Single Publication

Sand Stone and Deer Fire acreage remains unchanged

Daily Update – Saturday, August 3, 2024

Highlights: Despite higher temperatures and afternoon winds, firefighters have successfully increased
containment of the Sand Stone Fire to 78 percent. Minimal smoke and fire activity were observed on both the
Sand Stone and Deer Fires again yesterday. The “set” status for the community of Sunflower has been
downgraded to “ready”.

Total personnel on both incidents: 569

Sand Stone Fire: 
Acres: 27,390 
Containment: 78% 
Start Date: 7/25/2024 
Fuels: Grass, brush
Operations: Yesterday, crews continued to use masticators to chip and shred vegetation to reduce fuels along
Forest Road 201 towards the Mount Peeley Trailhead. Firefighters are also masticating and chipping along Old
Highway 87 and Mesquite Wash. Yesterday morning, firefighters responded to a new fire start near Red
Mountain on the west side of State Route 87. Crews successfully contained the new start at less than 10 acres.
Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor containment lines on the east, south, and west sides of the fire
today. A reconnaissance flight is planned for this morning to better assess fire activity and growth. Firefighters
remain available to respond to any changes in fire activity, including possible new fire starts on the Tonto
National Forest. As the percent containment continues to increase, crews are developing a suppression repair
plan to reduce evidence of suppression actions in the area. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team
will be arriving this weekend to identify and address any emergency stabilization issues related to wildfire.

Deer Fire: 
Acres: 355 
Containment: 18% 
Start Date: 7/17/2024 
Fuels: Grass, brush, timber
Operations: The Deer Fire acreage and containment remains unchanged from yesterday. Between ½ and 1 inch
of rain fell across the fire yesterday afternoon. Fire activity has decreased to creeping and smoldering in downed
logs, resulting in minimal smoke. Today, crews will continue to scout primary and secondary holding lines that
could be used if the fire becomes active in the future.

Weather: An Excessive Heat Warning remains in place for the area around the Sand Stone Fire today through
Monday. High temperatures combined with chances of afternoon thunderstorms and associated outflow winds
may increase potential fire spread today.

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from Fountain Hills, Sunflower, Rio Verde, Goldfield, and unincorporated
communities in the Rio Verde Foothills. An interactive smoke map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.
A daily smoke forecast for the Sand Stone Fire is available at www.azdeq.gov/wildfire/forecast/sandstonefire.

Evacuations: The “set” status for the community of Sunflower has been downgraded to “ready” status. “Ready”
means residents should register for local emergency alerts, have a plan and prepare an emergency kit, and follow
local officials on social media. The Ready, Set, Go! program is a nationwide program to educate residents about
steps to take during an emergency. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts at ready.maricopa.gov.

Closures: The Tonto National Forest has issued a closure order for the Sand Stone Fire. More information can
be found on the Tonto National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices/. Trail users
should avoid using the Arizona National Scenic Trail near the fire area.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. A temporary flight
restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft or drones. Flying drones near
wildfires is dangerous for pilots and firefighters and can bring wildfire suppression efforts to a halt. Know
before you fly. If you fly, we can’t. More information can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/.

More Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-sand-stone /
480-409-9683 / https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest / 2024.sandstone@firenet.gov