Photos courtesy of YCSO
[Editor’s Note: This is a combined report from the Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.]
Start Date: Tuesday, July 9
Location: 3 miles north of Congress
Containment: 0%
Personnel Assigned: 116
Cause: Undetermined
Acres: 807
Resources: 4 Hand Crews, 8 Engines, 2 Water Tenders
Summary: Thursday morning, operations flew the fire’s perimeter and mapped it at 807 acres. The decrease in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. The fire remains active on all sides and continues to push toward the east and the south, burning through steep and rugged terrain in places within a mixed fuel type of grass, brush, and Pinyon-juniper.
Along the northwest side overnight, hand crews went indirect on the fire with firing operations and were able to get line in around structures in the area. The northeast side of the fire remains the most active. Today fire resources continue with structure protection to residences to the east of the fire along with conducting point protection efforts to values at risk including the mine, mining infrastructure, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line, and power lines. Firefighters are also trying to keep the fire from impacting Congress and the Sonoran Desert. Two state hand crews are going direct on that side of the fire and putting in line along that flank. Two Single Engine Air Tankers are engaged dropping retardant to help slow the fire’s progress to the east. Two helicopters have also been ordered to help support resources working that side of the fire. The helicopters will use a reservoir near Piedmont to dip from and due to the proximity, turnaround time for bucket support work will be quick. On the southeast side of the fire, a dozer operator is working to put in fire line on State Trust land. Hillside Fire operations plans to tie the dozer line in with State Route 89 to keep the fire from impacting Congress.
The fire stayed active on all sides throughout Wednesday night. As temperatures heat up, fire activity along with behavior may increase. The fire is burning in very steep and rugged terrain on the north and east sides of the fire. Medic support teams have been ordered to help support resources working in those areas. The main priority for operations on any and all fires is the safety of the crews and the public. Crews are working under very hot and dry conditions. Extra ground resources are on order to provide additional support and allow for more crew breaks. On the southwest side of the fire, open mine shafts are creating another hazard for resources.
Per the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management, SET remains in effect for residences along Ghost Town Road. Residents should be alert and stay aware of the weather and changing conditions. Prepare a go bag to include, personal items, prescriptions, water and snacks, important documents, identification cards, and money. Residents who live in Yavapai County can sign up for emergency alerts at: https://www.ycsoaz.gov/I-Want-To/Services/Sign-up-for-Emergency-Notifications. Management action points ahead of the fire’s perimeter have been established by fire operations to act as a notification should additional SET or GO notifications need to be made.
Weather: An excessive heat warning is in effect through Thursday at 8pm. Monsoonal moisture continues to increase through the weekend with greater chances for thunderstorms, including outflow winds over the fire area today and over the next few days.
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Open mine shafts, extreme temperatures, rugged terrain and other identified hazards within the fire area remain a safety concern for fire operations. Additional medic teams have been ordered to support firefighters. Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly…we can’t.
Incident Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aza5s-hillside-fire
Twitter: @azstateforestry: https://twitter.com/azstateforestry
Facebook: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management: https://www.facebook.com/arizonaforestry
Ready, Set, Go: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go
–Tiffany Davila, DFFM
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department
Tuesday afternoon YCSO responded to a wildfire in the rural area north of Congress adjacent to the Ghost Town Mine. During the initial response, there was concern over several residential and commercial structures in the area, with the fire reaching within 20 yards of an office structure on the mine. Several YCSO units, along with Forest Patrol and volunteer groups responded to assist.
YCSO’ s responsibility during wildfire incidents is to coordinate evacuations if needed. Successful backburning and slurry drops last night mitigated the level of concern for any evacuations needed in the area. The most active burn zone is the northeast side nearest to Date Creek Road (County Road 62).
YCSO is continuing to liaison with the Fire Incident Command Team, and preparing in the event today’s weather pushes the fire into occupied areas needing evacuation. Currently YCSO has roadblocks at Ghost Town Road and Gold Dollar and Hwy 89 at Date Creek.
Residents are encouraged to check https://inciweb.wildlife.gov for up-to-date fire information.
