Bull Flat Fire update

                                               

10:00 p.m. May 16, 2012

Bull Flat Fire Update

Contact: Jonetta Trued, 520-400-1007                                             Website: www.inciweb.org

Email: eazfireteam@gmail.com                                                        Twitter: twitter.com/firescoop

Fire Facts

Date started: May 10, 2012	Number of personnel: 328
Location: Fort Apache Agency and Tonto NF	Equipment: 7 engines, 2 dozers, 2 water tenders
Cause: believed to be lightning, under investigation	Aircraft: 1 light and 1 heavy helicopter
Size: 1,900 acres
Percent contained: 50	Estimated containment date: May 25, 2012
Injuries to date: 0	Estimated cost to date: $1,586,987
Property threatened: none

Fire Activity: Interior islands of vegetation well inside Bull Flat Fire containment lines continue to burn out as the fire creeps through grass, brush and dead and down fuels. Crews were successful today in establishing fireline on the northeast corner of the perimeter and are conducting an overnight burnout operation along that line that will help to secure it. The burnout is expected to be finished tonight.

Closures/Restrictions and Advisories:  

• Tonto National Forest officials announced today a temporary closure due to the Bull Flat Fire. The closure order is effective beginning at 5 p.m. tonight. The closure boundary starts at the intersection of Forest Road (FR) 512 and FR 33 and follows FR 512 south to its intersection with FR 358, then following FR 358 east to its intersection with the forest boundary. The boundary then follows the forest boundary north and turns directly east to the intersection of FR 34 and FR 188, then follows FR 34 north to its intersection with FR 33 and follows FR 33 west to its intersection with FR 512.
• FR 512 and FR 33 will remain open for travel during this closure.
• The Tonto National Forest has also initiated Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. For more information regarding forest recreation sites and fire restrictions, please contact the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200, or check online at www.fs.usda.gov/tonto. 
• Residents and visitors in the Heber-Overgaard area may experience drift smoke from the Bull Flat fire along with other ongoing wildfires in the area. Those with respiratory challenges should take precautions. Smoke can also reduce visibility for motorists particularly during nighttime hours. The public is urged to drive cautiously in smoky conditions.

The fire is currently burning on lands administered by the Fort Apache Agency and the Pleasant Valley Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest.

Updates are also available by calling the 593 Public Information Line at 928-333-3412.