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Summary: Favorable weather conditions overnight, including cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity levels, continue to play a role in minimal fire activity. No additional growth has been reported on the fire over the last few days. The fire is 2,138 acres and 62% contained. This morning, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office lifted the last remaining SET notifications for the areas south of Ironwood Road and west of Cochise Stronghold Road. All residents are in READY status. 

For today’s operational plan, crews will finish up work along the west end of the fire by securing any remaining uncontained line and checking for any potential threats to the line. The north and east sides of the fire are secured, but engines continue patrolling and monitoring that side, serving as a presence within the communities. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has been supporting the fire by flying infrared (IR) and reconnaissance missions in areas with steep and rugged terrain. The IR flights revealed some hotspots of heavy fuels that continue to smolder, located deep within the fire’s interior. Resources will work on mopping those up today. Firefighter and public safety remain paramount through the duration of the incident as resources work toward full suppression and protection of all values at risk. 

Some Stronghold firefighting resources have been designated as Initial Attack for new starts that may occur in the area, within the incident’s designated Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), as well as outside the TFR as requested by the state and/or Coronado National Forest. Over the next few days, operations will be releasing some resources in order to right size the incident and match the fire’s needs. 

Evacuations and Closures:  Out of public safety, the Coronado National Forest Douglas Ranger District has implemented a Temporary Occupancy and Use Area Order due to the Stronghold Fire: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coronado/alerts/stronghold-fire 

Weather: Hot, windy, and dry conditions remain a concern for fire operations. Weather pattern shifts this weekend could bring critical fire weather during a wind event. 

Safety: Due to aircraft use, a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) is in place over the fire. Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly…we can’t.