Blue River Fire

Acres:  20,400 @ 1200 6/8 Percent Containment: 0% Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZ Fuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush  

Dry Lake Fire

Acres: 1,730 @ 1200 6/8 Percent Containment: 0% Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZ Fuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory 

High winds last night pushes Blue River Fire on to Black Mesa and smoke into San Carlos

 

High winds from the north late last night kept firefighters busy into the early morning on the Blue River Fire. The shift in wind pushed the fire south on to Black Mesa and smoke into the community of San Carlos this morning. The team is working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke impacts to the communities of San Carlos as well as Whiteriver. Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Smoke monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to insuring the continued health of communities.

The Dry Lake Fire continues to burn, backing and creeping through the grass and timber understory and dead and down fuels on the forest floor making occasional pushes with winds when aligned with the terrain. Areas around Dry Lake have either had fires previously or had been thinned by the local tribal forestry program which has decreased the fire behavior potential in that general area.   

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increase in large fire activity through the western U.S. the availability of firefighters is limited. This makes fire prevention even more important. As the weather continues to be hot, dry and everyone needs to be cautious when working or spending time outdoors; it only takes one spark to start a wildfire. Dry grass can act as a wick taking fire from its origin to neighboring homes and communities. Take the time to remove the dry grass, brush and anything that could be fuel to a fire from around your homes to create defensible space.

Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire!

-end-

 

 Strong gusty winds and Red Flag fire weather conditions continue to challenge firefighters on the Blue River and Dry Lake Fires

For a second day in a row strong gusty wind and Red Flag fire weather conditions continue to challenge firefighters on the Blue River and Dry Lakes fires burning on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.  The conditions have had greater impact on the Blue River Fire northeast of San Carlos, as it burns actively through the thick grass and high desert brush, often pushing through fresh lines of fire retardant. The fires have been active late into the evenings and early morning. 
While there are no homes threatened by the fire there are some historic and culturally significant structures in relative proximity to both fires. Tribal Resource Advisors are working with firefighters to identify areas of concern and sites of historical, cultural, and biological significance. 
The two fires started from a thunderstorm that passed through the area on June, 5, 2020. The fires continue to push north/northeast with strong gusty winds influenced by the terrain. The smoke from these fires has settled into San Carlos area at night and has been blowing into the Fort Apache Indian Reservation during the day and changes as the winds shift. Fire managers are coordinating closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).  Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire!-end-

Blue River Fire

Acres: approx. 20,400; Percent Containment: 0% 
Origin Location: 8 miles NE of San Carlos, AZ  

Dry Lake Fire

Acres: approx. 1,730; Percent Containment: 0% 
Origin Location: 22 miles NE of Bylas, AZ

Blue River and Dry Lake Fire Information

 Fire Information: 602-345-0246 
 Email: 2020.BlueRiver@firenet.gov 
 Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m
More information available at: facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/ 

  Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 8, 2020 Morning Update

Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team assisting with the management of two

lightning caused fires on San Carlos Apache tribal lands

 

The Arizona Central West Zone Type Three Incident Management Team has been asked to assist with the management of two lightning caused fires on San Carlos Apache tribal lands. The team arrived on Sunday, June 7, to begin the transition and brief with tribal forestry staff and firefighters currently on the fires. The team will assist with the complex intersection of fire suppression as the San Carlos Apache reservation remains under an active stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team is working to ensure all fire resources responding to the two incidents are meeting the requirements of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the standards set by the San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission as it relates to COVID-19 pandemic. The team is also assisting with the logistical support of firefighters while they are working in rough and remote locations. All firefighters and team members are temperature tested before entering tribal lands, and firefighters will be “spiked-out”, camping in designated areas in remote areas safely adjacent to the fires. The team members assisting with incident support will be working remotely from Globe. Firefighters will be fed and supported at their remote spike camps by local drivers that meet the tribal COVID-19 testing requirements. They will be delivering food and supplies several times a day. The team will be sourcing as much as they can locally from area businesses. 

The two fires started from a thunderstorm that passed through the area on June, 5, 2020. The fires continue to push north/northeast with strong and gusty winds influenced by the terrain. The smoke from these fires has settled into San Carlos area at night and has been blowing into the Fort Apache Indian Reservation during the day and changes as the winds shift. Fire managers are coordinating closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke any smoke impacts communities.

Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire!

