Click the link below to learn how the Sawtooth Fire utilized Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS or drone)

 https://www.facebook.com/SawtoothFireInfo/videos/203374137434883/

Sawtooth Fire - June 8, 2020 Morning Update

Acres: 24,729 acres                                                                  Percent Containment: 81%
Start Date: May 30, 2020                                                       Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Superstition Wilderness, two miles Northeast of Peralta Trailhead, Tonto National Forest
Jurisdiction: Arizona State Lands, private land, Tonto National Forest, including portions of the Superstition Wilderness
Fuels: Tall grass and heavy brush
Resources: Approximately 225 personnel

The Sawtooth Fire is 80% contained. Minimal fire activity was observed throughout yesterday and last night. Suppression repair efforts have been completed as firefighters have restored fireline no longer needed to a more natural state. The Type 1 incident management team will be transitioning command of the fire to the Tonto National Forest at 6 am Tuesday, June 9. Forest resources will continue to monitor and patrol the fire.

Firefighters will remain present through the transition period and continue to support any new starts in the area. The Incident Management Team will continue to release more resources today to make them available to respond to other incidents throughout the Southwest.

On Sunday two crews were deployed to the lightning caused Miles Fire, which is located near the Miles Ranch Trailhead on the southeastern side of the Superstition Wilderness area, approximately 11 miles west of Miami, AZ. The crews were able to stop spread of the 20 acre fire perimeter and the fire is at 100% containment.

“For me, this is a special fire,” said Incident Commander Alan Sinclair. “I’m a resident of Apache Junction. It’s unique for me to be local and serving in this capacity. I’ve had a 30-year career in this area and I’ve spent a lot of time in the Superstitions on fires over the years. The work that’s being done out there is extremely difficult. But they’re doing a great job with it. We were asked to keep this fire small and the crews have done that.”

There are no evacuations in effect. Ready, Set, Go! is a nationwide program that educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency and actions to follow when communities are threatened. Register for emergency alerts at https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.

A closure order is in place for the Tonto National Forest for the Peralta Trailhead and surrounding area. You can view the entire closures order at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6730/51815/.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. Visit https://firerestrictions.us/az/ for more information.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Information: (928) 351-7596 (6:00 am to 10:00 pm)
Media Line: (928) 351-7618

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6730/ 
Twitter: twitter.com/SawtoothFire

Information will transition to the Tonto National Forest on June 9, 2020:

Sawtooth Fire - June 7, 2020 Morning Update

Acres: 24,729 acres                         Percent Containment: 64%
Start Date: May 30, 2020               Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Superstition Wilderness, two miles Northeast of Peralta Trailhead, Tonto National Forest
Jurisdiction: Arizona State Lands, private land, Tonto National Forest, including portions of the Superstition Wilderness
Fuels: Tall grass and heavy brush
Resources: Approximately 308 personnel

Firefighters Continue Suppression Repair Efforts

Suppression repair efforts remain a priority on the Sawtooth Fire as containment has increased. Fire activity has been minimal and there has been no perimeter growth. Firefighters made additional progress towards securing the fire perimeter and increased containment to 64%.

Firefighters will continue to work to increase containment, go direct where safely possible, and mitigate hot spots as needed. Resources assigned to the incident will respond to any new fires in the area and the Incident Management Team will continue releasing resources to make them available to respond to new incidents throughout the Southwest.

Yesterday, air and ground resources from the Sawtooth Fire responded to the lightning caused Miles Fire, which is located near the Miles Trailhead on the southeastern side of the Superstition Wilderness Area, approximately 11 miles west of Miami, AZ. Air resources were able to keep the fire in check while two hotshot crews hiked two miles into the fire. Crews were able to stop the fire’s forward rate of spread at 21 acres. Today firefighters will continue line construction to secure the fire perimeter.

Cooler temperatures are forecast for the fire area with highs in the low 90’s and winds from the southwest at 10-15 miles per hour.

This morning’s video update is available on https://www.facebook.com/SawtoothFireInfo/videos/ No account is required to view. 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. Then you can click on the video to play it.

