Horse Fire

[Nighthiker]

Noted a very large Smoke Plume from Payson, its called the Horse Fire near Crown King. Crown King is advised to be Ready Mode for evacuation.

[chumley]

Ready Mode

FWIW "Ready Mode" is otherwise defined as "normal daily life"

READY – Prepare Now
• Be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community.
• Take steps now to prepare for seasonal threats.
• Register with your county/tribal emergency notification system.
• Connect with your local emergency management office, sheriff's office and public health department on social media.
• Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes family phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and family meeting locations.
• Build an emergency go kit with enough food, water and necessary supplies for at least 72 hours.
• Check with your neighbors, family, friends and elders through video chats or phone calls to ensure they are READY.
• Keep up to date on local news, weather watches, weather warnings and public health recommendations

[LosDosSloFolks]

@Nighthiker
Read your post and went outside to look. Large double plume on top of the Bradshaws.

[mudlugs]

https://www.dcourier.com/news/2020/oct/ ... st-15-mil/

The Prescott National Forest (PNF) and other first responders are currently battling a 200-acre Horse Fire, which is 15 miles south of Dewey-Humboldt and about five miles northwest of Crown King, said PNF spokesperson Debbie Maneely Thursday afternoon, Oct. 15.

The fire is spreading quickly through juniper and chaparral vegetation on steep and rugged terrain. Maneely said first-responding firefighters are currently searching for ways to access the fire more easily.
State Forestry is sending multiple resources to assist, including three large air tankers and a helicopter, Maneely said.

[kelly14]

Can see the plume of smoke from north Phoenix. Was in the area recently and it was incredibly dry. Not much more pines left in the southern Bradshaw’s hopefully this doesn’t torch them all.

[Sredfield]

I'm guessing it wasn't lightning caused.

[AugustWest]

Taken from Williamson Valley

[Nighthiker]

Photo taken on 10/15 at apx. 515 pm from the Payson Airport

[DixieFlyer]

I'm guessing it wasn't lightning caused.

ditto for the Horton Fire which was first reported at 6:30 AM on a nice, cool, crisp, clear morning

[chumley]

@Sredfield
I did see a Prius in the area though...

[mazatzal]

@chumley
And an ebike

[SuperstitionGuy]

I did see a Prius in the area though...

Was it the one that had it's hood open?

[LosDosSloFolks]

This posted @8:30 this morning...
*****0830 Evacuation of Crown King Ordered
Code Red Go Get Out Be Safe!!
This is a GO message from the Sheriff's Office. There is a wildfire threatening your area. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for resident's located in Crown King. There is a significant danger to you, gather necessary items and go. Shelter had been set up at Mayer High School. For assistance please call 928 771 3260

[LosDosSloFolks]

We now have fine white ash falling at our home in Cave Creek from the Horse fire in the Bradshaws. This didn't happen with the East Desert, Ocotillo, or Sears Fires which were all much closer. This is so 2020.

[chumley]

@LosDosSloFolks
The wind is out of the northwest this morning, which is why the fire is also threatening Towers Mtn and CK currently (and pushing ash over casa de chez slofolks). It is supposed to shift to a southwest wind this afternoon which will clear your skies, and "hopefully" help firefighters hold the southeast flank from those two structure areas.

[kelly14]

Up to over 8,000 acres and climbing Towers Mountain in the latest update. Glad I got to hike a little bit of the BradShaw Trail #216 looks like that area is about to get torched

[mudlugs]

posted just before 10am 10/17, as a comment from someone who lives in CK, on the Prescott NF Facebook page.

The Incident Commander (IC) just briefed our CKFD, here is a summary:
Main hot spots are located around Hoopers Saddle off of Senator Highway by Towers Mountain
Terrain is so rough they can’t get crews in to that area to work the fire. They need to rely on air support.
Fire laid down last night with low temps and low wind and there is no visible smoke yet this AM
They are laying down a new type of slurry that is cooling the fire as well as retarding it.
No surprise the towers are their greatest concern. However due to that we are at a Stage Three Fire right now and they may be calling it a Stage One here within the next day or two. That means many more resources, firefighters and equipment.
Today efforts are to help set up the sprinklers downtown which will help wet everything down and raise the humidity levels.
After they finish downtown they will start to do the same around cabins. Which ones we don’t know.
Right now the winds are at 5 MPH out of the West but are expected to rise to 20 MPH later today.
Focus will also be on protecting the West ridge above the bowl abive the town.

This update came from our own CKFD. Much better than the ones we get from PNF.

As I get more during the day I will post them along with pics from the ground.

Continue those prayers. They are working!

[mazatzal]

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7244/

[mudlugs]

Video update from yesterday. Should be visible without a FB account.

[Nighthiker]

The night before the fire started, I observed a meteorite fly by overhead from a ridge South of Payson to the direction of where the fire first started.