Update 4 | June 23, 2019 | Sunday

Incident Summary  | The WOODBURY FIRE is burning on the Tonto National Forest in a remote area of the Superstition Mountains but is moving out of the area.

FIRE FACT 

On June 11, 2019, there were 5 wildfires burning at the same as the WOODBURY FIRE (5,000 ac. 0% contained), MOUNTAIN FIRE (7,470 ac. 53% contained), COLDWATER FIRE (9,665 ac. 15% contained), MAROON FIRE (8,605 ac. 88% contained) and HELLS GATE FIRE (100 ac. 0% contained).

Location | About 5 miles northwest of Superior; 8 miles southeast of Roosevelt Marina and about 4 miles south of Roosevelt, Arizona.

Fire Behavior | Fire behavior is active with uphill runs, running and flanking. Fire operations are continuing.

Cause | The fire began on Saturday, June 8th from an unknown ignition that is currently under investigation.  It was determined to be human caused.

Fire Resources | There are 905 fire personnel assigned to this incident along with SW Area Type 1 IMT 2. IC is Rich Nieto.

AFMA wildland medics, Aaron and Mac (in photo below) are some of the most elite resources out there because they are constantly prepared to rapidly treat and transport any fire line crew member fighting the fire.  These are the guys you want there if you were injured or felt fatigued.

Most of the fire resources are to the northwest, east and southeast sides of the fire. The Incident Command Post or commonly called the ICP in Gold Canyon will be moving to the Dr. Charles A. Bejaranon Elementary School in Miami. Their move will be completed by the evening of June 24, 2019.

Incident Cooperators | Superstition Fire and Rescue, Golder Ranch FD, Pinal County EMA, Maricopa County, Gila County EMA, Tonto NF, American Red Cross, AZ DOT, FEMA, AZ DOEQ, AZ Department of Public Safety, Apache Junction (City), AZ State Forestry, BLM AZ Fire, Gila County SO, Maricopa County SO, Pinal County SO and Tri-City Fire District, Flagstaff IMET, New Mexico Fire Dispatchers, and Arizona Humane Society.

Incident Cooperators Spotlights:

Pet Disaster Assistance | The AKC’s Pet Disaster Relief organization, a part of the AZ Humane Society is assisting the Gila County Animal Care and Control organization near a Red Cross shelter located at the Miami Intermediate School. They arrived on June 20th and had already two dogs and one cat in their care.

PIOs | There are many men and women Public Information Officers or commonly referred to as ‘PIOs’ that work together from various agencies to bring accurate information to the public, such as evacuation info, community meetings, updates, handling of media and public inquiries and the list goes on.  For this fire, PIOs are representing Tonto NF, City of Apache Junction, Pinal County, AZ Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (AZ EIN), AZ State Forestry, AZ Department of Environment Quality and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) AZ Fire.

Fire Size, Containment Status | 96,307 acres of tall grass, brush and chaparral destroyed.  There is a 24% containment status.

Current Status | Weather has been in the high temps with very low relative humidity or also more commonly called RH, along with strong southwesterly winds that provide large fire growth. Spread is occurring mostly to the northeast in higher terrain above 4500 feet elevation on the interior of the fire.

Fire Managers are tasking crews with direct and indirect attack operations to  push back the fire and diverted away from the area’s collective assets:

• Tonto National Monument
• 115kv power lines
• 500kv power lines – major line
• Carlotta mines & mine infrastructure
• Transportation corridors
• Commercial properties
• Private homes
• Rec areas
• Riparian waterways
• Endangered species, such as the Mexican Spotted Owl
• Sonoran Desert ecosystem

SFMD’s Type 3 crews are continuing with burnout operations for structure protection.  They have helped to save the area near Tonto National Monument and along highway 188 near the Roosevelt Dam Bridge.

Fire is expected to be mostly on the eastern half of the perimeter.

Air Tankers are still being used to assist with fire suppression and containment from the skies.

Evacuations | Shelter for evacuees is located at the Lee Kornegay Intermediate School. 4735 S Ragus Road, Miami, AZ.

Evacuee Resources | For evacuations, shelters, livestock and pet shelters, call 928-402-8888.