There are no evacuations in effect. Ready, Set, Go! is a nationwide program that educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency and actions to follow when communities are threatened. Register for emergency alerts at https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.

A closure order is in place for the Tonto National Forest for the Peralta Trailhead and surrounding area. You can view the entire closures order at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6730/51815/. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. Visit https://firerestrictions.us/az/ for more information.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Information: (928) 351-7596 (6:00 am to 10:00 pm)
Media Line: (928) 351-7618
Email: 2020.sawtooth@firenet.gov 
Facebook: fb.me/SawtoothFireInfo 
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6730/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SawtoothFire

 Fire Update Video for Sunday, June 7, 2020. Operations Section Chief Paul Delmerico gives updates on worked performed yesterday and the plan for today. Fire Update Video

Sawtooth Fire - June 6, 2020 Morning Update

Acres: 24,729 acres                           Percent Containment: 57%
Start Date: May 30, 2020                Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Superstition Wilderness, two miles Northeast of Peralta Trailhead, Tonto National Forest
Jurisdiction: Arizona State Lands, private land, Tonto National Forest, including portions of the Superstition Wilderness
Fuels: Tall grass and heavy brush
Resources: Approximately 399 personnel

Firefighters Focus on Suppression Repair Efforts

The success of yesterday's operations has brought containment up to 57%. Minimal fire activity occurred throughout the day and crews were able to make progress on securing the fire perimeter. Isolated showers moved through the area but did not provide any significant moisture over the fire area.

Suppression repair efforts have become a priority on the Sawtooth Fire as containment has increased. Firefighters will continue to work to increase containment, go direct where safely possible, and mitigate hot spots as needed. Resources assigned to the incident will respond to any new fires in the area and the Incident Management Team will begin releasing resources to make them available to respond to new incidents throughout the Southwest.

Thunderstorms have moved out of the area, bringing in slightly cooler temperatures. Expect hot and dry weather for the area with the possibility of strong winds. No precipitation is forecasted for the day.

During the morning briefing, Incident Commander Alan Sinclair thanked the crews assigned to the fire. He noted that it’s hot out there and it can be tough working in the desert. Fires have been resistant to control and that’s why a Type 1 Incident Management Team has been brought in. New fires in the area have the ability to move fast due to the increased grass crop from this past winter's wet weather.

This morning’s video update is available on https://www.facebook.com/SawtoothFireInfo/videos/ No account is required to view. 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. Then you can click on the video to play it.

There are no evacuations in effect. Ready, Set, Go! is a nationwide program that educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency and actions to follow when communities are threatened. Register for emergency alerts at https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.

A closure order is in place for the Tonto National Forest for the Peralta Trailhead and surrounding area. You can view the entire closures order at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6730/51815/.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. Visit https://firerestrictions.us/az/ for more information.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Information: (928) 351-7596 (6:00 am to 10:00 pm) Media Line: (928) 351-7618 
Email: 2020.sawtooth@firenet.gov 
Facebook: fb.me/SawtoothFireInfo 
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6730/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SawtoothFire

The June 6 Video Update is available to view at

https://www.facebook.com/SawtoothFireInfo/videos/710137826482425/?v=710137826482425
 
Video with captions available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa6m5s8OvSEmwIIMcK6Ugrg
 
Click below to open a pdf of the video transcript 
 

>>SPEAKER: HI, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS BRAD PITASSI, AND I AM A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE SOUTHWEST AREA TYPE I INCIDENT MANAGEMENT. TEAM ONE. AND INCIDENT COMMANDER, ALAN SINCLAIR. THIS MORNING IS SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH, AND I WANTED TO INVITE EVERYBODY FOR A QUICK BRIEFING THIS MORNING. SO TRADITIONALLY YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM THE OPERATIONAL SECTION CHIEF WHICH HAS BEEN EXPLAINING THE FIRE. AND TODAY WE WILL GET INTO MORE DEPTH. SO WE WILL HEAR FROM AIR OPERATION CHIEF AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE UNIQUE AIRCRAFT AS WELL AS OUR COMMENTS FROM INCIDENT COMMANDER. AND FROM THAT IMPLICATIONS AND INTRODUCE RALPH LUCAS.

