The Fire Is Now 5 Percent Contained

Crews will be burning along Route 7 throughout the afternoon and into the evening, in a continued effort to prevent the fire from crossing east over the road. Smoke is expected.

(Date: 7/1/20)

Full Smoke Report Report for July 1, 2020

Fire grows because of dry fuels and steep topography

Location: 3 miles east of Wood Springs, AZ

Cause: Lightning

Percent containment: 0%

Resources: 313 personnel

Size: 8,999 acres

Vegetation: Pińon Juniper, Ponderosa Pine, Sage, Grasses

Fire activity:  In previous days, the fire’s growth was driven by strong southwest winds. However, the contributing factors have shifted, and the fire continues to steadily grow due to dry fuels and steep topography. The fire is expected to display similar characteristics as seen on Tuesday with increased rate of spread occurring in the late afternoon. The fire remains west of Route 7 and north of the KV powerlines where it intersects with Route 7. Reports of damaged structures have yet to be totaled and assessed to accurately confirm the extent of damages. Structure assessment will occur when the fire area is safe for firefighters to enter. For today’s operations, on the southwest side of the fire, crews will be using direct tactics to construct line from Lone Tule Wash and they are aiming to tie it into road N26. Crews will be looking for opportunities to go direct on the northwest side of the fire, which is between N26 and Route 7. On the east side of the fire, following the KV powerlines, fire personnel will be using direct and indirect tactics interchangeably as that area of the fire is the most active. Multiple aircraft will also be in the area working on various parts of the fire.

Communities Affected:  The communities of Sawmill and Fluted Rock remain on high alert. Please begin collecting important items and be ready. If you are asked to evacuate, please contact your local chapter house for information on evacuation shelters.

Smoke:  Smoke will be visible from Highway 264 between Window Rock and Ganado, as well as on Highway 191 to Chinle, and along Route 12 towards Navajo.  During the day, smoke from the fire will travel to the east and northeast towards Crystal and Sonsela with the possibility of smoke lifting over the Chuska Mountains towards Newcomb and Shiprock. Overnight, smoke will be drifting to the northeast of the fire and will settle in lows areas. This may impact the communities of White Rock, and Farmington in the afternoon and evening.  The communities of Fort Defiance, Navajo and Sawmill may experience the heaviest smoke impacts overnight.  A full smoke report is available through https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/NEArizona.

Weather:  Clear and dry conditions will continue through Wednesday night. Daytime southwest winds at 5 mph will increase to 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 to 25 mph by the afternoon. Temperatures for the day range between 74 and 79 degrees. Nighttime transport winds will be southwest beginning at 10 to 15 mph and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph and temperatures will be ranging from 47 to 52 degrees.

Values:  Firefighter and public safety are the highest priorities on the Wood Springs 2 Fire.  The fire area includes multiple communities, power lines, sheep and horse camps, and cultural and historical sites, which firefighters are working hard to protect. 

Closures and Restrictions:  The following roads are closed except to residents: Navajo Route 7 is closed from Sawmill to Three Turkey Ruin Junction and N26 is closed from where it intersects N27 out to Route 7. Roads that remain open are N27 and N201. General public should avoid the wildfire area so as not to interfere with firefighting efforts.

More Info:  Official Wood Springs 2 Fire information can be found on InciWeb at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6813/ and on Facebook at BIA Wildland Fire Management – Navajo Region @BIANavajoRegion

 The following roads are closed except to residents

• Navajo Route 7 is closed from Sawmill, AZ to Chinle
• N-26 is closed from the intersection of N-27 east to Route 7

• N-27 road remains open
• N-201 road is open 

Residents in the Fluted Rock Lake area may see smoke near the intersection of Route 7 and N-26 this afternoon, June 30,2020. Crews are burning near the corner of Route 7 and N-26 to keep the Wood Springs 2 Fire on the west side of Route 7.  

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 Takes Command of the Fire

Location:  3 miles east of Wood Springs, AZ

Cause:  Lightning

Percent containment:  0%

Fire Strategy: Full Suppression

Size:  5,816

Vegetation:  Pińon Juniper, Pine, Sage, Grasses

Fire activity: The Wood Springs 2 Fire, which started on June 27, 2020, is now 5,816 acres and 0% contained. This is a full suppression fire. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 took command of the fire this morning at 6 am. The fire’s growth yesterday can be attributed to winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour throughout the day.  The fire is located three miles east of Wood Springs, AZ and five miles from Sawmill, AZ. It is burning in mostly pińon juniper and pine vegetation. Fire behavior yesterday was described as extreme with 200-foot flame lengths because of the intense winds. Today winds will be mild with only 4 to 6-foot flame lengths anticipated. The fire crossed N-26 around midday Monday and it continues to spread northeast towards Route 7. No structures have been damaged and no injuries have been reported. Calmer winds today will provide crews the opportunities to scout the fire area and work to build fire lines to quickly and safely to contain the fire.

Communities Affected: The communities of Sawmill and Fluted Rock are on high alert. Please begin collecting important items and be ready. If you are asked to evacuate, please contact your local chapter house for information on evacuation shelters.

Smoke: Smoke will be visible from Highway 264, Window Rock, Ganado, Sawmill, Nazlini, Chinle and other surrounding communities. Smoke from the fire will travel to the northeast today, shifting toward Navajo, Fort Defiance, and Window Rock overnight. A full smoke report is available through https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/Arizona.

Weather:  Winds are expected to be lighter today compared to yesterday, gusting to 10-15 miles per hour. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with relative humidity levels at 8-13 percent. No rain is forecasted.

Values:  Fire fighter and public safety are the highest priorities on the Wood Springs 2 Fire.  The fire area includes multiple communities, power lines, sheep camps and cultural and historical sites, which firefighters are working hard to protect. 

Closures and Restrictions: Navajo Route 7 from Sawmill, AZ to the west towards Chinle and Wood Springs, AZ is closed. Residents should avoid the wildfire area.  

More Info: Official information on the fire can be found on these sites.

 The communities of Sawmill and Fluted Rock are on high alert. Please begin collecting important items and be ready to evacuate. If you are evacuated, please contact your local chapter house for information on evacuation shelters.

Creede, Colo., July 2, 2020 – From mid-morning to early evening, three heavy helicopters made effective water drops on the Goose Creek Fire on Wednesday. Containment on the fire is now estimated at 35% and the acreage is unchanged at 149 acres. “Our firefighting pilots have been doing a great job keeping the fire in check,” says Incident Commander Derrick Rader. “We are very fortunate to have them.” When multiple fires are burning, resources such as heavy helicopters are not always available.

The Goose Creek Fire is located on a steep ridge within the Weminuche Wilderness Area and in a place that would be difficult and dangerous for firefighters on the ground to access. Because of continued suppression efforts, the fire has been putting off minimal smoke. No roads or trails are currently closed and no structures are immediately threatened. 113 people are assigned to the fire, including engines, one medium and one light helicopter and support personnel.
An incident-specific web page on this fire is on Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6812/

Due to anticipated low fire activity, the next news release update may be several days from now. Interested parties are encouraged to continue to monitor Inciweb and Facebook for information.

Fire danger remains very high across the Rio Grande National Forest and Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place. Visitors and residents are encouraged to be careful with anything that might start a new fire.

For additional information follow the Rio Grande National Forest on Face book at: https://www.facebook.com/USFSRGNF/ and Twitter @RioGrandeUSFS

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