This week on the Upper Lake District, firefighters will attempt burning potentially up to 52 acres of piles along the M1 road pending favorable conditions. 

Maps of pile burn operations can be found on Inciweb under the Maps tab. 

Region 3, Prescott National Forest

Forest Service News Release

Prescott National Forest Fire Information

(928) 443-8000

 www.fs.usda.gov/prescott

Brady Fire Daily Update - February 14, 2025

 Notification for Public Health and Safety

Acres: 363                                                                   Start Date: February 10, 2025

Location: North of Pine Flat on the Bradshaw RD         Cause: Under Investigation

Personnel: 16                                                              Fuels: Brush and Chaparral

Containment: 60%                                                                              

Resources: 2 Crews | 1 Engines 

PRESCOTT, AZ (February 14, 2025) – Due to minimal fire activity and current weather conditions, this will be the last Brady Fire update, unless significant changes occur. The Brady Fire has not grown, and containment increased to 60%. Fire objectives will remain the same, which include, providing for the safety of the public and fire resources, keeping the fire within its current footprint, and ensuring total suppression of the fire. 

Firefighters will continue with suppression repair work, hazardous tree removal, and backhaul supplies. Patrolling, and monitoring lines along the perimeter and around interior fuels that may be smoldering will continue for the next several weeks. As a reminder, residents within the Brady Fire area need to travel with caution while driving on the roads as firefighters continue to work in and around the fire area.   

For the health and safety of firefighters and residents affected, we ask that you please avoid the area around the Brady Fire. The public is reminded to always be cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of the time of year.  We all have a role in preventing wildfires.  

Below normal temperatures are forecast for today and tomorrow, with daytime highs in the low to mid 40s. Winds will be light out of the west, increasing up to 15 mph with gusts near 25 mph this afternoon. Rain/Snow showers will continue through the day. 

Evacuations have been lifted per Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management News Release dated February 12, 2025: “After consultation with fire leadership, YCSO has decided to lift the GO status for zones YCU-2174-B and YCU-2216 as of 6:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, February 12th, 2025. The wildfire no longer poses a threat to the Pine Flats area. All roadblocks in the area were lifted at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14th, 2025. Until then, only residents of the evacuated area will be permitted access.” To receive emergency notifications, please sign up for Everbridge – Alert Yavapai at: https://member.everbridge.net/337829242601768/login    

For Brady Fire information please call Ansgar Mitchell, at 928-713-6349 (hours 7AM – 7PM); or following us on Facebook and Twitter.     

On the Upper Lake Ranger District, firefighters completed 22 acres of pile burning yesterday along the M1 Rd. Today firefighters will be burning another 13 acres of piles.

On the Grindstone District firefighters will attempt burning potentially up to 150 acres of piles in the Letts Lake basin pending favorable conditions.
Some smoke may be visible. Please avoid the area and know that prescribed fire activities are carefully monitored. 

Maps of pile burn operations can be found on Inciweb under the Maps tab.

Brady Fire Daily Update - February 13, 2025

 Notification for Public Health and Safety

Acres: 363                                                                    

Start Date: February 10, 2025

Location: North of Pine Flat on the Bradshaw RD          

Cause: Under Investigation

Personnel: 83                                                               

Fuels: Brush and Chaparral

Containment: 49%                                                                               

Resources: 4 Crews | 3 Engines 

PRESCOTT, AZ (February 13, 2025) – Firefighters worked diligently yesterday constructing and securing a line along the fires edge increasing containment on the Brady Fire to 49%.  The fire has had no additional growth and remains at 363 acres. Due to minimal fire activity and increased containment, fire managers have begun right-sizing resources and personnel attached to the incident.  Crews, engines and support resources helping on the Brady Fire will be released, freeing them up to support other possible incidents across the Southwest. Remaining crews and engines will continue to monitor the fires perimeter and begin suppression repair. There may be some lingering smoke as light interior fuels continue to burn. 

For the health and safety of firefighters and residents affected, we ask that you please avoid the area around the Brady Fire. The public is reminded to always be cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of the time of year.  We all have a role in preventing wildfires.  

Mosty cloudy with an 80% chance of precipitation today. Snow showers likely this morning changing to rain showers this afternoon as a storm system moves across the fire area today through Saturday morning. The snow level will start out around 4500 feet Thursday morning and then rise to 7500 feet Thursday night. 

