Arizona wildfires: New fire prompts evacuations near Seligman

Arizona wildfires: New fire prompts evacuations near Seligman

Ron Dungan , The Republic | azcentral.com Published 10:28 a.m. MT May 12, 2017 | Updated 7:52 p.m. MT July 12, 2017

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The Goodwin Fire in northern Arizona grew to more than 20,000 acres on Wednesday morning. Here are scenes from the fire you should see. Wochit



(Photo: Coronado National Forest)



Find the latest news about wildfires across Arizona, including road closures, evacuation orders, fire weather alerts and what to watch for day by day.

July 12: Southeastern Arizona fire chars 3.2 square miles

 Authorities say a wildfire burning mostly on state land in southeastern Arizona charred about 3.2 square miles in 12 hours.
The fire was reported about 10 p.m. Tuesday some 15 miles southeast of Sunizona and southwest of the Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County.
Authorities say the flames have been fanned by gusty winds. The cause of the fire isn't immediately clear.
Authorities say there was zero percent containment as of late Wednesday afternoon.
They say 80 percent of the fire is on state land with 20 percent on Coronado National Forest land.
More than 150 firefighters are at the scene including nearly a dozen aircraft plus water tenders and engines.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management is managing the wildfire with assistance from the Coronado National Forest. 
Associated Press contributed to this article.
 

July 8: No evacuations near Daisy Mountain 

Phoenix fire officials said there have been no evacuation orders issued in the Daisy Mountain and Black Canyon City area, and none are needed at this point.
Strong winds have pushed smoke from a nearby fire into the region and Phoenix Fire spokesman Larry Subervi said the department has been "inundated" with 911 calls from people asking if they need to evacuate because of smoke coming from the wildfire near the Interstate 17 at milepost 244.
Subervi said there is "no threat of fire at this time" but said anyone with health or respiratory problems that are sensitive to smoke can choose to leave the area or take other precautions. 
The nearest fire to the area appears to be the Brooklyn Fire, burning six miles northeast of Black Canyon City.
The lightning-caused wildfire has burned nearly 36,000 acres since it started Friday afternoon and currently stands at five percent containment.
One hundred fire personnel are working to combat the fire, which officials said doesn't currently threaten any structures or wildlife. There are no evacuation orders under this fire. 

July 8: New fire prompts evacuations near Seligman

The Limestone Fire that started Saturday evening prompted officials to evacuate residents nine miles west of Seligman in the Bridge Canyon subdivision, the Arizona State Forestry said. 
The fire was sparked by a lightning strike at about 5:45 p.m., spokeswoman Tiffany Davila said. 
July 8: Heat poses challenge for Tucson wildfire
Officials say extreme heat will challenge firefighters battling a wildfire in the Santa Catalina Mountains overlooking Tucson.
High temperatures in the Tucson area are expected to range from 109 to 114 on Thursday and Friday. Fire management team spokeswoman Sandra Lopez said heat limits what firefighters can do and carry, while restricting the use of aircraft.
An anticpated weather change by Saturday is expected to help firefighters by increasing moisture and producing rainfall.
The fire has burned more than 38 square miles, and its perimeter is 11 percent contained. The summer-retreat community of Summerhaven atop Mount Lemmon remains evacuated.
Nearly 700 personnel are assigned to the fire, which started Friday. Its cause remains under investigation.
Associated Press contributed to this article.

July 4: Burro Fire rages northeast of Tucson

Frye Fire
Lightning started the Frye Fire on June 7. About 648 officials have been combating the fire that has burned approximately 46,760 acres. The fire is 45% contained, according to Coronado National Forest officials.
Officials say they're estimating that the fire will be fully contained by July 30.  
Burro Fire
The Burro Fire is still raging northeast of Tuscon. The fire has burned 19,057 acres and is zero percent contained, according to the Coronado National Forest. 
There are 469 people fighting the fire that started on June 30. 
Officials said that "zero containment doesn't mean zero effort," as firefighters have stopped the fire's advance on the south side, and made contingency plans to protect structures in areas where the fire might advance. 
An evacuation order remains in place for residents along the Catalina Highway up to Summerhaven, said the Coronado National Forest.
Officials said a stage 2 fire restriction has been implemented in the forest, which prohibits building a fire, using an explosive, smoking outside of a building or car, firing a weapon and driving a vehicle off road. 
Fireworks are also prohibited year-round on all federal lands, according to the Coronado National Forest. 
Goodwin Fire
The Goodwin Fire is 91% contained and expected to be fully contained by July 13, according to the Prescott National Forest. 
Officials said the cause is still under investigation, but the fire started sometime during the afternoon of June 24. 
Forest service officials continued to warm the public of the dangers of flying drones in a area close to a wildfire. 
The Prescott National Forest stated that, "[It's] illegal, endangers aviators as well as crews on the ground, and slows operations which potentially could result in the fire increasing in size." 
Flying a drone near a wildfire can result in large fines up to $25,00 and jail time, according to officials. 

July 3: Community on Mount Lemmon evacuated

Summerhaven, a small community on Mount Lemmon, was ordered to be evacuated beginning at 6 a.m. July 3.
No residents will be allowed back into the community, which includes part-time residents and cabin owners, until the order is lifted, Coronado National Forest officials said.
The fire had grown to 14,000 acres.
Goodwin Fire
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office announced that several evacuation orders had been lifted.
Residents of  Walker, Potato Patch, Mount Union, Mountain Pine Acres, Pine Flat (Forest Road 177) and the west side of Poland Junction just south of Mayer were allowed back in their communities in the morning, and residents of Breezy Pines (Forest Road 58) were to be allowed back into their homes after noon. 
Because the fire was still active, residents were urged to remain vigilant and monitor fire news.
The Yavapai County Sheriff Office urged residents whose wells may have been affected to avoid the use of water for cooking or consumption until the water was tested by the county health department.

July 2: Burro Fire grows to 5,000 acres

Evacuations have been ordered in the area of the Burro Fire northeast of Tucson, and a Type 1 Incident Management Team was assigned to take control of the fire on July 2. 
The fire started about 10:30 a.m. June 30, according to  Coronado National Forest officials. 
Officials say the fire is in the foothills of Redington Pass near Burro Tank. The fire has burned 5,000 acres, primarily high grass and brush.
Redington Road is closed from milepost 2 to 14. The Mount Lemmon Highway is now closed from the base to the Palisades area.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Goodwin Fire
The greatest potential for fire growth continues to be on the north and northwest portions of the fire, burning 14 miles southwest of Prescott in Yavapai County. Fire crews are working July 2 to complete burnout operations and to hold the line on the northwest side of the fire to prevent threats to Breezy Pines and Walker.
The fire has consumed 27,327 acres.
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2017/05/12/current-arizona-forest-wildfires-2017-updates/311096001/