Basic Information

Current as of 6/19/2019, 8:35:58 AM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Unknown
Date of Origin Saturday June 08, 2019 approx. 01:30 PM
Location 5 miles NW of Superior, AZ
Incident Commander Rich Nieto - Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team 2
Incident Description Wildfire
Coordinates 33.409 latitude, -111.199 longitude
Current Situation

Total Personnel 786
Size 44,451 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 15%
Estimated Containment Date Monday July 01st, 2019 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved
Tall Grass (2.5 feet)

Brush (2 feet)

Chaparral (6 feet)

Narrative:

Abundant fully cured invasive and native grasses at all elevations; increased presence of invasive grass species lower on

slopes in Sonoran Desert ecosystems. Grass and shrub fuels (GR2/GS2) occupy lower elevations. Continuous stands of

brush, mesquite, and Pinyon-Juniper exist at higher elevations (SH5). Some scattered timber stringers with litter at higher

elevations. Measured live fuel moistures of 75% in local area.

Significant Events
Active, Uphill Runs, Running Flanking

Fire remains active primarily in the higher terrain occupied by continuous shrubs and Pinyon Pine - Juniper mix. Triple digit temps and single digit RHs continue to produce additional growth where heat sources are present. Continuous brush fields at higher elevations now contribute to active fire spread with higher fire intensity. Spread is primarily to the NE in higher terrain with areas of high intensity fire behavior. Sonoran Desert fuels continue to burn on the SW slopes with short residence time. Spotting been observed but is not a significant contributor of fire spread.

Outlook

Planned Actions
Use direct and indirect attack operations to minimize impact to values at risk including: major infrastructure, transportation corridors, private residences, public property, recreation areas, riparian waterways, threatened and endangered species (Mexican Spotted Owl) and Sonoran Desert ecosystem. Assessments are currently being done around the Pinto Valley Mine, infrastructures and mine infrastructures. Strategy and Operations Meetings will be conducted on Wednesday, 6/19/2019 in Miami, AZ for the following mines: Pinto Valley Mine Carlotta Mine Freeport-McMoRan Mine BHP Mine Point protection is being implemented in the area northeast of the fire area. Use air support for aerial ignition to lessen the effects of the approaching fire front.

Projected Incident Activity
12 hours:

Fire progression to the NE in brush fuels above 4500' will provide additional acres during the period. SW transport wind is providing filtered smoke in the Lake Roosevelt area. Lower elevation grass and shrub fuels will continue to progress to the west and south where sources of heat are present. Pockets of grass/shrub will continue to burn.

24 hours:

Limited overnight fire spread will continue due to fair-poor humidity recovery, providing increased activity by late morning. Potential high ROS in grass/shrub fuels will increase with topography and wind alignment. During the day fire spread is expected to continue to the NE at higher elevations in continuous heavy shrub fuels (with Pinyon Pine-Juniper mix) with areas of high intensity fire behavior on steeper slopes. Variable smoke production depending on fire activity.

48 hours:

Continued hot/dry conditions with increasing atmospheric instability and stronger W-SW winds will provide similar burning conditions that have been observed in previous days. Heavy shrub fuels at higher elevations (NE side of fire) will produce areas of high intensity fire activity and increased acres; while lighter fuels on the south

and west side of the fire continue to show diminished heat due to suppression action - some areas are now "checked-up".

72 hours:

Not as hot (but still hot!), continued low RH and increasing winds will maintain conditions favorable for fire growth. Continuous shrub fuels on upper slopes will continue to burn and retain heat.

Anticipated after 72 hours: Hot and dry conditions will persist into the foreseeable future that will produce active fire behavior with daily acreage increases until the weather changes.

Remarks
Current Weather

Weather Concerns
Weather Concerns (synopsis of current and predicted weather; discuss related factors that may cause concern): Continued hot and dry conditions with increasing atmospheric instability through the week. Increasing winds from west expected Wednesday, coupled with hot/dry conditions are likely to increase fire activity. Current conditions are providing extended burn periods, with observations of pockets of active fire behavior through the night. Strong daytime heating followed by night time cooling is producing nocturnal downslope winds