Evacuations have been lifted per Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management News Release dated February 12, 2025: “After consultation with fire leadership, YCSO has decided to lift the GO status for zones YCU-2174-B and YCU-2216 as of 6:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, February 12th, 2025. The wildfire no longer poses a threat to the Pine Flats area. All roadblocks in the area will be lifted at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14th, 2025. Until then, only residents of the evacuated area will be permitted access.” To receive emergency notifications, please sign up for Everbridge – Alert Yavapai at: https://member.everbridge.net/337829242601768/login 

Firefighters will be using a full suppression strategy to achieve 100 percent containment of the Brady Fire.  The cause of the Brady Fire is under investigation.  

For Brady Fire information please call Ansgar Mitchell, at 928-713-6349 (hours 7AM – 7PM); or following us on Facebook and Twitter.     

For Immediate Release Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Contact Information: Sarah Townsley, Public Information Officer – (928) 777-7509

Pine Flats Area Back To Ready Status

Yavapai County, Arizona – The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management (YCOEM) has been working in close collaboration with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), Prescott National Forest, and other fire agencies involved with the Brady Fire south of Mayer, Arizona.

After consultation with fire leadership, YCSO has decided to lift the GO status for zones YCU- 2174-B and YCU-2216 as of 6:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, February 12th, 2025. The wildfire no longer poses a threat to the Pine Flats area. All roadblocks in the area will be lifted at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14th, 2025. Until then, only residents of the evacuated area will be permitted access.

Please note that emergency vehicles and fire apparatus may still be in the area as they work on operations for the fire. We ask that residents use caution and allow these emergency personnel to carry out their duties without interference.

We sincerely thank everyone for their cooperation, patience, and understanding during this time. We are especially grateful to the brave individuals who have tirelessly worked on the fire, ensuring the safety of our community and protecting vulnerable people and structures. A special thank you to our volunteer organizations: the American Red Cross for opening up an evacuation center, Large Animal Sheltering and Emergency Readiness (LASER) for sheltering barn animals, Animal Disaster Services (ADS) for sheltering domesticated pets, and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) for providing emergency communication support.

We remind all Yavapai County residents of the importance of maintaining READY, preparing for, and staying aware of any possible hazards threatening your community. Register for emergency alerts at www.ycsoaz.gov/ENS, make an emergency evacuation and communication plan, and follow reputable and reliable sources for information.

Residents in the unincorporated areas of Yavapai County should visit Protect.Genasys.com to find their evacuation zone. Write your zone ID down and keep it in an easily accessible place.

 For more information on how to be prepared for wildfires and other emergencies, please visit www.yavapaiready.gov

For information about the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management, please contact Sarah Townsley at 928-771-3321 or email Sarah.Townsley@yavapaiaz.gov Or visit www.YavapaiReady.gov

Brady Fire Daily Update - February 12, 2025

 Notification for Public Health and Safety

Acres: 363                                                                    

Start Date: February 10, 2025

Location: North of Pine Flat on the Bradshaw RD          

Cause: Under Investigation

Personnel: 140                                                             

Fuels: Brush and Chaparral

Containment: 0%                                                                                 

Resources: 4 Crews | 16 Engines | 1 Bulldozers | 2 Helicopters

PRESCOTT, AZ (February 12, 2025) – Cooler evening temperatures along with firefighters and the help of air support kept the Brady Fire from growing yesterday.  Air support assisted firefighters on the ground by dropping retardant slowing active fire behavior.  After more accurate mapping the Brady Fire is holding at 363 acres. Crews will continue constructing line along the fires edge and securing where achievable. The assessment of values at risk and protection efforts needed will resume in the community of Pine Flat. With increased afternoon forecasted winds out of the southwest crews will focus on the northern portion of fire keeping active fire inside the exiting footprint.

The Brady Fire which started on February 10, 2025, is estimated to be 363 acres and is burning west of Mayer, Arizona near the community of Pine Flats.  As dry fuels continue to consume, smoke will be visible from surrounding communities. 

For the health and safety of firefighters and residents affected, we ask that you please avoid the area around the Brady Fire. Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has closed County Road 177 into Pine Flat.  The public is reminded to always be cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of the time of year.  We all have a role in preventing wildfires. 

