Bighorn Fire Morning Update, July 5, 2020

Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4

Carl Schwope, Incident Commander 

 

Bighorn Fire Info: (520) 329-7439, 8AM-8PM

Media Phone Line: (520) 329-7640, 8AM-8PM

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6741/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Smoke: wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Burned Area Response: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6796/

NWS Burn Scar www.weather.gov/twc/bighorn-burn-scar
 
 

Incident Statistics

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Size:      118,897 acres

Containment:    75%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Resources: 7 Hand Crews, 2 Dozers, 21 Engines, 5 Water-tenders,  5 Helicopters, 475 Personnel  
 
Weather: Today through Monday will be hotter than normal with slightly lower humidity and a west to northwest 10 to 15 mph breeze in the afternoon and evenings. Temperatures will be 80 to 90 degrees in the upper elevations and 101 to 106 on the valley floor.

Yesterday’s Activity: Firefighters continued to patrol the fireline and made significant progress backhauling equipment in the Summerhaven and Willow Canyon areas. Firefighters continued to patrol and mop up in Beuhman Canyon. Chipping operations were conducted in Peppersauce Canyon, along Redington Road, and Sabino Canyon. Patrol and mop up continued along uncontained sections of fireline on the southeast portion of the fire near Trail Tank Road. Resources continue to remain available for initial attack on new fire starts.

Today’s Activity: While much of the perimeter around the fire is holding, fire remains active in the areas south and west of Willow Canyon. Due to the extremely rugged terrain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the lack of safety zones, fire managers have determined that it is unsafe for firefighters to make a direct attack on the fire in this area. Efforts are ongoing to keep the fire west of the Catalina Highway as it slowly moves south toward Windy Point. The remaining focus today is to continue backhauling equipment from areas of the fire where it is no longer needed.  Backhaul is the process of bringing supplies such as hose, sprinklers, and other items used in firefighting back to the incident command post where it will be packaged up and sent to supply warehouses for repair and rehabilitation, so that it will be available for the next incident.  Suppression rehabilitation and repair will continue on the northern flank of the fire, with dozers and excavators repairing suppression lines and installing waterbars. Due to successful firefighting efforts, demobilization of resources will continue as crews and equipment are released back to their home units.

Highlights: A virtual community meeting is being planned for Monday, July 6.  Time and details for viewing will be added to Inciweb later today after details are finalized.

 
County Evacuation and Flood Information

PIMA    

Pima.gov/bighorn

 myalerts.pima.gov 

COCHISE             

cochise.az.gov/emergency

PINAL   

www.pinal.gov

pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Closures:Cascabel Road at the Cochise County/Pima County line is now open. Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, and Catalina State Park are closed. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/.

Forest conditions: fs.usda.gov/alerts/coronado/alerts-notices  

Order Number: # 03-05-05-20-023

1. Going into or being upon the restricted area for the protection of public health and safety. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).

1.This Order will be effective on July 4, 2020 at 12:00 am, and shall remain in effect until November 1, 2020 or until rescinded, whichever comes first.2.A map identifying the Restricted Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A.3.Any violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both (see 16 U.S.C. § 551, 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(6), 18 U.S.C. § 3581 (b)(7)).4.Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Santa Catalina Ranger District located in Tucson, Arizona, telephone number 520-749-7703, and at the Coronado National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Tucson, Arizona, telephone number520-388-8300.5.This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same acts covered by this Order.

Done at Tucson, Arizona, this 3rd day of July, 2020.

Pima County Reduces Set-Be Alert Status to Return to READY, July 4, 10:02 a.m.

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

The areas of the eastern Catalinas, east of Mt. Lemmon highway at mile post 3, north of Redington Road, bounded on the north and east by the county lines to include the community of Redington, formerly set to SET - Be Alert” have been downgraded to "READY”.  The interactive map at http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire will be updated shortly. All residents who self-evacuated from these areas may return to their residences.  Maintain vigilance and be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community.

The Mt. Lemmon/Mt. Bigelow areas remain under a "GO! - Evacuate" alert.

Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here: http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn 

Fire specific Facebook page located here:   facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here:  https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov/

READY – Prepare Now

SET – Be Alert!

GO! – Evacuate

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here:  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and tell your neighbors about the program.

Bighorn Fire Morning Update, July 4, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

 

Bighorn Fire Info: (520) 329-7439 & (520) 276-8981, 8AM-8PM

Media Phone Line: (520) 329-7640, 8AM-8PM

Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6741/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Smoke: wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Burned Area Response: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6796/

NWS Burn Scar www.weather.gov/twc/bighorn-burn-scar
 
 

Incident Statistics

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Size:      118,804 acres

Containment:    73%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Injuries:  9 minor

Estimated cost:  $40.4 MM

Resources: 15 Hand Crews, 2 Dozers, 25 Engines, 7 Water-tenders,  11 Helicopters, 653 Personnel
 
 

Weather: Today will be hot with slightly lower humidity and a light west to northwest 5 to 15 mph breeze in the afternoon. Temperatures will be 78 to 88 in the upper elevations and 101 to 106 on the valley floor.