>>SPEAKER RALPH LUCAS: ALL RIGHT GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE. AND I WILL EXPLAIN THE FIRE TOO, BUT I AM WITH THE OPERATIONAL SECTION LIKE BRAD SAID AND THIS IS WHAT THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING. AND SO IT IS OUR TASK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE, AND HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO THEIR JOB AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF FIRE. I WILL EXPLAIN THE FIRE ON THE MAP FOR YOU SO IT WILL MAKE SENSE. AND THERE IS A LOT ON IT THAT COULD BE CONFUSING.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THE AREA.   WE HAVE THE APACHE JUNCTION FROM THE METRO SECTION OF PHOENIX. AND THIS THE MIDLINE FROM THE SUPERSTITION THAT YOU SEE FROM THE HOME, AND THIS IS THE FIRE, AND THE FIRE'S IMPRINT WHICH WE WILL CALL THE PERIMETER AND THE LINES MARKED IN BLACK, WE WILL CALL SECURE LINES AND THE LINES MARKED IN RED ARE THE ONES THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON. AND SO WE BREAK FIRES UP INTO CHUNKS. AND WE PUT A NAME AND THEY ARE A LETTER IN THE ALPHABET. SO FROM HERE TO HERE, WE WILL MAKE THAT CHUNK A. WHICH IS WE CALL THE DIVISION AND THAT IS DIVISION ALPHA. AND SO ON AROUND THE FIRE. SO IF YOU HEAR THEM REFERRING TO CERTAIN LETTERS THAT IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. THAT IS HOW I WILL START.

SO I WILL START WITH THE DIVISION A, OR ALPHA. AND WHAT THE CREW HAS BEEN DOING HERE IS SECURING THE FIRELINE AND MAKING SURE IT IS VERY SECURE ESPECIALLY TO THE SOUTH. AND THE REASON WHY WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HERE BECAUSE THIS IS CLOSE TO YOUR COMMUNITY. AND IT IS IN BLACK AS YOU CAN SEE. AND THIS IS WHAT WE WILL SECURE THE LINE AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR ENROLLMENT AND WE ARE USING TRENDING TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO UAS OR DRONES. AND MONITORING THIS SIDE OF THE FIRE. AND AS YOU GO THROUGH THE TRAILHEAD THROUGH PERALTA ROAD, THIS FIRELINE WE WORKED A LOT HERE IN RECENT DAYS AND BEEFED UP THIS LINE FROM FIRE RETARDANT  ‑‑  THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE FROM THE SUPERSTITIOUS FROM YOUR HOMES. AND THESE ARE FROM THE CHUNKS AND THEY ARE UP THERE TRAIL. AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THAT YOU ARE ON THE GROUND AND FROM THE AIRPLANE OR WATER ON THE GROUND AND THE FIRE DOES GO OUT AND SOMETIMES IT DOES. BUT WE HAVE TO BACK THAT UP OF WHAT WE CALL THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. AND THIS FIRE HERE IS THE MAIN CONCERN IN THE EARLY DAYS BECAUSE THE FIRE MOVED OFF TO THE NORTH TO THE WEST BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THAT WITH RETARDANT AND THIS IT IS HARD TO SEE FROM YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN BUT YOU MIGHT SEE A LIGHTLY SHADED AREA HERE. IT IS ATTACHED, AND IT IS IN A BIT OF A BLUE CUBE. WHAT THAT IS, THAT IS THE OLD WOODBURY FIRE AND THIS BUMPED INTO THAT FIRE WHICH WAS GOOD BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY IT WENT OUT WHEN WE GOT TO THE WOODBURY FIRE.

SO THIS WHOLE AREA IS NOT A CONCERN OF OURS SO IT IS GOING INTO ROCKS AND MINERAL DIRT AND MINERAL SOIL. SO GOING AROUND THE EAST SIDE OF THE FIRE THIS IS THE DIVISION WHISKEY.

