The Backbone fire grew approximately 1,000 acres yesterday and is now around 38,300 acres. Cloud cover throughout the day helped to temper fire activity and therefore, slow its growth. Payson saw mostly light impacts, though brief moderate impacts were noted in the afternoon and at night. Camp Verde also saw light to moderate impacts throughout the day. Moderate to heavy impacts were observed in Pine around midnight last night.

Smoke Synopsis

This morning, widespread cloud cover can be seen over much of Arizona, including over the Backbone Fire. Cloud cover is forecast to remain over the fire throughout the day. There will also be chances for light rain showers (up to 0.10″). Variable winds will be also possible, depending on rain activity. As rain evaporates into the dry air near the ground, it will result in erratic, gusty winds.

Given the cloud cover, smoke is not expected to rise as high as today; as a result, any morning impacts may linger a bit longer. Also, the aforesaid erratic winds could cause smoke to move in any direction. In general though, smoke is expected to disperse to the north or northeast. Similar to previous days, light to moderate impacts may be possible in Camp Verde throughout the day. Then overnight, Pine will likely continue to see moderate to heavy impacts, given its proximity to the fire. Payson will likely see light to moderate impacts next morning.

Tomorrow, skies will clear out and winds will become more uniformly out of the west-southwest. Given the sunnier conditions, fire activity is expected to pick up again. And smoke should disperse to the east-northeast during the day. The good news is that smoke should be able to rise higher, reducing smoke impacts at the ground during the day. However, as smoke settles down at night, moderate to heavy impacts may be possible in Pine again.

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.

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz., June 22, 2021 – Due to extreme fire danger and historically dry conditions during a time when firefighting resources are stretched thin, the entire Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will close for public safety, beginning Thursday, June 24 at 6:00 a.m.

A full forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests at any time. Those with private inholdings will be allowed into their property.

More than two dozen fires have started on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in the last few days. Two of these fires required additional assistance by incident management teams. Further, fire behavior has been extreme with crowning, torching and long-range spotting, threatening lives and property. While sporadic precipitation may fall in areas of the forest over the coming weeks, this closure will remain in effect until fire activity decreases, sufficient precipitation falls to reduce the risk of wildfire and hot, dry conditions are no longer forecast to continue.

Forest Service personnel will attempt to reach as many people as possible to begin vacating campsites and informing individuals who are camping in the forest. Campers and visitors to the national forest should vacate their campsites before the closure begins and the public should cancel any plans for visiting the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests for the next several weeks.

The violation of closures and fire restrictions carries a mandatory appearance in federal court, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both.
Order No. 03-01-21-16 is available on the forest website. Stay up to date on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests news by checking the A-S website and following @A_SNF on Facebook and Twitter.

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The WEST CHEV fire, North of Heber/Overgaard, is moving slowly in a southerly direction. The WYRICK fire is moving slowly east. Same travel restriction apply, and more information will be given as it is received.