-end-

 

Blue River Fire

Acres: 18,602Percent Containment: 0%Origin Location: 8 miles NE of San Carlos, AZ 

Dry Lake Fire

Acres: 578Percent Containment: 0%Origin Location: 22 miles NE of Bylas, AZ

Blue River and Dry Lake

Fire Information

 Fire Information: 602-345-0246Email: 2020.BlueRiver@firenet.govHours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m
 
More information available at: facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/ 

 

 Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 16, 2020 – Daily Update

Blue River Fire

Acres:  approx. 30,400

Percent Containment: 85%

Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZ

Fuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush

 

Dry Lake Fire

Acres: approx. 4,370

Percent Containment:90%

Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZ

Fuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory 

Incident Management Team to transition fires to the local unit

This morning containment is at ninety percent on the Blue River Fire and eighty-five percent containment on the Dry Lake Fire, with no significant change in acreage. Both fires have some heat within the perimeter and some unburnt vegetation that may put up smoke occasionally. The Arizona Central West Zone Type Three Incident Management Team will transition the fires to the local unit on Wednesday, June 17. Each fire will be managed by a Type 4 Incident commander and have resources available to them to continue to ensure containment goals are met on these fires. Resource Advisors from the tribal agency are working with a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team to assess burn severity and plan for erosion control ahead of monsoon rains.

The Arizona Central West Zone Type Three Incident Management Team would like to thank the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council, the San Carlos Apache Tribal Emergency Response Commission, the San Carlos Apache Natural Resources and Forestry Resources programs, and so many others for their hospitality, assistance and support while this team was assisting with these fires.  

SMOKE: There has been very little smoke from both fires in the last couple of days. When there is smoke in the community, smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html

BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging.

FIRE PREVENTION: We must all do our part to prevent wildfires. We continue to see fires that are preventable threaten our community. Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire! Do your part to clear the grass and brush around your home to help protect your home and community. Remember it only takes one spark to start a wildfire.

-end-

 Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 15, 2020 – Daily Update

Blue River Fire

Acres:  approx. 30,400

Percent Containment: 85%

Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZ

Fuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush

 

Dry Lake Fire

Acres: approx. 4,370

Percent Containment: 81%

Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZ

Fuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory

Incident Management Team begin planning efforts to transition fires back to the local agency

This morning containment is at eighty-five percent on the Blue River Fire and eighty-one percent containment on the Dry Lake Fire, with no significant change in acreage. Both fires have some heat within the perimeter and some unburnt vegetation that may put up smoke occasionally. Resource Advisors from the tribal agency have begun working with a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team to assess burn severity and plan for erosion control ahead of monsoon rains. Many firefighters and aviation resources have or are in the process of departing the fires and are getting reassigned to other new large fires around Arizona.

Firefighters and camp crew members from the San Carlos communities have joined the firefighting efforts and many will remain assigned to the fires to assist after the Incident Management Team departs. As San Carlos Agency and Tribal Forestry have been able to ensure the training and safety of their firefighters, and acquire the necessary vehicles to accomplish social distancing, personal protective equipment, and disinfectant supplies, they have been able to bring more of their firefighters into service. Firefighter and public safety is the first priority and even more important now during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SMOKE: There has been very little smoke from both fires in the last couple of days. If and when there is smoke in the community, smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html

BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging.

FIRE PREVENTION: We must all do our part to prevent wildfires. We continue to see fires that are preventable threaten our community. Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire! Do your part to clear the grass and brush around your home to help protect your home and community. Remember it only takes one spark to start a wildfire.

-end-

Blue River and Dry Lake Fire Information

Fire Information: 602-345-0246Email: 2020.BlueRiver@firenet.govHours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/Fire Information on InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Air Quality Monitors http://tinyurl.com/y9cqd22w
Arizona DEQ Air Quality Monitors http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx
Smoke Forecast Outlooks  http://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/



 Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update
June 14, 2020 – Daily Update
Blue River Fire
Acres:  approx. 30,400
Percent Containment: 67%
Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZ
Fuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush

Dry Lake Fire
Acres: approx. 4,370
Percent Containment: 57%
Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZ
Fuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory 



