Bighorn Fire Evening Update June 23, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

Bighorn Fire Morning Update, June 23, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

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

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

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

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

Smoke Outlook:  https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Incident Statistics

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Size:  58,553 acres

Containment:  33%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Resources: 25 hand crews, 6 dozers, 80 engines, 19 water tenders, 10 helicopters, 988 Total personnel.

Injuries:  4 minor

Estimated cost  $19.9 MM

Weather:  Increasing hot temperatures with low humidity today.  Winds light and terrain driven.

Yesterday’s Activities:  The fire moved into Lemmon Canyon and smoke was visible from Tucson as upslope winds pushed the fire back towards the Wilderness of Rocks.  Firefighters focused on containment operations in the Summerhaven area and along the Catalina Highway.  The line south of Oracle was patrolled and continued to hold.

Today’s Activities:   Today’s priority will be structure protection and containment in the Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven, and Willow Canyon areas.  If conditions are favorable, low to moderate intensity firing operations may be conducted to consume unburned fuels in all areas including along the eastern flank.  Opportunities to deepen the line south of Oracle will be explored today.  Firing operations may produce more visible smoke later in the day.  The fire backing off the Samaniego Ridge will continue to be monitored.  An initial attack team will be available to support suppression of any new fire starts in the surrounding area.

A virtual public meeting will be streamed via Facebook Live tonight at 8 PM at facebook.com/bighorn.

Evacuation Notices:  Visit pima.gov/bighorn or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement

GO - Evacuate   

Mt. Bigelow & Lower Soldier HOA

Community of Summerhaven

Willow Canyon

Lower Catalina Hwy./Lower Mt. Lemmon Communities from Organization Ridge Rd. to South Willow Canyon                       

SET – Be Alert   

Community of Oracle

Portions of East Golder Ranch

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Sabino Canyon Road, north of Skyline Drive

Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road and Campo Bonito           

READY – Prepare Now

Oro Valley area from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road

Catalina foothills areas from First Avenue to Alvernon Way

Sign up to receive emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.

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

Closures: The Coronado National Forest closure order includes Sabino and Bear Canyons. Catalina State Park is closed. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Oracle Control Road is also closed.

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

Bighorn Fire Evening Update June 22, 2020

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

Mike Goicoechea, Incident Commander

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

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

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

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

Smoke Outlook:  https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Size:      58,553 acres

Percent Containment:   33%

Date detected: June 5, 2020

Cause:  Lightning

Location:  Santa Catalina Mountains

Personnel: 988    

 Injuries: 4 minor

Estimated cost: $19.9 MM

Resources: 25 hand crews, 6 bulldozers, 80 engines, 19 Water tenders, 10 helicopters

Weather: Temperatures in the 60’s with poor humidity recovery tonight. Terrain-driven winds, downslope later in the evening.

Today’s Activities:  The Northern Rockies Type I Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the Bighorn Fire at 6 PM today. 

Resources worked to contain spot fires and improve structure protection from last night's fire activity in the Marshall Gulch, Radio Ridge, Summerhaven and Willow Canyon areas. The fire is expected to burn actively in this area again tonight. The fire’s southern edge continues to move east and back towards lighter fuels on the valley floor near Esperero Canyon. Firefighters scouted and monitored Samaniego Ridge where the fire continues to move downslope. Yesterday’s successful firing operations south of Oracle have burned to the containment line. This line continues to deepen as burning continues south toward the main fire. Containment lines were improved along the eastern flank in preparation for potential firing operations.

A virtual public meeting was held tonight at 8 PM. See the Bighorn Fire Facebook page for a recording.

Evacuation Notices:  Visit pima.gov/bighorn or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement

GO - Evacuate   

Mt. Bigelow & Lower Soldier HOA

Community of Summerhaven

Willow Canyon

Lower Catalina Hwy./Lower Mt. Lemmon Communities from Organization Ridge Rd. to South Willow Canyon

SET – Be Alert   

Community of Oracle

Portions of East Golder Ranch

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Sabino Canyon Road, north of Skyline Drive

Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road and Campo Bonito           

READY – Prepare Now

Oro Valley area from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road

Catalina foothills areas from First Avenue to Alvernon Way

Sign up to receive emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov or pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.

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

Closures: The Coronado National Forest closure order includes Sabino and Bear Canyons. Catalina State Park is closed. Closures and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Oracle Control Road is also closed.

