Horton Fire Daily Update

December 21, 2024

Size: 604 acres 
Cause: Under Investigation 
Containment: 0% 
Total personnel: 148 
Start Date: December 14, 2024 
Location: Payson Ranger District, Arizona 
Fuels: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, chaparral

Highlights: The Horton Fire is currently 604 acres with 0% containment

On Friday, the fire progressed across the top of east Horton drainage below Forest Road 764. Crews conducted firing operations from Forest Road 9305 to Forest Road 9310 to prevent fire from crossing Forest Road 300. Heavy equipment operators also established bulldozer line near Horton Creek to improve access for medical personnel and firefighters working in the Horton trail area.  

Today, firefighters will monitor activity and continue prepping along Forest Road 300, conducting hand ignitions as needed. The fire is expected to experience moderate growth in east Horton drainage and onto Promontory Point. If needed, firefighters will conduct additional firing operations, burning along Forest Road 300 and Forest Road 764 to stay even with the fire edge. Crews will prep Horton Trail and continue monitoring values at risk.

Weather: Long term forecasts call for dry conditions through Christmas eve with relative humidity in the low teens, temperature range of 30s to 60s and light winds. Increased humidity and light precipitation is forecasted for middle of next week.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Horton Fire is in effect from Dec. 18, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Horton Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The communities of Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, and Zane Grey Cabins remain in SET evacuation status. The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.

Smoke: Smoke from the Horton Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website at https://www.azdeq.gov/.

Information Links and Contacts:
Tonto National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto
InciWeb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-horton-fire-2024
Fire Email 2024.horton@firenet.gov
Fire Information Line (602)-551-7327 • Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

AIRPORT POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT TECHNICAL-WATERSHED RESPONSE REPORT RELEASED

The Forest Service—Cleveland National Forest completed a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) post-fire assessment and technical watershed response report for the Bridge burned area and affected watersheds to determine their response, soil conditions, potential threats. The report summarizes the post-fire watershed assessment and expected response.

NOTE: Attached below as “Related Information” is a PDF documents called “AirportBAER_PostFireTechnicalReport_FINAL”.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service websites: www.weather.gov/sgx/ and www.weather.gov/lox/.

Horton Fire Daily Update

December 20, 2024

Size: 520 acres 
Cause: Under Investigation 
Containment: 0% 
Total personnel: 140 
Start Date: December 14, 2024 
Location: Payson Ranger District, Arizona 
Fuels: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, chaparral

Highlights: The Horton Fire is currently at 520 acres, 0% containment and 140 personnel. 

An in-person community meeting is scheduled for at 6 p.m. today, Friday, Dec. 20, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 546 W Ashby Apple Dr., Payson, AZ 85541. Please note that this meeting will not be live-streamed.

Operations: Fire activity moderated yesterday, resulting in minimal growth. Today, firefighters will monitor activity and continue prepping along Forest Road 300, conducting hand ignitions as needed above the Western Fork of East Horton Creek. Crews will also begin assessing the area along State Route 260 and the powerline corridor toward Christopher Creek.

Weather: Long term forecasts call for dry conditions through Christmas Day with relative humidity in the low teens, temperature range of 30s to 60s and light winds.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Horton Fire is in effect from Dec. 18, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Horton Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The communities of Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, and Zane Grey Cabins remain in SET evacuation status. The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.

Smoke: Smoke from the Horton Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website at https://www.azdeq.gov/.

Information Links and Contacts:
Tonto National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto
InciWeb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-horton-fire-2024
Fire Email 2024.horton@firenet.gov
Fire Information Line (602)-551-7327 • Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Horton Fire Daily Update

December 19, 2024

Size: 500 acres 
Cause: Under Investigation 
Containment: 0% 
Total personnel: 122 
Start Date: December 14, 2024 
Location: Payson Ranger District, Arizona 
Fuels: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, chapparal

Highlights: The Horton Fire is currently at 500 acres, 0% containment and 122 personnel. 

On Wednesday, firefighters responded to a 10-acre spot fire across Highline Trail, west of Horton Springs. Ground and air resources worked to contain the spot fire quickly and successfully. The east flank of the fire remains very active, burning in steep and rugged terrain in a remote portion of the Mogollon Rim. An emergency closure order for the Horton Fire is in effect from Dec. 18, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Horton Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices. Additionally, the communities of Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, and Zane Grey Cabins remain in SET evacuation status.

Operations: Today, crews will prep along Horton Trail and continue holding existing fireline while scouting for additional contingency line opportunities. Firefighters are also cold trailing where needed, which is the process of identifying any remaining hot spots and digging them out to ensure the fire is completely out. The fire continues to be a full suppression fire where we have the highest likelihood of success. 

Temperatures will remain above average today, ranging from the mid-30s to upper-60s and smoke may also impact local communities and roadways. Residents and travelers are encouraged to maintain awareness as warm, dry and smoky conditions persist throughout the week. 

As a reminder, an in-person community meeting is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 546 W Ashby Apple Dr., Payson, AZ 85541. Please note that this meeting will not be live-streamed.

Weather: Long term forecasts call for dry conditions through Christmas Day with relative humidity in the low teens, temperature range of 30s to 60s and light winds. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low ranging from 25-30 degrees. North/northeast winds at 10mph. 

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area. 

Smoke: Smoke from the Horton Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website. 

