Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Friday, February 28th at 8:00 a.m.
Holbrook, AZ – On Tuesday, February 25th, the voting members of the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group (WMFCG) convened to assess current forest conditions and weather patterns throughout the region. The members voted to recommend the enactment of Stage 1 fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas of Apache and Navajo Counties on Friday, February 28th, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Several other agencies, including the USFS Apache-Sitgreaves Forests, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and select municipalities, will also implement similar restrictions.
Notably, Apache-Sitgreaves NF, which is part of the group, has not publicly posted the restriction yet (could just be that they don't currently employ anybody who can work their website -- A-S has always been a little slow on their comms team), though they are listed as a participating agency in the attached press release.
Apache-Sitgreaves NF spans the forest land along the Mogollon Rim across central and eastern Arizona from Knoll Lake to the New Mexico state line.
New start at Cochise Stronghold. Campgrounds at Go status. Although dry it's been relatively cool and hopefully the winds will die down some for them to get ahold of it.
Decent sized start in the northern Gila Wilderness. First burn in the area in 13 years, from what I can tell. However, just to the east of the current perimeter there was the 2020 Cub Fire. The area to the north was the 2006 Bear fire. [ AZHiker456 ] did a hike there in 2016 over a good chunk of the current burn. [ photo ] worth a glance and maybe a visit for interested, capable, and close by individuals. After, in August, I mean.
The fire was deemed to be a natural ignition caused by lightning. Last I checked, air tankers and surfactant dumps were not something naturally occurring.
The U.S. Government Is Wasting Billions on Wildfire Policy That Doesn’t Work
Read the article or don't. Just take the article title at face value, and ask if it is really smart to fully suppress a natural fire in a wilderness area, within a decade old burn scar, and in an area dependent on fire acting as a stabilizing feedback? There is no logic to this.
I know this outages next to no one. Probably 0.0000001% of people actually think tankers air dropping loads of chemicals is in fact "trammeling" an area, and those same people probably go completely insane if someone takes a wheeled cart or bicycle, or even begins to think about taking one in to a so called wilderness.
Based on the aerial photo posted on social media, it appears that the fire started pretty close to this location: [ Greer Fire start 25 ]
There are numerous structures in the immediate vicinity and extremely strong winds (Red Flag Warning) today. (Currently 65 degrees, winds gusting to 53mph).
I don't have a time stamp on this image, but it is clear that at the time it was taken the fire was nowhere near as large as the recently reported 1200 acres.
Attachments
greer fire aerial
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
For some reason they didn't post it on their website, only on their socials.
U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest
Management of lightning-caused fire on Mogollon Rim Ranger District to begin tomorrow
CLINTS WELL, Ariz., May 13, 2025 — Fire managers on the Coconino National Forest plan to begin the active management of the Blind Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire located on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, starting tomorrow.
The fire is located 10 miles north of Clints Well (https://maps.app.goo.gl/CTgPNyYFuw6YiP7i7) and is currently about 12 acres. Fire managers are looking to treat about 5,255 acres of forest land by conducting firing operations Wednesday (May 14) through Saturday (May 17).
Firing operations will cause significant smoke that will be visible to those around the area. Smoke impacts are expected along Lake Mary Road in the Happy Jack area during daytime firing operations and will likely settle in low-lying areas during evening hours. Smoke may also be noticeable from Interstate 40, Flagstaff, Winslow and Holbrook.
Active land management includes the use of forest treatments, such as firing operations around wildfires, to reduce the build-up of forest fuels including pine needle accumulation and fallen logs. The reduction of these fuels creates a fire-resilient ecosystem that protects communities, private property, roadways and timber stands from catastrophic damage.
There are no planned road, trail or area closures associated with the Blind Fire, but forest visitors are asked to be cognizant of wildland fire operations. Signage will be posted along the portion of the Arizona Trail located near the fire, and motorists are asked to slow down when smoke and firefighters are present.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
@Nighthiker
Despite the posted notice indicating no planned trail closures, the AZT reports a 2.5 mile section of trail is closed and rerouted onto nearby forest roads. So who knows what coco is up to with this one?
They are doing other prescribed burns farther north which are discussed in published news releases. And yet no mention of this one.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
@chumley
Thanks for posting. I witnessed one of those large 2 rotor chopers taking water out of the park lake in Payson last weekend and heading north. When I got home I could find no info on it.
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry
A NEW fire near Oracle and San Manuel; the Cody Fire. IMO some psycho in the area. Not related to the Cedar Fire. This fire has prompted some evacuations and apparently some structures have burned. Some impressive smoke photos from a guy on instagram who has hotshot in his user name. I believe Hwy 77 is closed at the 79 or florence junction. Not entirely sure about that.
Was in the valley today and returning home on 87 near MP 215 North bound vehicle/brush fire. Think I was one of last to get through. Glad I passed the gas tanker at MP 210.
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