Bighorn Fire – June 22, 2020 Morning Update

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team to assume command of the Bighorn Fire

Acres: 58,553 

Percent Containment: 16%

Start Date: June 5, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Santa Catalina Mountains

Personnel: 969

Injuries: 5 minor heat-related illnesses

Jurisdiction: Coronado National Forest, including portions of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness

Resources: 7 hotshot crews, 14 Type 2 hand crews, 2 Type 1 engines, 28 Type 3 engines, 5 Type 4 engines, 17 Type 5 engines, 25 Type 6 engines, 5 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 2 Type 3 helicopters, 19 water tenders, 6 bulldozers 

Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team 1 will assume command of the Bighorn Fire today at 6PM.  The teams will hold a joint virtual community meeting streamed via Facebook Live at facebook.com/bighorn at 8PM tonight.  

Overnight, firefighters encountered challenges near Radio Ridge with spotting around Marshall Gulch. Today, crews will work to contain those spot fires to neutralize any threats to the community. Concurrently, additional firefighters have been mobilized to the Summerhaven community to bolster protection measures around structures.

Firing operations south of Oracle have been successful, and firefighters will scout the area near Samaniego Ridge today to determine if additional firing operations are needed to keep that fire in check. On the east flank of the fire, crews will be using bulldozers to tie containment lines into existing road systems and may conduct burnout operations near Davis Mesa if weather conditions are favorable.

Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2, led by Incident Commander John Pierson thanks the Coronado National Forest, the numerous cooperators, and the local communities in the Tucson Metropolitan area for tremendous support and coordination as this incident has unfolded. The team also extends thanks to the local media for providing timely, accurate information which is paramount to the safety of the public. Thank you all. 

Evacuation Notices
 

GO - Evacuate               

Mt. Bigelow & Lower Soldier HOA

Community of Summerhaven

Willow Canyon

Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road and Campo Bonito
 

SET – Be Alert

Community of Oracle

Portions of East Golder Ranch

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Sabino Canyon Road, North of Skyline Drive
 

READY – Prepare Now

Oro Valley area from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road

Tucson foothills area from First Avenue east to Alvernon Way 

Sign up to receive emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and at pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.

Closures: The Coronado National Forest closure order includes Sabino and Bear Canyons. Catalina State Park is closed. View the closure orders and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/. Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Only residents and business owners may pass. Oracle Control Road is closed. 

Fire Information Phone Line: (520) 276-8981 and (520) 329-7439, 8AM-8PM

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

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

Facebook: facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

Smoke Outlook: wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Floods Follow Fires

Wildfires raise your floo
d risk by leaving the ground charred, barren, and unable to absorb water. That means even light rain can potentially turn into a financially devastating flash flood or mudflow and can occur with very little warning. This increased runoff may continue for several years after an area has burned and until vegetation is reestablished.
 

See below for important fact sheets:
 

Floods Follow Fires - El aumento en el Riesgo de Inundacion Despues de un Incendio
 

Understanding Mudflows - Las Avalanchas de lodo
 

Post-Fire Debris Flows
 

Debris flows are a common occurrence after an area has burned. As water runs downhill through burned areas, it can create erosion and undercut previously stable areas which causes large amounts of burned material (ash, sand, silt, rocks, trees) to become loose. As water and the material begin to move, the risk of damage to downhill areas increases.
 

Be prepared - Create an Emergency Response Plan
 

Due to the topography and proximity to mountainous areas in Pima County, there is sometimes little to no warning of impending flash floods or debris flows. In the event of moderate to heavy rainfall it is best to take any emergency steps necessary to protect your life and property. Plan in advance to move away from the area and have a safety plan already in place. Plan ahead by creating an Emergency Response Plan.
 

Be Flood Safe
 

Many people do not associate Arizona with flooding, but a 2017 analysis determined that Pima County was the eighth deadliest county in the nation for flood related deaths in the preceding 20 years. That normally dry wash on your property or roadway could present a very real danger to you in times of floods. These floods can happen any time of the year - during a heavy summer monsoon storm, or during a long, slow winter storm. Flash floods can occur many miles away from the storm event that causes them. It is important to Be Flood Safe ahead of a rain storm.
 

• Flood Insurance
• 
  
• Emergency Management
• 
  
• Cleanup Requests and Complaints
• 
  
• Media
• 
  

Flood Insurance
 

The time to buy flood insurance is now. Homeowners, renters and business owners need to protect themselves financially from the devastating losses flooding can bring - including after a wildfire - before the next weather event occurs.
 