W. AND THERE IS ISSUES AND THERE IS ISSUES IN EARLIER DAYS AND A FEW HOT SPOTS. AND SLOW BURNING STUMPS LIKE THAT, AND WE HAVE ONE SPECIFICALLY TO A 60‑ACRE AREA THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. BUT WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH DRONES AND PUT SOME HOTSHOTS ON THE GROUND, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THAT. AND SO THIS IS FROM THE VALLEY. AND THAT IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD. AND WE HAVE HOTSHOT CREWS UP HERE FOR DAYS. AND SO THAT IS THE UPDATE ON THE SAWTOOTH FIRE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON‑LINE.

THANK YOU.

>> I AM SEAN COX, AND THIS I WILL SLOW IT DOWN HERE. AND SO WE WILL START WITH THE HIGHEST AIRCRAFT THAT WE NORMALLY SEE. AND REFERENCE THAT ON THE RADIO CALL. AND AIR ATTACK FUNCTIONS IN A DIFFERENT AREAS OF MAP. AND FIRST OFF NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS AIRSPACE AND AIRSPACE SAFETY AND FOR THE TANKERS. AND AIR ATTACK HAS THAT EYE IN THE SKY AND YOU CAN COORDINATE WITH THE DIVISION GROUP SUPERVISORS AND TO OPERATION SECTION CHIEF. AND SO AS YOU GO DOWN, AND SOMETHING YOU SAW IN THE SAWTOOTH FIRE IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS IS THE AIR TANKERS AND SO THE FOREST SERVICE CONTACTS  ‑‑  WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE ASSETS OUT HERE ASSISTING WITH THE GROUND FIREFIGHTERS TO APPLY RETARDANT AND RETARD THE FIRE.

SO AS WE MOVE ON DOWN TOWARD THAT SAC AND THE AIRSPACE, AND WE HAVE TWO FUNCTIONS AND THE ONE THAT IS NOT COMMON  ‑‑  OUR HELICOPTERS ARE DIVIDED IN THESE CATEGORIES AND TYPE I AND THEY CARRY THE BIGGEST VOLUME OF WATER. AND SO TWO HAVE BUCKETS AT 1800 GALLONS AND DOWN TO THE ICS TYPE II HELICOPTERS AND THIS CONSIST OF MEDIUM HELICOPTERS THAT CAN DO ALL TYPES OF FUNCTIONS FROM TWO TRANSPORT FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO THE DISCIPLINE MISSION IN CARGO AND IT IS ALL USE, ALL APPLICATION TYPE AIRCRAFT, AND IT CAN CARRY MORE FIREFIGHTERS. AND AS WE MOVE ON DOWN TO OUR TYPE III ICS HELICOPTERS AND THEY ARE THE SMALLEST ONES AND THEY HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION AS OUR TYPE II HELICOPTERS AND SO WE HAVE ONE HAVE THOSE AIRCRAFT THAT IS AVAILABLE TO  ‑‑  THEY ARE ADJACENT TO THE FIRE AREA AND THEY NEED TO BE RAPIDLY DISTRACTED AND SO THEY CAN GET SOME MEDICAL TREATMENT AT A LOCAL TRAUMA CENTER. 

ONE THING THAT WE ARE USING IN THIS FIRE, AND WE HAVE FOUR DRONES. SO THE FOREST SERVICE HAS BEEN SEEKING THIS TECHNOLOGY. AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT COST REDUCTION BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE ARE REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FLIGHTS AND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN THERE AND THE POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS  ‑‑  WE ARE GETTING ALL KINDS OF IMAGERY AND HELPING OUT WITH OUR RESOURCE ADVISOR AND ET CETERA. THIS IS A UNIQUE FEATURE AND CAPABILITY THAT WE HAVE ON THIS FIRE RIGHT NOW.

SO AS WE CONTINUE ON THROUGH THE REST OF THE FIRE SEASON, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO CONTINUE AND AS WE GET TOGETHER AND YOU WILL SEE HOW YOU AND THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYER WHO AND HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE FOR NOW RIGHT. AND I WILL LOOK IN THE CHAT BOX RIGHT NOW. AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND NOW WE WILL TALK TO OUR INCIDENT COMMANDER. 