Firefighters reinforcing containment lines and look ahead to area rehabilitation
Firefighters on the Blue River and Dry Lake continue to watch the interior heat and enhance containment lines, watching to make sure winds do not push fire across the established lines. The firefighters continue to make progress in containing both fires working 30-50 feet adjacent to the fire-line mopping up any heat. This morning containment remains at sixty-seven percent on the Blue River Fire and a fifty-seven percent containment on the Dry Lake Fire, with no significant change in acreage. Resource Advisors from the tribal agency will begin working with a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team to assess burn severity and plan for erosion control ahead of monsoon rains. Firefighters from these fires are also assisting with Initial Attack on new fires within the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
The Dry Lake Fire continues to burn, backing and creeping through the grass and timber understory and dead and down fuels on the forest floor making occasional pushes with winds when aligned with the terrain. The fire area experienced increased humidity and some sprinkles from passing thunderstorms yesterday afternoon. Fire fighters are using a chipper to assist with brush removal adjacent to containment lines to help secure the fire within the lines. Areas around Dry Lake have either had fires previously or had been thinned by the local tribal forestry program which has decreased the fire behavior potential in that general area. 
Firefighters and camp crew members from the San Carlos communities have joined the firefighting efforts. As San Carlos Agency and Tribal Forestry have been able to ensure the training and safety of their firefighters, and acquire the necessary vehicles to accomplish social distancing, personal protective equipment, and disinfectant supplies, they have been able to bring more of their firefighters into service. Firefighter and public safety is the first priority and even more important now during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
SMOKE: The team is working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke impacts to the communities of San Carlos as well as Whiteriver. Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Smoke monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to insuring the continued health of communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html
BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging.
FIRE PREVENTION: We must all do our part to prevent wildfires. We continue to see fires that are preventable threaten our community. Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire! Do your part to clear the grass and brush around your home to help protect your home and community. Remember it only takes one spark to start a wildfire.
-end-
Blue River and Dry Lake Fire Information
Fire Information: 602-345-0246Email: 2020.BlueRiver@firenet.govHours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.https://www.facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/Fire Information on InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/Air Quality Monitors http://tinyurl.com/y9cqd22wArizona DEQ Air Quality Monitors http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspxSmoke Forecast Outlooks http://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/

 Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 12, 2020 – Daily Update

Blue River Fire

Acres:  approx. 30,400  

Percent Containment: 50%  

Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZ  

Fuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush  

 

Dry Lake Fire

Acres: approx. 4,365  

Percent Containment: 15%  

Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZ  

Fuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory  

Hot, dry, and windy conditions return to the Blue River and Dry Lake Fires

A shift in weather conditions brings the challenge of hot, dry, and gusty winds back to the fire-lines on the Blue River and Dry Lakes fires. Through today firefighters will continue to watch the interior heat and enhance containment lines, watching to make sure winds do not push fire across the established containment lines. The firefighters have been able to make progress in containing both fires, as there is now a fifty-percent containment on the Blue River Fire and a fifteen-percent containment on the Dry Lake Fire. Yesterday firefighters continued to used helicopters of varying size and Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs). Firefighters are using a combination of established roads, natural features like rock bluffs and outcroppings, as well as dozer or handline to contain the fire and stop the fire spread for the fires.

The Dry Lake Fire continues to burn, backing and creeping through the grass and timber understory and dead and down fuels on the forest floor making occasional pushes with winds when aligned with the terrain. Areas around Dry Lake have either had fires previously or had been thinned by the local tribal forestry program which has decreased the fire behavior potential in that general area.  

More firefighters and camp crew members from the San Carlos communities have joined the firefight on these two fires. As San Carlos Agency and Tribal Forestry have been able to ensure the training and safety of their firefighters, and acquire the necessary vehicles to accomplish social distancing, personal protective equipment, and disinfectant supplies they have been able to bring more of their firefighters into service. Firefighter and public safety is the first priority and even more important now during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SMOKE: The team is working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke impacts to the communities of San Carlos as well as Whiteriver. Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Smoke monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to insuring the continued health of communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html

BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging.

FIRE PREVENTION: We must all do our part to prevent wildfires. We continue to see fires that are preventable threaten our community. Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire! Do your part to clear the grass and brush around your home to help protect your community. Remember it only takes one spark to start a wildfire.

-end-

 

Blue River and Dry Lake

Fire Information

 

Fire Information:602-345-0246

Email: 2020.BlueRiver@firenet.gov

Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

• facebook.com/SCATFORESTRY/

Fire Information on InciWeb  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ Air Quality Monitors  http://tinyurl.com/y9cqd22w
Arizona DEQ Air Quality Monitors  http://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx Smoke Forecast Outlooks  http://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/

 Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 11, 2020 – Daily Update
 

Blue River Fire Acres:  approx. 30,380Percent Containment: 0%Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZFuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush
 Dry Lake FireAcres: approx. 4,350Percent Containment: 0%Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZFuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory   

Firefighters make progress toward containment on the Blue River and Dry Lake Fires

Firefighters continue to take advantage of the light wind and moderated fire behavior as the make progress towards full containment and suppression of the Blue River and Dry Lake Fires burning within the San Carlos Apache Reservation. They also remain alert as there is a forecasted change in weather bringing in warmer temperatures and windy conditions in the next 2 days.

