Residents around the Wallow Fire endure smoke, face threats of flooding
Smoke from ongoing wildfires continues to impact residents in the Wallow Fire area in eastern Arizona. In southwest New Mexico and Apache County workers and local fire departments have begun identifying locations for staging of sandbags in anticipation of the monsoon season.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for local residents of the Blue River community, but now there are other concerns.
At 528,043 acres, the Wallow Fire burned vast portions of the White Mountains, including areas of steep terrain which will make numerous areas vulnerable to flash flooding and debris flows even for moderate intensity rains. Of the total acreage, the Wallow Fire burned 15,407 acres in New Mexico. The threat continues to structures in the Blue area and structure protection and patroling of the fire line and for hot spots continues in the vicinity of Luna, New Mexico.
Some area streams and rivers are likely to have flows beyond anything seen in decades if typical or above average rains occur. Area roadways may become impassible due to mud, rock, and debris slides or due to streams and washes overwhelming existing culverts and bridges.
Elk continue to create a hazard on the roads and highways near the fire, especially at night and early morning. Several accidents involving motorists and elk have been reported.
Road and forest closures still exist as listed below:
Smoke from ongoing wildfires continues to impact residents in the Wallow Fire area in eastern Arizona. In southwest New Mexico and Apache County workers and local fire departments have begun identifying locations for staging of sandbags in anticipation of the monsoon season.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for local residents of the Blue River community, but now there are other concerns.
At 528,043 acres, the Wallow Fire burned vast portions of the White Mountains, including areas of steep terrain which will make numerous areas vulnerable to flash flooding and debris flows even for moderate intensity rains. Of the total acreage, the Wallow Fire burned 15,407 acres in New Mexico. The threat continues to structures in the Blue area and structure protection and patroling of the fire line and for hot spots continues in the vicinity of Luna, New Mexico.
Some area streams and rivers are likely to have flows beyond anything seen in decades if typical or above average rains occur. Area roadways may become impassible due to mud, rock, and debris slides or due to streams and washes overwhelming existing culverts and bridges.
Elk continue to create a hazard on the roads and highways near the fire, especially at night and early morning. Several accidents involving motorists and elk have been reported.
Road and forest closures still exist as listed below:
- US 191 between Alpine north of Clifton (mileposts 176-253)
- SR 261 (mileposts 395-413) and SR 273 (mileposts 383-394) to Big Lake and Crescent Lake
- All forest roads and private facilities inside road closures are unavailable to the public.
- Springerville, Alpine, and Clifton Ranger Districts in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest remain closed.
- A closure order is still in effect for portions of the Sitgreaves side of the national forest.
- In the Gila National Forest closure is in effect for the western portion
- Partial closures are in effect for the east side of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
Fourth of July fireworks at Sunrise Ski and Resort area are cancelled.
Firefighters continue the battle
The fire continues to back downhill into Strayhorse Creek and Blue Canyon and firefighters are battling the blaze in the southeast portion in the Blue River Drainage and are attempting to keep the fire south of Forest Road 205 and west of Dry Blue Creek and the Blue River north of Forest Road 475 north and east of US 191. Temperatures continue to be high nearing 98 degrees on Sunday. There was a slight chance of a thunderstorm and precipitation on Sunday.
Officials Focus on Post-Fire Impacts and Mitigation Opportunities
Impacted Households Urged to Buy Flood Insurance Ahead of Monsoon Rains
PHOENIX— The Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is coordinating with tribal, federal, state and local agencies to identify threats and potential impacts that monsoon rains may have on the communities in the Wallow, Horseshoe Two and Monument fire areas.
“Wildfires can alter the ability of the ground to absorb rainfall leaving communities that previously did not experience flooding now at risk,” said ADEM Director Lou Trammell. “We are working to identify which communities are at risk and provide that information to the counties and communities so they can address mitigation of these potential flood areas.”
A post-fire flood mitigation task force was formed earlier this month to discuss how to evaluate the threat to fire damaged watersheds, average monsoon rainfall in the areas affected, the placement of rain gauges to monitor water flow, protective measures for critical infrastructure and evaluate existing flood warning systems. The chief concern of task for members is the need for outreach to at-risk communities about the importance of being prepared and adequately insured.
Members of the task force include representatives from San Carlos Apache Tribe; the Arizona departments of Environmental Quality, Game and Fish, and Water Resources; the State Forestry Division; the Arizona National Guard; the National Weather Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Homeland Security; FEMA; the federal bureaus of Indian Affairs and Reclamation; the U.S. Forest Service; and local governments.
Data models (debris flow, ash flow, watershed) created cooperatively by experts in such fields as hydrology, geology, forestry and civil engineering will be shared with at-risk communities. In turn, these communities will lead the planning for flood mitigation and response.
Many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage, but most agents who sell homeowner’s insurance also sell federal flood insurance policies. Detailed information about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is available online at www.FloodSmart.gov or at the NFIP referral center at (888) 379-9531. It takes 30 days for an NFIP policy to go into effect.
Although the flood risk of an area might increase, insurance premiums do not. Rates are based on flood maps that do not immediately change after a fire event. Home and property owners can learn their level of flood risk at www.FloodSmart.gov.
Visit the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AzEIN) website at www.AzEIN.gov for real-time emergency updates, preparedness and hazard information, and multimedia resources.
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