Bush Fire

[nonot]

BUSH FIRE EVENING UPDATE: The Bush Fire started at approximately 2:00 pm today, near the intersection of Bush Hwy and Hwy 87. The fire is estimated to be 600 acres, and burning to the north towards the Sugarloaf Recreation area along the southbound lanes of Hwy 87. The fire has crossed Hwy 87 to the east and is now burning along Four Peaks Road. There is no containment at this time.

Currently there are 9 engines, 2 hotshot crews and 4 airtankers assigned to the fire. Three additional crews and multiple engines have been ordered, and are responding to the fire. Firefighters are working to hold the fire on the west side of Hwy 87, and are building containment lines and using firing operations to suppress the fire.

Hwy 87 is currently closed in both directions at the FS RD 143, which is the road to Four Peaks and Sugarloaf. At this time, Lower Sycamore Canyon, Sugarloaf Recreation area and Four Peaks Recreation area are closed. The Bush Fire is currently under investigation. Law enforcement personnel are conducting sweeps of the closure areas to safely escort members of public out of the fire area. No structures are threatened at this time and no injuries have been reported.

TLDR: 87 is closed at 4 peaks road and you will have to go through globe to get to payson

Edit: Now the reroute through globe is no longer viable, access between payson and phoenix is via camp verde

Edit2: Fire has been contained and the highways reopened, thanks to the firefighter crews.

[toddak]

This is just a weird coincidence, right?

• October 2016 I hike Ash Creek Trail to Webb Peak, 8 months later the Frye Fire blasts the Pinalenos
• May 2017 I hike North and South Canyon Trails on the North Rim and Saddle Mtn Wilderness, 3 months later the Cat Fire hits the area
• April 2019 I hike AZT Passages 18&19 across the Superstitions, 2 months later the Woodbury Fire crushes the Supes
• May 2020 I hike Sycamore Canyon from Sunflower, now the Bush Fire

[nonot]

The fire appears to still be producing a little heat in the flanks around mount ord, and another pocket east of the four peaks, but it appears they have this one in the bag. I imagine they will be watching over this one for another 2 weeks to make sure there are no flare ups and maybe burn out some of the unburned pockets. My thanks to all the hard work done by the firefighters in containing this and protecting the areas they were able to save.

@toddak: You're very lucky to get in hikes before the fires, however, Joe will stop by soon to revoke your hiking card to prevent further incidents.

[The_Eagle]

@toddak
You need to stop dragging those chains while hiking.

[chumley]

@toddak
I've got a hike suggestion for you!
[ DC Mall Loop ]

[FOTG]

@toddak
Have you thought about hiking in the Wikenburg area maybe?

[outdoor_lover]

@toddak
Well, since you've already taken care of 2020, Sitgreaves and Kendrick should be safe this year.

[chumley]

GCSO announced that the highways are opening at noon tomorrow.

188 will be fully open.
88 will be open to Apache Lake, but NFS area closures prevent use beyond private property.
87 will be open southbound with two lanes
87 will be open northbound with a single lane.

[hikeaz]

GCSO announced that the highways are opening at noon tomorrow.

188 will be fully open.
88 will be open to Apache Lake, but NFS area closures prevent use beyond private property.
87 will be open southbound with two lanes
87 will be open northbound with a single lane.

11:30 update from GCSO
"** Update on Road Closure 188/87 **
ADOT is working diligently to make the noon deadline for Highway 188/87 to open. There may be a delay, ADOT is making sure all roads are safe. Please be patient and check social media and 511 for updates."

[nonot]

UPDATE on #BushFireTontoNF road closures

SR 87 SOUTHBOUND has reopened; the NB side will not reopen for some time

SR 88: Reopened to Apache Lake;

SR 188: Reopened in both directions.#aztraffic #BushFireAZ

and

When SR 87 NB reopens, there will be a long-term right-lane closure between mileposts 223-236 for guardrail repair.

[hikeaz]

** BUSH FIRE REOPENINGS, 1:27 p.m. **

*NOW State Route 87 has reopened in both directions (NB is single lane) between Payson and the Valley.

[CannondaleKid]

there will be a long-term right-lane closure between mileposts 223-236 for guardrail repair.

I believe that means a single lane northbound from the AZ87/FR 627/FR 626 (Mount Ord) intersection to the AZ 87/AZ 188 intersection.

[nonot]

@CannondaleKid
there's a map on az511. The map indicates the closure appears to extend slightly beyond what you've stated, but I think that's basically correct....just hope you don't get stuck behind a RV

[chumley]

Anybody else remember when it was only 1 lane the whole way? How ever did we survive!?

[sam_hikes]

i drove from Phx to Payson and back today. NB 87 is 1 lane for approx 15 miles from Mt Ord 626 Jct all the way to the Hwy 188 Jct with posted limit of 45 MPH as the entire right side of the hwy is basically moonscape including the guardrails including large portions of Mt Ord. I did not see any burned sections across Hwy 87 which I think was the plan.

Fire roughly burned from just north of Bush Hwy about 35 miles along the hwy to 188 jct.

Ballentine also looked really bad from the hwy but some areas not so bad but many fire damaged cactus can be seen.

All access points I saw from the Nb side of the hwy were gated and had police closure tape. I did not see any closures on the Peeley side of 626 as 201 and everything else appeared open including the admin site at roads end...

Maybe crews are staging from that luxury site?

[CannondaleKid]

there's a map on az511

Yup, great site, I've used it for 3-4 years now.

One curiosity I noted last night, based on the 511 site it appears there may be another fire between Usery Pass Road and Water Users parking lot...
At the Usery Pass Road/Bush Highway intersection AZ 511 site states:
June 22 12:00 am
Bush Hwy
FROM: Usery Pass Rd
TO: SR 87 - Incident - Road closed due to the wild fire in the area.
Anticipated end time: July 1, 2020 12:00 pm

{EDIT}
While the above is still posted on the 511 site, as of 10 minutes ago, there is NO road CLOSURE at Bush Highway/Usery Pass Road.

[Nighthiker]

Just noticed a new plume of smoke South of Four Peaks below the ridge line on a ADOT traffic cam McKellips and 202.

[nonot]

Just noticed a new plume of smoke South of Four Peaks below the ridge line on a ADOT traffic cam McKellips and 202.

There are still pockets burning today, but they have containment. Not showing anything south of four peaks on the heat map, but east of ord and east of four peaks there are still hot spots. It is possible the fire is cooler but still smoldering in the areas you mention.

[sam_hikes]

15 seconds into this jeepers youtube video he has pics of the wonderful prius he claims started the Bush Fire. If true didn't they have a huge recall for prius's not long ago because they were known to catch fire which isn't so kind to the environment is it for those special owners...

Some good original fire video regardless minus the hysterics.

[ youtube video ]

[CannondaleKid]

@sam_hikes
The Jeepers in the video are an embarrassment to true Jeepers... such terrible spotting and even worse driving they gotta be newbies.

{Edit} They weren't newbies, they were idiots and the lack of both driving and critical thinking skills reared their collective ugly heads.
At the beginning of the video they were NOT on a Legal route in The Rolls. Claiming to have driven all over and know the area well yet seem to have brain fade when it's time to find an alternate route out... when least four other routes were available to choose from, two of which of course are illegal routes.
Oh yeah, but gotta film it to get it on YT and seek more patrons.

[chumley]

@sam_hikes So can Tonto NF sue Toyota for suppression costs?