>> I AM ALAN SINCLAIR, AND SO WE ARE COMING FROM THE JURISDICTION AND THE CURRENT FIRE IN THE ARIZONA STATE LAND AND THERE IS ONE TONTO NATIONAL MONUMENT AND THOSE LEADERS WILL ASSIGN DELEGATION TO ME TO ASSUME COMMAND OF THE FIRE. AND THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WITH THE INITIAL RESOURCES AND THE TYPE TEAM THAT WAS BROUGHT IN SET US UP FOR SUCCESS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATION AND INTERACT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE IS BEING CONTAINED. AND NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN VERY ACTIVE OVER THE LAST PASSED SEVERAL DAYS, BUT THERE IS STILL A THREAT OUT THERE. BUT I KNOW ABOUT THESE  ‑‑  IT IS A WILD PARK, AND WE HAVE GOT  ‑‑  THIS IS CAUSING LARGE FIRE GROWTH. AND THE GRASS CROP HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRES TO SPREAD RAPIDLY.

SO WE ARE VERY ENGAGED IN THIS FIRE FIGHTING OUT HERE. SO HERE THIS IS A SPECIAL FIRE FOR ME AND I RESIDENCE HERE AND THIS IS APACHE JUNCTION AND SO WE NEED TO KNOW THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE ENGAGED AND I KNOW IT IS VERY WELL THAT IS DIFFICULT. AND SO I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS  ‑‑  THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE OUT THERE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BUT THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH IT. AND WE WERE ASKED TO KEEP THIS FIRE SMALL. AND THE CREWS HAVE DONE THAT, SO WE ARE ENGAGED, AND THE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING PROTECTED, AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE BEING KEPT SAFE. AND WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: ALL RIGHT THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING THE AMAZING WORK FOR THE SAWTOOTH FIRE. SO FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND WE WILL POST THE REST OF OUR CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE BOX BELOW. AND WE HAVE PIO'S THAT ARE MONITORING THIS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU. SO AGAIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND ONE MORE THING ALAN WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR FOLKS FROM ARIZONA PROGRAM AND THEY ARE DOING THE CAPTIONING.

>> SPEAKER: EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND AND STAY HYDRATED AND TAKE CARE.

THANK YOU!

 Fire Update Video for Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Operations Section Chief Trainee Ralph Lucas gives updates on worked performed yesterday and the plan for today. Fire Update Video

Sawtooth Fire - June 5, 2020 Morning Update

Acres: 24, 729 acres Percent              Containment: 42%
Start Date: May 30, 2020                  Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Superstition Wilderness, two miles Northeast of Peralta Trailhead, Tonto National Forest
Jurisdiction: Arizona State Lands, private land, Tonto National Forest, including portions of the Superstition Wilderness
Fuels: Tall grass and heavy brush
Resources: Approximately 380 personnel

High Winds, Lightning Possible Today

Little fire activity was reported Thursday and containment has increased to 42%. Firefighters continue to secure the perimeter. Most of the containment is on the northeast side of the fire, where the Sawtooth Fire has burned into an area that burned last year during the Woodbury Fire. The majority of activity yesterday was in the Weavers Needle area. Helicopters dropped buckets of water to help cool hotspots. Firefighters are continuing to secure firelines, including searching for and put out hot spots near fire’s perimeter. Firefighters will continue to secure firelines today in anticipation of the significant change in weather this afternoon.

One of the aerial support tools firefighters have been using for a variety of tasks during this incident are Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS or drones). UAS have many capabilities including gathering images and video and patrolling areas inaccessible to firefighters or larger aircraft. While this technology does not replace the need for large aircraft and helicopters, it does lower the risk to our crews both in the air and on the ground. These UAS Operators are qualified and have constant communications with other fire aircraft.

