Community meeting tonight for Crown King residents

 

Gladiator Fire

May 16, 2012 @ 8:30 am

Size:     approximately 2,000 acres                   Containment:     5%

Cause:     Human Caused; originated from a structure fire on private property  

Time/Date Started:    Sunday, May 13 @11:00am

Location:     Community of Crown King (T10N, R1W, S14)

Jurisdiction: Private property and the Prescott National Forest

Fuels:     Ponderosa pine and chaparral

Values at Risk: The community of Crown King and the Horsethief Basin.  Additional threats are posed to Forest Service campgrounds, lookout towers, communications sites, power lines and historic sites within the forest.

Terrain:     Steep, rugged, difficult access  

Resources:     3 Type-1 Crews, 4 Type-2 Crews, 11 Engines, 3 Type-1 Helicopters, 1 Type-3 Helicopter, 6 Type-1 Airtankers, Air Attack

Total no. of personnel:  462                           Injuries to date:  3

A community meeting is planned for Wednesday, May 16 at 6:00 pm at the Mayer High School, 17300 E. Mule Deer Drive, Spring Valley, AZ.   

Forecasted drier weather and associated strong winds continue to complicate suppression efforts.  Winds from the southeast and south are expected to push the fire north and northwest today.  Fire behavior is expected to be extreme. Firefighters continue working to suppress the fire and provide structure protection to homes.  Firefighting resources will focus on perimeter control when they can do so safely.  Crews are also working to protect structures and communication sites west of the fire.  In areas where direct attack is not feasible, they will focus on protecting individual structures ahead of the fire.

An Evacuation Order remains in effect for the community of Crown King. 

The Evacuation Center for residents of Crown King is at:  Mayer High School, 17300 E. Mule Deer Drive; Spring Valley, AZ. Red Cross personnel can be reached at 928-237-6751.

Yavapai County fire ban in effect across all fire ban zones:  Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern.  The following are prohibited:

·        All open fires and campfires.

·        Other types of outdoor fires that produce open flames such as lamp oil in tiki lamps.

·        Fireworks and other pyrotechnic displays.

·        Outdoor use of equipment that generates open flames or a spark. This restricts the use of welding equipment and chain saws. 

Prescott National Forest Campfire and Smoking Restrictions and Closure Order are in effect, they are as follows:

• Campfires, charcoal grills, and stove fires (wood, charcoal, and coal burning) are prohibited on all Prescott National Forest lands, roads, and trails; except within developed recreation sites where grills and campfire rings are provided (Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed).
• Smoking is prohibited except within enclosed vehicles, buildings, or developed recreation sites where the area is cleared of all flammable material.
• Campfires are not allowed at the designated dispersed sites within the Prescott Basin.  Metal posts identify designated dispersed sites with a number.

A Closure Order is in effect for all Prescott National Forest land south of County Road 177.

• Road Closures:  All roads leading into the community of Crown King are closed.
• Cleator – Crown King Road (County Road 59) is closed at Cleator. 
• Senator Highway to Crown King (County Road 52) is closed at Goodwin. 
• Forest Road 192 is closed. 
• Forest Road 711 is closed at the southern boundary of the Forest.

Visibility is an excellent measure of air quality.  If visibility is ten miles or more, the air quality is good.  Visibility of six to nine miles indicates moderate air quality.  Three to five miles of visibility indicates conditions unhealthy for sensitive groups.  One and a half to two and a half miles, the air quality is unhealthy.  One to one and a quarter miles indicates the air quality is very unhealthy.  If visibility due to smoke is less than a mile, the air quality is hazardous.  Smoke sensitive persons in affected areas may need to take action to mitigate the conditions.  Remaining indoors, using air conditioning or temporarily moving to an unaffected area may be necessary.

For more smoke information and air quality forecasts, please visit the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website at  http://www.azfireinfo.com/links.asp#Smoke .

The public can obtain fire information via the following:

• Gladiator Fire Incident Website: http://www.inciweb.org
• Fire Information Center: Information officers are available to provide fire information and media interviews at the Mayer High School.  They can be reached at (505) 235-4213 from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm.
• Prescott National Forest Fire Information Hotline: 928-777-5799 (recorded message)
• Prescott National Forest Web Site: www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott
• Arizona Fire Information & Restrictions: Call toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit http://wildlandfire.az.gov.