 

In general, new policies for flood insurance become effective following a 30-day waiting period. However, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 provided an additional exception to this requirement related to flooding caused by post-wildfire conditions, referred to as the Post-Wildfire Exception. Under the Post-Wildfire Exception, the standard 30-day waiting period does not apply to new policies if:
 

1. The covered property experiences damage caused by flood that originated on Federal land;
2. Post-wildfire conditions on Federal lands caused or worsened the flooding; and
   
3. The policyholder purchased the policy either:
1. Before the fire containment date; or
2. During the 60-day calendar-day period following the fire containment date

Resources
 

Wildfires: You Need Flood Insurance
 

Guidance on the Application of Post-Wildfire Exception to 30-day Waiting Period for New Policies
 

Preferred Risk Policies
 

Polizas de Riesgo Preferidooods 

  Bighorn Fire – June 21, 2020 Evening Update

Incident Management Team to transfer command Monday evening

Acres: 51,628
  

Percent Containment: 16%
 

Start Date: June 5, 2020
 

Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Santa Catalina Mountains
 

Personnel: 969

Injuries: 3 minor heat-related illnesses
 

Jurisdiction: Coronado National Forest, including portions of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness
 

Resources: 7 hotshot crews, 14 Type 2 hand crews, 2 Type 1 engines, 28 Type 3 engines, 5 Type 4 engines, 17 Type 5 engines, 25 Type 6 engines, 5 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 2 Type 3 helicopters, 19 water tenders, 6 bulldozers

Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team 2 will transfer command of the Bighorn Fire to Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team 1 tomorrow, June 22, at 6PM. The teams will hold a joint virtual community meeting streamed via Facebook Live at facebook.com/bighorn at 8PM tomorrow, Monday night, June 22.
 

Crews are preparing to conduct additional burnout operations tonight between the communities of Oracle and Saddlebrooke to buffer against fire burning on Samaniego Ridge and in Cargodera Canyon. On Mt. Lemmon, firefighters initiated burnout operations starting at Radio Ridge moving toward Summerhaven along the wilderness boundary. This burnout will continue into the evening. Additionally, crews are setting up pumps and sprinklers around structures in the area of Willow Canyon as a contingency measure. Fire managers do not anticipate the fire in Ventana Canyon will have much, if any movement. Crews will patrol the area tonight to monitor the fire upslope.
 
 

Evacuation Notices

GO - Evacuate

Mt. Bigelow & Lower Soldier HOA
 
 

Community of Summerhaven
 
 

Willow Canyon
 
 

Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road and Campo Bonito
 
 

SET – Be Alert

  

Community of Oracle
 
 

Portions of East Golder Ranch
 
 

Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Sabino Canyon Road, North of Skyline Drive
 
 

READY – Prepare Now

 

Oro Valley area from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road
 
 

Tucson foothills area from First Avenue east to Alvernon Way

 
 

Sign up to receive Pima County emergency alerts at myalerts.pima.gov and Pinal County alerts at pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement.

Closures: The Coronado National Forest closure order includes Sabino and Bear Canyons. Catalina State Park is closed. View the closure orders and maps at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6741/.

Catalina Highway is closed to the public at milepost zero. Only residents and business owners may pass. Oracle Control Road is closed.

Fire Information Phone Line: (520) 276-8981 and (520) 329-7439, 8AM-8PM

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

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

 

Facebook: facebook.com/bighornfireinfo

 

Smoke Outlook: wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Bighorn Fire - June 22, 2020 Information Map  Both Pima and Pinal Counties have communities under a GO Alert Status.  Find their information here.

Pima County Information Below: 
 
NOTE: For evacuation information in PIMA County call the Pima County Sheriff's Office  520 351-4600.
https://www.facebook.com/pimasheriff/  
https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO/
Pima County Floods Fllow Fires 

Pinal County Information Below:  
  
Pinal County Interactive Maps
Pinal County Citizen Contact Center – 520-509-3555
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Facebook link - https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO
Pinal County OEM Twitter link - https://twitter.com/home
Pinal County Fairgrounds Address – 512 Eleven Mile Corner, Casa Grande, AZ 85194
Pinal County Animal Control number – 520-509-3555

Bighorn Fire Links and information are  updated as soon as  it is available 

 

 Floods Follow Fires   An important new article to help you prepare for possible consequences of the Bighorn Fire on your homes and property
 
 

Bighorn Fire - JUne 22, 2020 Morning UPdate with attachments

 

Bighorn Fire June 22, 2020 Progression Map    JPGF Format 
 

Bighorn Fire - June 22, 2020 Info map JPG Format withh attached pdf
  

wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona  

Bighorn Fire – June 21, 2020 Morning Update

Crews stay focused on keeping Bighorn Fire in check as Incident Management Team plans for transition

Bighorn Fire – June 20, 2020 Evening Update

Slow but steady fire growth anticipated

 Bighorn Fire – June 20, 2020 Morning Update

 
 Challenging fire activity will engage crews to the north, south, and east