The possibility of strong, gusty winds, and lightning later today could be a critical test of the work done by firefighters this week on the Sawtooth Fire. Wind gusts of up to 30 miles an hour are possible. Strong wind may fan lingering pockets of burning logs and brush and if embers land among new fuel sources, such as dry grass, and renewed fire activity is possible.

Dry lightning is also possible. “If lightning strikes in a receptive fuel bed, firefighters can expect to see very active fire behavior right away,” according to Fuel Behavior Analyst Stewart Turner. Resources assigned to the Sawtooth Fire are available to respond to new fires in the immediate area and will be ready to do so quickly today. Please help firefighters help you by being extremely careful with anything that might cause a fire. Today’s smoke outlook is available on the web at https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/.

There are no evacuations in effect. The three steps encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to GO, evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening. Register for emergency alerts at https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.

A closure order is in place for the Tonto National Forest for the Peralta Trailhead and surrounding area. You can view the entire closures order at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6730/51815/.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. Visit https://firerestrictions.us/az/ for more information.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

 Sawtooth Fire - June 4, 2020 Morning Update

Acres:   24,600 acres (based on infrared flight)                                 Percent Containment or Completion: 8%
Start Date: May 30, 2020                                                                           Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Superstition Wilderness, two miles Northeast of Peralta Trailhead, Tonto National Forest
Jurisdiction: Arizona State Lands, private land, Tonto National Forest, including portions of the Superstition Wilderness
Fuels: Tall grass and heavy brush
Resources: 391 personnel including hand crews, engines, water tenders, and helicopters

Firefighters Continue Full Suppression Efforts

Firefighters are fully suppressing the Sawtooth Fire to protect nearby communities and other values at risk in the area.  Firefighter and public safety is our number one priority.

Yesterday minimal, creeping, backing fire was observed. Sparse fuels helped to limit fire spread. With limited wind, fire activity is expected to be low to moderate again today. An excessive heat warning remains in effect today.  As temperatures warm, fire activity is most likely to occur where fuels and topography align.

The most active part of the fire is in steep, rocky terrain in the Weavers Needle area on the northwest side of the fire. Firefighters are constructing indirect line in the Toe of Slope area and along the Peralta Trail and identifying holding opportunities should the fire grow to the north and west.

Yesterday helicopters dropped water to successfully cool pockets of heat on the east side of the fire.  On the southeast side of the fire, the Queen Valley and Elephant Butte areas are in mop-up and patrol status.  A heavy helicopter also helped reinforce firelines on the southwest side of the fire.

Today firefighters will continue to use a range of direct and indirect tactics where they can do so effectively. The goal is to keep the fire from moving west and south, as well as keep the fire east of the main Superstition ridegelines, west of Forest Road 172, and out of Elephant Butte and Queen Valley.

On Friday, strong gusty 25-30 mph winds from the southwest are expected. There is a chance of Isolated, scattered thunderstorms, with the potential for dry lighting and outflow winds. Firefighters are prepared to respond to increased fire activity and new starts in the area as needed.

The precautionary GO status for residents in Queen Valley has been lifted. There are no evacuations in effect at this time. Visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go for Ready, Set, Go and county emergency notification system information.

A closure order is in place for the Tonto National Forest for the Peralta Trailhead and surrounding area.  You can view the entire closures order at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6730/51815/.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. Visit https://firerestrictions.us/az/ for more information.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Information: (928) 351-7596 (6:00 am to 10:00 pm)   Media Line: (928) 351-7618 
Email: 2020.sawtooth@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6730/ (Air Quality info, County Emergency Alert sign-up link, Firewise tips)
Facebook: fb.me/SawtoothFireInfo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SawtoothFire

As of June 4, 2020 at 8:00am, Sawtooth Fire evacuations have been lifted for Queen Valley.  

Evacuation orders are put in place by the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Learn more by visiting the following sites:
 
-Pinal County Sheriff's Office Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PinalCountySO/ or Twitter @PinalCSO 
-Sign up for the Pinal County Emergency Alert System for future notifications https://member.everbridge.net/892807736724089/login 
-Pinal County Emergency Management  https://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/emergencymanagement/pages/home.aspx