Single Publication

Acres: 11,162 
Start Date: July 11, 2024 
Location: South of Roosevelt Lake on the edge of the Superstition Wilderness 
Cause: Lightning 
Personnel: 324
Fuels: Tall Grass and Brush 
Containment: 69%
Resources:  2 Crews | 11 Engines | 1 Helicopters | 2 Bulldozers | 3 Water Tenders

Highlights: Over the next few days, the Incident Management Team will begin to release resources. Crews will be released from the fire as objectives are met and made available to assist with other wildfires across the nation. Planning Level on a National Preparedness Level is at 5 (PL5). The five preparedness levels range from the lowest (1) to the highest (5). Each one includes specific management actions and involves increasing levels of interagency resource commitments. As preparedness levels rise, so does the need for incident management teams and suppression resources, which include wildland fire crews, engines, support personnel, helicopters, airtankers and other aircraft, and specialized heavy equipment, such as bulldozers. 

The Incident Management Team will begin to break down the Incident Command Post allowing the Tonto National Forest to reopen Grapevine and Frazier campgrounds in the Roosevelt Recreation Area. 

Operations: As containment increases, remaining resources will patrol, focus on securing the fires perimeter and continue cold trailing for any heat. Usually a part of the ‘mop-up’ process, cold trailing, is making sure a fire is dead out by carefully feeling its perimeter with the bare hand to detect any remaining burning material. The objective of this task is to locate and eliminate hot spots; and to make sure no hot or glowing embers remain, since leftover coals can be blown around and could potentially rekindle an otherwise contained fire.  Structure assessment crews have finished updating structure protection maps for future emergencies; ensuring information on types of structures, location and access is accurate as they remove structure protection equipment, like sprinklers and hoses. 

As monsoon storms roll through the area surrounding the Black Fire, resources assigned to the fire are available for initial attack response helping local cooperators when resources are limited. 

Weather: Thunderstorm coverage will increase Sunday as we see a better pattern for thunderstorms to develop. There will be a greater threat of wetting rains along with strong outflow winds, during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will cool slightly with temperatures at 102-106 degrees along with a slight increase in afternoon relative humidity. Outside of outflow winds, expect to see southwest to west winds 8-12 mph with gusts to 20 mph. Thunderstorm chances will remain in the forecast for the remainder of the week along with slightly above normal temperatures.

Smoke: Individuals who are sensitive to smoke or have conditions aggravated by smoke are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/  allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. 

Closures: The Tonto National Forest has issued a closure for land surrounding the Black Fire. 03-12-00-24-31_Black Fire_Closure_Order. Additionally, the Tonto National Monument is closed. National Park Service Alerts.

Evacuations: For current evacuation information please call Gila County Emergency Management at 928-910-4009 EXT 1 or visit the Gila County Government Facebook page at -  https://www.facebook.com/gilacountygovernment/

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Please avoid the area while crews conduct fire suppression operations. Citizens are urged to sign up for the Gila and Maricopa County Emergency Notification System. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information Network visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.