This will be the final update from Northern Rockies Team 1.

At 6 am Sunday, July 5th, incident command will transfer to the Type 2 Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4.

Yesterday’s Activity: Firefighters backhauled equipment from the Summerhaven and Willow Canyon areas. Crews mopped up in Beuhman Canyon. Chipping operations continued in the Peppersauce Canyon and along Redington Road. Patrol and mop up work were performed along the southeast fire perimeter. Equipment backhaul, fire suppression repair, and patrol were conducted on the remaining fire perimeter. Resources were available for initial attack on new fire starts. Sabino Canyon was patrolled.

Today’s Activity: Firefighters will patrol the fireline and continue equipment backhaul in the Summerhaven and Willow Canyon areas. Firefighters will patrol and mop up in the Beuhman Canyon. Chipping operations will be conducted in the Peppersauce Canyon, Redington Road, and Sabino Canyon. Patrol and mop up will continue along uncontained sections of line on the southeast fire near Trail Tank Road. Resources will be available for initial attack on new fire starts. Sabino Canyon area will be patrolled.

County Evacuation Information

PIMA    

Pima.gov/bighorn

 myalerts.pima.gov 

COCHISE             

cochise.az.gov/emergency

PINAL   

www.pinal.gov

pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Closures: Cascabel Road at the Cochise County/Pima County line is now open. Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, and Catalina State Park are closed. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/.

Forest conditions: fs.usda.gov/alerts/coronado/alerts-notices

The following information was released by the Cochise County Sheriff's Department on July 3 at 12:00 pm.

Bighorn Fire Update

 7-3-2020 1200 hours

Cascabel Road at the Pima County/Cochise County border has been re-opened.

Fire crews are continuing to monitor the east side of the fire perimeter at Redington Road with no active fire reported at that location at this time.

We appreciate all of the personnel working so diligently to keep us informed and safe during this stressful time!

Please stay safe out there!

National Weather Service Issues Flash Flood Warning, July 2, 2020    5:44 pm

Issued by National Weather Service – Tucson, AZ

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Northeastern Pima County and Southeastern Pinal County in southeastern Arizona.

Until 845 PM MST.

At 544 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing  heavy rain across the northern Catalinas. Flash flooding is  ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over northern portions of the Bighorn burn scar  will result in debris flow. The debris flow can consist of rock,  mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD…Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms  producing flash flooding.

SOURCE…Doppler radar.

IMPACT…Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include:

Campo Bonito.

This includes the following streams and drainages:

Catalina Wash, Gibb Wash and Alder Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of  creeks, roads and normally dry washes is likely. The heavy rains  will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep  terrain, especially in and around these areas.

FLASH FLOOD…RADAR INDICATED

 FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT…CONSIDERABLE

Pima County Announces Return to READY, Thursday, July 2, 10:04 AM 

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

The southeastern Catalinas areas around Redington Road, bounded by the forest service boundary on the west and by the county line on the east, formerly set to “SET - Be Alert or  “Go! - Evacuate“ have been downgraded to "READY”.  The northern and southern boundaries do not follow any specific road. Please refer to the interactive map athttp://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details. All residents who self-evacuated from these areas may return to their residences.  Maintain vigilance and be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community. 

The Mt. Lemmon/Mt. Bigelow areas remain under a "GO! - Evacuate" alert.

Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here:http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn 

Fire specific Facebook page located here:   facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here:  https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov/

READY – Prepare Now

SET – Be Alert!

GO! – Evacuate

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here:  https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.govand tell your neighbors about the program.

Pima County Return to SET – Be Alert! Announced , Thursday, July 2, 10AM

This is a combined message from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

The areas of the eastern Catalinas, east of Mt. Lemmon highway at mile post 3, north of Redington Road, bounded on the north and east by the county lines to include the community of Redington, formerly set to “GO! – Evacuate,” has been downgraded to "SET - Be Alert”. Please refer to the interactive map athttp://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire for specific details. Residents who evacuated may return to their residences. Residents should note the fire will appear to be in close proximity. Fire crews will continually access dangers and the fire’s behavior. It is imperative to remain alert.

The Mt. Lemmon/Mt. Bigelow areas remain under a "GO! - Evacuate" alert.

Please remain vigilant in the "SET - Be Alert" stage and be prepared to evacuate if the status changes.

Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO.

Refer to the interactive map at   http://bit.ly/PCBigHornFire

Questions from residents in the area should be directed to 351-FIRE (3473)

Bighorn Fire information can be found here:http://www.pima.gov/Bighorn

Pima County Emergency Alert information can be found here: https://emergencyalerts.pima.gov/

Find out more about the Ready, Set, Go program here: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Sign up for emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.govand tell your neighbors about the program.

Bighorn Fire Morning Update, July 2, 2020