Woodbury, AZ

Woodbury, Tonto NF. IMT 1 (SW Team 2). Transfer of command from IMT 1 (SW Team 2) back to the local unit will occur tomorrow. Fifteen miles northwest of Superior, AZ. Tall grass, brush and chaparral. Moderate fire behavior with backing, flanking and creeping. Infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.

June 27, 2019 at 10:43 AM

Containment of the Woodbury fire reaches 53 percent as fire crews continue to patrol, secure and monitor firelines. The southeastern edge, north of Government Hill, is the latest area to be contained. Crews will continue along the fire’s edge to put out any remaining hot spots.

Groups of firefighters continue to work along the State Route 188 corridor to safeguard the northeast perimeter of the fire. Drivers in the Roosevelt area should remain cautious along the highway.

Fish Creek, Pinyon Mountain and Two Bar Ridge have interior pockets of vegetation burning within the fire perimeter. These pockets pose no threats to the fireline, however southwest winds will push smoke towards the Roosevelt area.

Suppression repair efforts continue along the southern border near Top Of The World where fire crews work to limit the long term effects of fire operations.

State Route 88 remains closed from Tortilla Flat to the State Route 188 Junction while crews continue to monitor the fireline.

The gradual demobilization of resources has begun to right size the workforce to the remaining suppression work to be completed. The Southwest Area Type I Incident Management Team 2 is starting an initial transition of duties to the Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team. The Type 3 team will assume command of the fire at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, June 28th.

The Southwest Area Type I Incident Management Team 2 would like to thank the community for their support throughout this complex incident. It’s been a pleasure working with the many local, state and county cooperators who have provided invaluable assistance.

June 27, 2019 at 7:57 AM

In the north flank of the fire, crews will be patrolling and monitoring fire activity. Firing operations will be conducted if needed. Aircraft will be used to reinforce the fire line north of Pinon Mountain if needed. Unmanned Aircraft System(UAS) will be used on the north end of the fire to pick up heat signatures along the fire edge.

In east and southeast flanks, crews will be cold trailing lines and mopping up where necessary. The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) was used to pick up heat signatures along the fire edge. Crews will be backhauling equipment from the areas around the 500kv lines in those divisions.

The south, southwest and west flanks have been put into patrol/monitor status and resources have been allocated for suppression repair according to Agency Suppression Repair Standards. Crews will continue to cold trail the southwest flank between the 650 road and Sawtooth Ridge. Backhaul of equipment and hose is being done. Chippers will be used to disperse vegetation that was cut to improve contingency lines.

Contingent upon continued decrease in fire behavior and threats to values at risk, the Woodbury Fire will be transitioning command to the Central West Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team. Transition will occur at 0600 on Friday, 6/28/2019 Significant demob is occurring in an effort to right size resources and meet the needs of the incoming Type 3 Team.

June 26, 2019 at 7:42 AM

Continued hot and very dry conditions with strong SW winds for the next several days. SW winds are expected to maintain pockets of active fire behavior in the interior NE portions and produce increased overall fire spread potential. Current and forecast conditions are providing extended burn periods, potential for active fire behavior and rapid rates of spread.

Contingent upon continued decrease in fire behavior and threats to values at risk, the Woodbury Fire will be transitioning command to the Central West Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team. Significant demob is beginning today, 6/25/2019, in an effort to right size resources and meet the needs of the incoming Type 3 Team.

A swing shift has been implemented along the north and east portions of the fire as re-population of private businesses and residences began as of 1100, 6/25/2019.

June 25, 2019 at 10:37 AM

Retardant drops were utilized near Montana Mountain and Sawtooth Ridge on the southern perimeter to establish a strong control line in front of a pocket of unburned vegetation. Aerial ignitions were then conducted to fill in that area to secure that piece of the fireline.

Most of the fire growth was observed in the area near Yellow Jacket Spring south of Roosevelt Lake yesterday. Helicopters with water buckets assisted in fire suppression. Today crews will inspect the drainage where the fire progressed to assess fire activity. Burning interior pockets of vegetation will proceed to produce smoke throughout the day.

