The Blue River 2 Fire and Valley Fire Operational Update Video for July 17, 2020 with Operations Section Chief Buck Wickham is now available on the Blue River 2 Fire Information Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/blueriver2fireinfo/videos/690200811711750/?v=690200811711750

Acres: Blue River 2 - 26,600   Valley - 28,931

Containment:  Blue River 2 - 5%   Valley - 45%


Fire Activity: Recent storms moving through the fire area have moderated fire activity. Increased humidities and isolated rain showers have dampened fine fuels, predominately grasses, delaying the period of active fire behavior to late morning and early afternoon. Forecasted thunderstorms over the fire area may increase fire behavior where fuels and topography align.

Operations: Crews will take advantage of weather conditions to make progress establishing and improving fire lines, Aircraft may be utilized to reduce fire activity and strengthen control lines. Crews will patrol and monitor the fire edge while remaining available for initial attack.

Weather:  Today, temperatures could reach 100 degrees with humidities falling into the teens by the afternoon. Winds are forecasted at 3-5 mph with isolated thunderstorms bringing strong, gusty outflow winds up to 22 mph. Similar weather conditions are anticipated for Saturday.

The fires may generate less smoke today but strong winds could push smoke into surrounding communities.  For more information, visit https://ein.az.gov/keywords/smoke.

Community Meeting: Last night the Incident Management Team held a virtual community meeting utilizing the Facebook page. A recording of this meeting can be viewed at either of the Facebook sites listed below.

Closures: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay clear of fire area. Point of Pines Road remains closed due to fire activities, though actions are being taken to open this road as soon as it is safe. Monitor the fire InciWeb site below and the fire Facebook sites for changes to the status of the road.

Nowhi ni’ nłt eego anłsih

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6860/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Blue River 2 Fire Information

https://www.facebook.com/San Carlos Forest Resources Program-Forestry

 The Blue River 2 Fire and Valley Fire Operational Update Video for July 16, 2020 with Operations Section Chief Buck Wickham is now available on the Blue River 2 Fire Information Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/blueriver2fireinfo/videos/587703548841383

Blue River 2 & Valley Fires Update July 16th, 2020

Acres: Blue River 2 - 20,138; Valley - 28,509 
Containment: Blue River 2 - 0%; Valley - 45%
Total personnel: Approximately 400 
Cause: Lightning
Location: San Carlos Apache lands 
Fuels: Brush and grass   

Fire Activity: Fire activity increased as storms moved into the area yesterday afternoon. The Blue River 2 Fire was active on the north and southeast corners near Kidde Tank and Natanes Creek. Fire behavior on the Valley Fire is backing down on Antelope Flats through grass. Hotspots on both fires will be addressed by firefighters if they occur. 

Operations: Firefighters on the Blue River 2 Fire will work directly on the fire’s edge where they can do so safely.  Portions of the fire are moving into steep terrain that is difficult to access on foot. Crews will monitor the perimeter of the fire for hotspots, conduct burnouts to strengthen control lines, and utilize aircraft for water and retardant drops. Air Operation personnel are assessing the Kidde Tank area for a potential landing spot that can be used to insert crews closer to the active fire line.  On the Valley Fire, firefighters are cold trailing and checking for hotspots to secure the fire’s edge.    

Monsoon storms moving into the area brought lightning and caused a new fire south of Valley Fire. Crews were able to conduct initial attack and stop fire spread to 2 acres.   Firefighters assigned to the Blue River 2 and Valley Fires will remain available to assist with initial attack in the area.  

Weather:  Today will be partly sunny with light winds at 5-12 mph. Thunderstorms are forecasted to move into the area mid-afternoon with a 45% chance of moisture over the area. Temperatures today range from 90-100 degrees with relative humidities in the upper teens. Thunderstorms over the next few days may bring lightning and downdrafts, causing an increase in fire behavior.  Winds may push smoke into the surrounding communities. For more smoke information, visit https://ein.az.gov/keywords/smoke. 

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Point of Pines Road is closed due to fire activity and firefighters working off of the road. Check the Inciweb page below for updates.  

Ko’ doo bena golde’ da 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6860/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueriver2fireinfo

Join fire managers for an online community meeting Thursday July 16, at 8:00 p.m. 

An American Sign Language interpreter and captioning will be provided. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up.  
https://www.facebook.com/blueriver2fireinfo

We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting or you can e-mail us your questions in advance at 2020.blueriver2@firenet.gov

We will try to answer as many questions as we can. 
A recording of the informational meeting will be available on the Facebook page for later viewing.    

The Blue River 2 Fire and Valley Fire Operational Update Video for July 15, 2020 with Operations Section Chief Buck Wickham is now available on the Blue River 2 Fire Information Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/blueriver2fireinfo/videos/611767546112456

Blue River 2 Fire & Valley Fire Update July 15th, 2020
Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’
 
Update: The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4, a type 2 team lead by Incident Commander Carl Schwope, assumed management of the Blue River 2 and Valley Fires this morning at 6:00 A.M.
 
Fire Activity: Both fires were ignited by a lightning storm on the evening of July 10th. They are burning in grass and light fuels at a rapid rate, spreading to the east at a rate of up to 1900 feet per hour at the height of the day. The Blue River 2 Fire is burning in the area north of Warm Springs. It has bumped against the Blue River to the west, and is moving towards Dehorn to the east. The Valley Fire is about three miles to the southeast. It also has anchored against the San Carlos River to the west and has crossed the Point of Pines Road to the east, burning towards Ash Creek.
 
Operations: The majority of the firefighting efforts are focusing on the running head of the fires on the eastern ends. Helicopters and air tankers are working to fight the forward progress, while hotshot crews, engines, and dozers are building fireline and burning out along the flanks in an effort to pinch off the heads of the blazes before they move in to heavy timber to the east.

Weather: There is a 10 to 20 percent chance of thunderstorms over the fires today that can produce strong outflow winds, impacting fire behavior. Temperatures around 100 degrees and westerly winds will continue to feed the easterly spread of both fires. An increased chance of monsoon rains loom on thehorizon in the days to come.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Point O’ Pines road is closed due to fire activity and firefighters working off of the road.
 
Ko’ doo bena golde’ da
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6860/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueriver2fireinfo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY

Media & Public Information Contact:
Email: 2020.Blue River2@firenet.gov
Phone: 928-351-7052
Hours: 8 am- 8 pm

Fire containment is 100%, 1,097 acres. The Waldrop fire was caused by welding. Texas A&M Forest Service resources have been released and the fire has been turned back over to the local VFDs.

Fire containment is 35%, estimated 500 acres. Fire behavior remains active. Multiple structures threatened and evacuations were conducted. Contact local authorities for more information. Highs around 104, minimum relative humidity values of 20%, and winds of 12-13 mph with gusts up to 18 mph are forecasted for tomorrow. Planned actions for tomorrow are to construct, improve, patrol, and mop up along containment lines and utilize aerial resources where effective.

Fire containment is 100%, 13,343 acres. All state resources are off the Gate 5 Fire and it has been turned back over to the locals to monitor.