For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow along on Facebook @TontoNationalForest, ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) @TontoForest or Instagram @tontonationalforest and on the Tonto National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto

Conditions permitting, the Superior Ranger District will conduct pile burning today to reduce the fuel loading created from the Second Chance Timber Sale. 

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 20 acres of piles located 7 miles southeast of Superior in the Westfall Creek (Second Chance) drainage on Forest Service Road 536.  Approximately 2.5 miles of Forest Service Road 536 will be impassible for a short duration during burn operations. Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90 and to Second Creek/ Lozeau area residents.

Prescribed fire is implemented in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the appropriate county health departments to minimize the impacts of smoke.

As a result of the Horton Fire, The Gila County Sheriff's has issued a “SET” status on the Ready, Set, Go model for the following areas of the FS RD 289 Corridor.

Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Rim Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, and Zane Gray Cabins.

Although these communities are not immediately threatened, the SET notification is a preparatory measure.

SET – Be Alert

Know there is significant danger in your area.

• • Residents should consider voluntarily relocating with family/friends outside the affected area. Residents
• should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations
• when relocating.
• • Grab your emergency go kit.
• • Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.
• • 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.

For more information go to https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

To receive emergency notifications from Gila County go to: Readygila.com/alertswarnings

In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Grand County, Sulphur Ranger District AND Larimer County, Canyon Lakes Ranger District - Week of Dec 16 to Dec 23, 2024

Grand County: Fire managers are monitoring conditions for additional pile burning in Sulphur Ranger District, with the next possibile ignitions window starting on Tuesday, December 17, at the following Grand County location:

Fair Unit: Hand and Machine piles, located near Fair Tracts, east of Tabernash along Water Board Road (FSR 128).

Note: Several sections of the Fair Unit were already successfully burned the weeks of November 12th and December 9th.

_______

Larimer County: Fire managers plan to burn piles on Canyon Lakes Ranger District starting as early as tomorrow, Tuesday Dec 17, if conditions allow. The potential unit planned for this week is as follows:

Killpecker: Machine Piles. 4 miles south of County Road 86 along FSR 300, near North Bald Mountain.

Note: This is a small unit, and there is no polygon for this mapped location. Clicking on the link above will provide the location of the pile burn on the InciWeb map with no polygon.

AIRPORT POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT REPORT SUMMARY RELEASED

The Forest Service—Cleveland National Forest completed a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) post-fire assessment of the Airport burned area and affected watersheds to determine their response, soil conditions, potential threats, and recommended BAER emergency stabilization measures and actions on National Forest System (NFS) lands. BAER emergency treatments and activities are designed to decrease possible impacts to critical values from the burned areas during rainstorm events such as: human life and safety, property, critical natural resources, and cultural resources.

NOTE: Attached below as “Related Information” is a PDF documents called “Airport Post-Fire BAER Assessment Report Summary_PUBLIC”.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service websites: www.weather.gove/sgx/ and www.weather.gov/lox/.

Rocky Mountain National Park News Release
December 6, 2024
For Immediate Release
Kyle Patterson 970-586-1363

Rocky Mountain National Park Announces Plans for Either Pile Burning or a Prescribed Burn on Monday, December 9, 2024

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and fuels conditions early next week, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to burn either a 60-acre section of the Headquarters Prescribed Fire Unit or conduct a pile burning operation near Wild Basin which will be visible from Highway 7 beginning on Monday, December 9, 2024. Fire managers will be actively monitoring weather and fuels conditions between now and Monday morning to determine which fire operation will take place.

Last month, NPS fire staff worked with several partner agencies to burn 100 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Prescribed Fire Unit. If conditions remain favorable, the 60 acres the park plans to burn next week make up the second section of this unit. Fire managers would burn in an area located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and south of U.S. Highway 36. Because of the fuel type that will be burned, which include mainly grasses and small shrubs, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation.

If fire managers decide that conditions are more conducive for a pile burning operation, the park plans to burn up to 500 slash piles located inside Rocky Mountain National Park near the Wild Basin area in the southern part of the park. Slash from several fuels reduction and hazard tree removal projects have been cut and piled by park fire crews and contractors over the last two years. These piles are now dry enough to burn. Pile burning operations only occur when weather and conditions allow. 

The primary goal of both of these burn operations is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and to NPS infrastructure by reducing the amount of fuels available on the landscape. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fires and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in stopping both fires from crossing Bear Lake and Trail Ridge Roads.

If conditions are favorable for a prescribed fire, ignitions are planned to occur on Monday, December 9. Firefighters will be on scene for the duration of either operation and will patrol throughout the day and overnight.

Fire operations near the Beaver Meadows Entrance to RMNP may cause delays or road closures. If closures take place, inbound and outbound traffic will be divered through Fall River Entrance. Motorists should watch for fire vehicles on the roads and allow extra time for entering and exiting the park. Additional information will be shared on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cormp-front-country-prescribed-fire and on RMNP’s official social media channels. NPS staff will be available at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to answer questions.

For the safety of visitors and firefighters, park visitors will not be allowed to stop along U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area. Visitors will also not be able to walk within the burn area.

Smoke from either burn operation may be visible both inside and outside the park. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the adjacent community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park.

Smoke may affect your health: For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability and environmental regulations are continually monitored as part of any fire management operation. For more information, contact the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

- NPS -