Crews will continue to patrol the Highway 188 corridor to ensure all values in the Roosevelt area are protected. Firefighters are working on multiple highways and roads. Every effort is being made to fully secure the northeastern edge of the fire in the Roosevelt area to make sure that the area is safe before making the determination to lift the evacuation. Residents will be notified by Gila County Emergency Management when the evacuation is lifted, and can call 928-402-8888 for more information. Residents and recreationists should monitor the Arizona Department of Transportation website or Twitter for road information. Motorists everywhere should decrease speeds and yield to fire traffic.

In the north and northeast flanks of the fire, crews will be patrolling and monitoring fire activity. Firing operations will be conducted if needed.

In east and southeast flank, crews will be cold trailing lines and mopping up where necessary. The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) was used to pick up heat signatures along the fire edge. Aircraft was being used to reinforce the fire line from the 650 road to the west edge of Sawtooth Ridge.

The south, southwest and west flanks have been put into patrol/monitor status and resources have been allocated for suppression repair according to Agency Suppression Repair Standards. Backhaul of equipment and hose is being done.

Contingent upon continued decrease in fire behavior and threat to values at risk, the Woodbury Fire will be transitioning command to the Central West Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team. Significant demob will be occurring on 6/25/2019 in an effort to right size resources and meet the needs of the incoming Type 3 Team.

A swing shift has been implemented to have a presence along the north and east portions of the fire as re-population of private businesses and residences begins to occur in the upcoming days.

June 25, 2019 at 7:45 AM

Firing operations continued yesterday on the northeast perimeter of the fire along Forest Road 449 to secure the fireline. Infrared imaging with an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) will be used to confirm there is no remaining heat.

Firelines in the Fish Creek area continue to hold. Crews will continue to monitor the northwest edge of the fire near Yellow Jacket Spring for additional fire activity.

Firelines are holding along Sawtooth Ridge. UAS will be used to monitor the area. Repair of damage from fire suppression activities continues on the western edge of the fire northeast of Apache Junction.

While firefighters stationed at Tortilla Flat were driving back to the Incident Command Post, they identified a new human-caused fire. They immediately suppressed the fire and kept it to one-tenth of an acre.

Motorists are advised to use caution along roadways where firefighters are working. Fire traffic will be present as operations continue.

Every effort is being made to fully secure the northeastern edge of the fire in the Roosevelt area to make sure that the area is safe before making the determination to lift the evacuation. Residents will be notified when the evacuation is lifted. Residents and recreationists should monitor the Arizona Department of Transportation website or Twitter for road information.

June 24, 2019 at 8:46 AM

To date, no structures have been reported lost from the Woodbury Fire. Efforts to secure these values with structure protection and firing operations have been successful. Mining operations and KV power lines have not been impacted by wildfire. No major injuries have been reported, only minor lacerations and heat-related illness.

Yesterday, easterly winds pushed fire on the northern edge south of Apache Lake towards Four Ranch. Crews applied low intensity fire from Davis Ranch to Fish Creek to catch the wildfire before it progressed to values along the State Highway 88 corridor. Residents will continue to see smoke today from interior burning and intentional firing operations.

Firefighters continue to secure firelines by adding depth through low intensity fire in the Highway 188 corridor. Crews in this area are also improving lines around residences and power line infrastructure. Wildfire progressed towards Roosevelt Lake and connected with the intentional firing operations.

Calmer easterly winds are expected today. The firelines in the areas of Nonesuch Rock and Sawtooth Ridge continue to hold with the assistance of retardant and water drops.

For information about evacuations, shelters, livestock and pet shelters call: 928-402-8888

Current closures:
Tonto National Forest Fire Area Closure information: https://bit.ly/31O2Ih4
For current Arizona Department of Transportation information visit: https://az511.gov/

Tonto National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions remain in place.

Due to allocating the bulk of resources to the northwest, east, and southeast sides of the fire, the Incident Command Post in Gold Canyon is in the process of relocating to Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School in Miami. The relocation will be completed by the evening of June 24, 2019. One of the two information phone numbers will be temporarily out of service during this transition: 480-288-6110.