Closures | Tonto NF closures:  https://bit.ly/31O2Ih4.  AZ DOT closures:  https://az511.gov/

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS | Firefighters save a 700-year-old Salado cliff dwelling found at the Tonto National Monument Park.

Fire in Images | Here are some incredible fire images coming out of this incident from official government agencies and public organizations splashing these photos all over Social Media.

June 21, 2019:

June 20, 2019:

June 15, 2019:

June 17, 2019:

June 14, 2019:

June 12, 2019:

June 11, 2019:

June 10, 2019:

 

(c) 2019 NW Fire Blog – Updated 6/23/2019 – 1115 hours PDT

Update 3 | June 21, 2019 | Friday

Incident Summary  | The Woodbury Fire is burning on the Tonto National Forest in a remote area of the Superstition Mountains but is moving out of the area.

Location | About 5 miles northwest of Superior; 8 miles southeast of Roovelt Marina and about 4 miles south of Roosevelt, Arizona.

Fire Behavior | Active with uphill runs, running and flanking.

FIRE DANGER | Payson and Pleasant Valley (Very High)

Cause | The fire began on Saturday, June 8th from an unknown ignition that is currently under investigation.  It was determined to be human caused.

Resources | 1,112 personnel. 21 crews, 5 air tankers, 28 engines and 8 helicopters with some men/women from the Flagstaff and Casa Grande areas, plus a SW Type 1 IMT, Team 2. IC:  Rich Nieto.

Incident Cooperators | Pinal County EMA, Maricopa County, Gila County EMA, Tonto NF, American Red Cross, AZ DOT, FEMA, AZ DOEQ, AZ Department of Public Safety, Gila County SO, Maricopa County SO, Pinal County SO and Tri-City Fire District.

Fire Size, Containment Status | 65,903 acres of tall grass, brush and chaparral destroyed. 42% containment status.  Estimated full containment by July 1, 2019.

FIRE PREPAREDNESS LEVEL | Has been increased to 3, Nationally is 2.

Current Status |  The fire has burned 65,903 acres of tall grass, brush and chaparral.  It is currently starting to move out of the Superstition Wilderness and along the corridor of State Highway 188.

Firefighters began firing operations adjacent to the Spring Creek Ranch and additional time will be focused as conditions allow them to do.  This will help create a wider barrier.

5 Air tankers were used on fire operations on Thursday, June 20th.

Tasked with direct and indirect attack operations to stop the threat to assets:  Tonto National Monument, 115kv power lines, 500kv power line serving the Phoenix area, the Pinto Valley and Carlotta mines and their infrastructures, to major infrastructure, transportation corridors, commercial property, private homes, rec areas, riparian waterways, threatened and endangered species (Mexican Spotted Owl) and the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.

FIRE DANGER | Tonto Basin, Globe and Mesa/Cave Creek (Very High)

Fire Status – NE area |   This side burned aggressively within the perimeter causing a lot of smoke, as the fire moved inside its containment lines.  The fire then became wind-driven by winds from the southwest and reportedly reaching top speeds of 25 miles-per-hour!

Fire Status – Eastern side |  It is burning towards the mining operations in the main Pinto creek drainage along Spencer Canyon and West Pinto Creek.

Fire Status – West side | Little fire activity for the last several days was reported.  This area in patrol status.

Fire Status – South side | This is the same information as the West side which is great news for Fire Managers and those whom may live in the area.

Evacuations | Shelter for evacuees is located at the Lee Kornegay Intermediate School. 4735 S Ragus Road, Miami, AZ.

Closures | The Tonto NF has closed the Superstition Wilderness and the adjacent Forest and campgrounds along State Hwy 188, east of the Roosevelt Dam.  More detailed closures, visit —> https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices/?aid=53108&fbclid=IwAR1pQaAicF-A3dGIvN7zhNYW1vcmBFWKUXck9PSnx5-8j4Yk7l1byDFKEQE

Tortilla Flat Campground and Boulder Picnic area/trailhead are closed.

Highway 88 (Portion of).  The USFS is unsure when this portion of the highway will be reopened.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS | Firefighters save a 700-year-old Salado cliff dwelling found at the Tonto National Monument Park.

