Wed., Aug 26th Update on Salt/Griffin Fires
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Griffin Fire Grows. Communities Remain in ‘Set’ and ‘Go’ mode.

 

Griffin Fire Grows, Communities Remain in “Set” and “Go” 

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Fire crews worked throughout the night to build and burn out along existing roads southeast of the Griffin Fire to protect homes along the Highway 60 corridor and keep the fire from moving toward Cutter. Crews today will continue to these efforts. 

 

Take the time to become familiar with the Ready-Set-Go Evacuation information before you see smoke in your community.  More information is available at: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

 

Salt Fire 

Location: 11 miles north of Globe, AZ near the junction of Hwy. 188 and SR 288 

Cause: Lightning 

Size: 20,813 acres 

Percent containment: 66% 

Vegetation: Sonoran Desert Grass and Brush 

Fire Strategy: Full Suppression     
Griffin Fire 

Location: 5 miles northeast of Globe, AZ in the Apache mountains west of Hwy. 60 

Cause: Lightning 

Size: 60,056 acres 

Percent containment: 28% 

Vegetation: Grass and Brush 

Fire Strategy: Full Suppression     

 

  Overview 

  • The communities along the east side of Highway 60 (north of Globe) from ADOT yard north to Winters Ranch including Johnson Ranch and McMillionville are in a “Go” evacuation Status. 
  • The San Carlos communities of Upper Gilson and Skill Center are on “Set” Status. 
  • Highway 60 is closed north of Globe from S. Parker Street (MM251) north to MM318 www.az511.gov 
  • Firefighters continue to suppress the Salt and Griffin fires.  Total resources on the ground for the fires are 410 personnel.  Some resources were double counted in yesterday’s total as they were reassigned from the Salt to the Griffin Fire. 
  • Fire activity and movement will continue to be driven by dry fuels, terrain, slope and potential of winds from thunderstorms through the area. We are expecting higher temperatures and lower humidity over the fire area for the next several days. The chance of afternoon thunderstorm buildup and outflow winds will remain a concern for public and firefighter safety. 
  • Highways 188 and 288 are open. 
  • Road 1300, near Highway Tanks, Road 900, and Indian Route 6, Old San Carlos Highway, are closed on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Please be careful while driving in the fire area as firefighters are working along roadways and travelling through communities to reach the fires. 

 

UPDATE 

 

Griffin Fire (merged with Champion Fire): 

The Champion Fire has combined with the Griffin fire. Yesterday morning the fire jumped a containment line on the southeast corner of the fire and was pushed by southeast winds back towards Highway 60. Firefighters assisted by air tankers and helicopters worked throughout the day to slow the fire’s spread and keep the fire east of Highway 60. Firefighters continued to build fireline on the west side of the fire and conducted a burnout operation along the junction of the 820 and 808 roads to secure the southeast corner of the fire.  This has increased the fire size and decreased containment. 

Today, crews on the north and southeast sides  will hold fireline from last night’s burnout operations and work to extend bulldozer lines from existing roads east to Highway 60. Firefighters are in place to help protect residences along Highway 60. On the east side of the fire, firefighters will build direct line where possible and continue to prepare contingency lines from the Cassadore Springs Fire scar south to the Quail Fire scar. On the northwest corner, west of Highway 60 firefighters continue to protect the Griffin, Winters, McMillianville, Adobe, Haystack and Tucker Ranches and keep fire south of FR 303 (Sevenmile Wash Rd). Please continue to be on the lookout for fire equipment and personnel as they drive through San Carlos and the Sevenmile communities to access the fires. 

 

Communities Affected: 

The communities along the east side of Highway 60 from the ADOT yard north to Winters Ranch, including Johnson Ranch and McMillianville are in a “Go” evacuation Status. 

The following communities on San Carlos Reservation are in “Set” status: Upper Gilson and Skill Center. 

For emergency alert and Red Cross evacuation information, visit http://www.readygila.com/

 

Salt Fire: 

Firefighters continue to patrol and monitor the fire perimeter. Occasional smoke, flames and ash whirls from within the burned area may be visible from the highway and nearby communities. 

 

Roosevelt Lake Recreation

Roosevelt Lake and adjacent recreation sites remains open to the public, with the exception of Bermuda Flat, Cholla Bay, and Bachelor’s Cove which are closed due to concerns for potential flooding after the Bush Fire earlier this summer. 

 

Griffin and Salt fires Smoke Report: 

Weather conditions today are expected to be similar to yesterday, with above normal temperatures and thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Winds will be out of the east in the morning, before becoming more south to southwesterly in the afternoon. An increase in fire activity is expected to produce more smoke, and with the addition of smoke for other fires in the area, smokier conditions are expected throughout the day and overnight. 

 

All communities located around the fires should anticipate hazy conditions with periods of moderate smoke. Overnight smoke will move into the drainages and low-lying areas adjacent to the fire. Smoke from wildfires to the north are expected to combine with smoke from the Griffin and Champion fires. This will cause heavier smoke impacts overnight into the early morning hours in the areas of San Carlos, Peridot, Globe, Wheatfields and Roosevelt. The heaviest of impacts are expected between 2am and 9am with the smoke lifting out by 10 am.  https://azdeq.gov/WildfireForecast 

 

Closures and Restrictions: The Tonto National Forest has issued a Public Safety Closure Order for the area impacted by these fires, for more information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices or https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7019/ 

 

Values: Fire fighter and public safety are the highest priorities on these fires. The fire area includes multiple communities, power lines, mines, range improvements, historical sites, cultural and natural resources, which firefighters are working hard to assess and protect. 

 

More Info: Official information on the fire can be found on these sites. 

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