Below normal temperatures are forecast for today and tomorrow, with daytime highs in the low to mid 40s. Winds will be light out of the west, increasing up to 15 mph with gusts near 25 mph this afternoon.     Rain/Snow showers will begin on Thursday. Precipitation looks to begin around 0500, and likely will start as snow Thursday morning. Throughout the day Thursday snow levels look to climb, turning the precipitation type to rain for the burn area. Rain and snow showers will continue through the end of the week.

Evacuations are in place for residents of Pine Flat. For current evacuation information and shelter locations please call Yavapai County Sheriff’s at 928-771-3260. To receive emergency notifications, please sign up for Everbridge – Alert Yavapai at: https://member.everbridge.net/337829242601768/login 

Firefighters will be using a full suppression strategy to achieve 100 percent containment of the Brady Fire.  The cause of the Brady Fire is under investigation. 

For Brady Fire information please call Ansgar Mitchell, at 928-713-6349 (hours 7AM – 7PM); or following us on Facebook and Twitter.     

CALIFORNIA CONDORS FIND MICRO-TRASH FOLLOWING HUGHES FIRE  

As the Hughes fire was winding down, Angeles National Forest (NF) District Biologist Cheyenne Laeske observed a group of eight California condors on a road shoulder. She was saddened to see them picking through trash and litter.  California condors are considered critically-endangered with fewer than 600 living individuals (and about 200 of those are in captivity).

As part of the BAER process, Threatened and Endangered species are considered a Critical Value.  BAER Wildlife Biologist Robin Eliason joined the BAER team to assess potential impacts from watershed conditions to those Threatened and Endangered species. Typically, those assessments focus on post-fire flooding, debris flows, and erosion concerns. After Eliason’s assessment of the condor’s habitat in the burn area, she concluded that typical post-fire erosion and flooding effects were not issues for condors after the Hughes fire. However, there is a different type of emergency for condors in the fire area.

The Hughes BAER assessment team noted that even in the low burn severity areas, vegetation is completely burned off, exposing trash. Micro-trash is present along the roads, lakeshore, gathering areas, and along user-created trails. The team noted little trash in areas away from the roads. Given the fact that condors are using the fire area for foraging, the newly-exposed trash that used to be hidden by vegetation poses a significant threat. 

To reduce the risk to California condors, the Angeles NF will coordinate a clean-up of the micro-trash in some portions of the Hughes fire area.  The Forest Service hopes to partner with other agencies such as Los Angeles County Roads and Lake Castaic Park, and local volunteer groups.

The Angeles NF will share the BAER team’s findings with USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, and other interagency cooperators and partners.

Some California Condors Known-Facts:

• Condors are obligate scavengers (they only eat dead animals). They actively forage in burned areas. 
• Condors are very curious. Like some humans, they are attracted to shiny things.  They pick through trash looking for edibles and may confuse micro-trash with bone fragments and seashells, two important calcium sources.
• After the adults ingest trash, they regurgitate it for the chicks.  Chicks lack the ability to eject this material.  As a result, micro-trash accumulates in their crop or stomach. Consumption of small pieces of indigestible trash is the leading cause of death for chicks in Southern California. 

NOTE: See related photos to this article under the “Photos” Tab on this Boise NF Post-Fire BAER InciWeb page: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caanf-hughes-postfire-baer. Also see “Related Information” PDF article document containing related article photos below.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act and note emergency alerts issued by Los Angeles County. Current weather and emergency notifications for the Hughes Fire area can also be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/lox/.

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Update: 2/10/2025 5:37 p.m.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has issued a GO Order for residents in zones: YCU-2174-B and YCU-2216 near Pine Flat due to the #BradyFire.

LEAVE immediately. Do not wait. Gather only essential items and leave as quickly as possible to ensure your safety. Visibility in the area may be reduced, and roads and evacuation routes can become blocked. If you do not leave now, you can be trapped or injured, and there is no guarantee that first responders will be able to assist you.

Go to this link to see the current status: https://go.genasys.com/s50i4l

Evacuation Points:

American Red Cross

Cordes Lakes Community Center, 16357 S Cordes Lakes Dr, Mayer, AZ, 86333, USA

 Animal Disaster Services

6901 East Panther Path, Prescott Valley, AZ, 86314, USA

 Large Animal Shelter and Emergency Readiness LASER

10445 N County Fair Trail Prescott Valley, AZ

Park managers at Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve have made a determination to postpone the Boundary Rx Burn Project at this time. We will re-announce when the project resumes.