The Dry Lake Fire continues to burn, backing and creeping through the grass and timber understory and dead and down fuels on the forest floor making occasional pushes with winds when aligned with the terrain. Areas around Dry Lake have either had fires previously or had been thinned by the local tribal forestry program which has decreased the fire behavior potential in that general area.  

SMOKE: The team is working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke impacts to the communities of San Carlos as well as Whiteriver. Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Smoke monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to insuring the continued health of communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html

BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging.

FIRE PREVENTION: We must all do our part to prevent wildfires. We continue to see fires that are preventable threaten our community. Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire! Do your part to clear the grass and brush around your home to help protect your community.

 

Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 10, 2020 – Daily Update

Blue River Fire Acres:  approx. 30,242 Percent Containment: 0% Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZ Fuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush   Dry Lake Fire Acres: approx. 3,900 Percent Containment: 0% Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZ Fuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory

 

Suppression efforts continue on the Blue River and Dry Lake Fires

 

Aviation resources continue to support the firefighting efforts on the ground.  Helicopter water drops continued to support firefighters as they worked their way around the fires toward containment. Firefighters have been using heavy equipment such as dozers and graders to enhance area roads so they can be used as containment lines, further enhancing their effectiveness by burning out the vegetation between the active fire and the roads to slow and contain the fire spread. An Infrared (IR) Flight took place over the Blue River Fire last night and is planned over both fires tonight. IR flights help firefighters prioritize the positioning of resources on the fire line.

The Dry Lake Fire continues to burn, backing and creeping through the grass and timber understory and dead and down fuels on the forest floor making occasional pushes with winds when aligned with the terrain. Areas around Dry Lake have either had fires previously or had been thinned by the local tribal forestry program which has decreased the fire behavior potential in that general area.  

SMOKE: The team is working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke impacts to the communities of San Carlos as well as Whiteriver. Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Smoke monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to insuring the continued health of communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html

BACKGROUND: Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging.

 

Ko’ doo bena golde’da - Do not play with fire!

-end-

 Ko’ Ba Nagoni i’ - Wildfire Update

June 9, 2020 – Evening Update

Blue River FireAcres:  approx. 30,000Percent Containment: 0%Origin Location: 8 mi NE of San Carlos, AZFuels: Upper desert grasslands; grass and brush Dry Lake FireAcres: approx. 3,400Percent Containment: 0%Origin Location: 22 mi NE of Bylas, AZFuels: Ponderosa pine forest with woodland and grass understory

Firefighters take advantage of lighter winds on Blue River and Dry Lake Fire

 Firefighters have been working to actively suppress the Blue River and the Dry Lake fires since their discovery after a June 5 thunderstorm.  Firefighters and fire managers have been challenged by many factors which have been significant in the growth of these fires. Factors including several days of wind driven fire behavior, difficult topography, as well as limited available resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by increased fire activity in the area further drawing down available resources have proven challenging. Burn out operations on both fires can also account for some of the growth on both fires as firefighters worked to enhance roads and natural features to slow the fires’ rate of spread. With lighter winds today firefighters on the ground and in the air made more progress toward containment. During the days of high wind firefighters were not finding the fire retardant delivered by the airtankers to be very effective on the Blue River Fire. The warm dry winds would dry the retardant and the fire would quickly burn through the retardant lines. Today helicopter water drops continued to support firefighters on the ground as they worked their way around the fires toward containment.The Dry Lake Fire continues to burn, backing and creeping through the grass and timber understory and dead and down fuels on the forest floor making occasional pushes with winds when aligned with the terrain. Areas around Dry Lake have either had fires previously or had been thinned by the local tribal forestry program which has decreased the fire behavior potential in that general area.   The team is working closely with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to monitor smoke impacts to the communities of San Carlos as well as Whiteriver. Smoke monitors will be positioned at strategic locations in San Carlos and in Whiteriver to monitor the impacts of smoke within the communities. Smoke monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to insuring the continued health of communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at the Centers for Disease Control – Wildfire Smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html