5 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.