Damage Assessment |  Structure protection group has installed sprinklers, cleared brush and implemented firing operations at the Reevis Mountain School, one portable yurt suffered minor damage. $10.9 Million cost-to-date in fire suppression costs and containment efforts.

The USFS – Tonto NF states that there has been no damage reported in the Tortilla Flat area.

(c) 2019 NW Fire Blog – Updated 6/21/2019 at 2345 hours PDT

Update 2 | June 19, 2019 | Wednesday

Incident Summary

The Woodbury Fire is burning on the Tonto National Forest in a remote area of the Superstition Mountains, approximately five miles northwest of the town of Superior, Arizona.

Fire Fact | 4 wildfires, COLDWATER FIRE, MOUNTAIN FIRE, BYLAS FIRE and WOODBURY FIRE were burning east and northeast of Phoenix at the same time on June 11, 2019.

Ignition Details

The fire ignited by an unknown source on Saturday, June 8, 2019, that has been deemed to be human-caused. The exact type of ignition has not been released and the cause is still under investigation.

It is deemed as a human caused incident that is still under investigation.

Fire Assets

About 786 fire personnel are assigned to this include  20 crews, 33 engines and seven helicopters from the following Agencies:

• Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical
• USFS
• Payson Hotshots
• Golder Ranch FD (Wildland Team/Type 6 engine/Type 3 engine)
• Fry Fire District (Assistance with Tender support for bucket operations)
• Tanker 914, plus additional tankers

Additional Incident Cooperators include the following:

• Gila County OEM
• Gila County Sheriffs Office

These are the many faces behind those who help manage all aspects of a long-term or large incident.

Community Meetings

Public Community Meetings have been held all week and presenting to the hundred of attendees the who, what, where, when and how on this wildfire by those on the IMT.

Fire Fact | 12 wildfires are burning 67,587 acres on National Forest lands.  – Forest Service_NIFC (June 17)

Air Quality

Reports of increased smoke and ask from the fire was made public to make them aware that it may be seen in the communities of Roosevelt and the Tonto Basin and along the Roosevelt Lake.

Fire Fact | Large wildfires such as this one, can create its on fire weather and we are not talking about sunny days but wind-driven, rock pelting and hazardous conditions in-a-kind-of-way for those that fight it from the sky and ground.

The fire is so huge it can now bee seen from Scottsdale, Miami and many other places around the area. (See Social Media comments)

Fire Facts | 44,451 acres of tall grass, brush and chaparral has been destroyed. Crews have reached a 15% containment status. – Tonto NF

Evacuations

As the fire creeps closer to the Roosevelt Lake area, officials are now issuing evacuation orders on a voluntary basis.

Fire Fact | Fire suppression efforts and containment costs have reached a mind boggling $8 Million to date. – NIFC

Social Media 

Social Media users are reporting eyewitness accounts of what has been unfolding out near their homes, businesses and news outlets.  Here is what they are saying (we have mostly paraphrased them):

January 18, 2019

“Smoke visible from the Sky Harbor, making visibility on approach no that great.”

June 17, 2019

“Smoke plume visible on satellite.” – NWS Phoenix

“Smoke from the fire could be smelled from 30 miles away. It also burned my eyes.”

“The unsettling feel when you can see smoke from this fire, let alone any fire from downtown Phoenix.”

“The fire has tripled in size.”

June 16, 2019

“Over 700 personnel. Hoping they’ll have contained by July 1st. No signs of rain to help firefighting efforts.”

June 15, 2019

“Smoke and ash in Globe.”

June 14, 2019

“Smoke can be seen from Queen Valley, Gold Mountain near Tortilla Flats.”

June 13, 2019

“Smoke plumes could be seen from Saguaro Lake.”

“Fire is visible from the ICP, about 7 miles from the Peralta Trailhead.”

June 12, 2019

“Command Center established at the Peralta Trail Elementary School in Gold Canyon.”

June 11, 2019

“Fire has grown to about 5,000 acres. Gold Canyon and Apache Junction still safe. No structures in danger. Fire is in the wilderness about 10 miles northwest of Superior, Arizona.” – SFMD

“It’s rare to see smoke in the Phoenix metro area. ”

June 10, 2019

“Smoke visible from Apache Junction.”

 

 

(c) 2019 NW Fire Blog – Updated @ 2100 hours PDT