Poco Fire Grows to 3,700 Acres
YOUNG,
Ariz. – The fire was very active Monday with large plumes of smoke
visible in the afternoon. Gusty winds challenged firefighting efforts
as the fire moved into Saunders Canyon and spotted over Forest Road
128. Helicopters and air tankers were used to assist firefighters
working to slow the spread of the fire.
Overnight,
firefighters burned out from firelines to secure the northwest corner
of the fire. Crews will hold firelines today and plan additional
burnouts tonight as conditions allow. The public may see smoke along
the Mogollon Rim from Payson to Heber from time to time.
The
fire remains a threat to the twin 500 kV electrical transmission lines
that provide energy to Phoenix and Tucson Metro areas. In order
to protect the power lines, firefighters are constructing and
reinforcing fireline east of the fire in anticipation of a planned
burnout operation between the FR 128 and FR 102 when conditions are
appropriate.
Incident
Commander Matt Reidy said, “We are pleased that firefighters continue
to work safely as they aggressively suppress the fire.”
The fire is now 3,700 acres and containment remains at 15%.
There are 704 personnel on scene
consisting of 11 hotshot crews, six twenty-person crews, 24 engines,
four dozers, 14 water tenders, and four helicopters. Crews are here
from Arizona, California, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and
Montana.
A
community meeting was held in Young Monday night and over 100 people
attended. Fire officials provided an update and answered questions.
Forest
Road 512 remains closed between FR 291 and FR 200 (Chamberlin Trail).
In addition, a portion of the ranger district is closed east
of FR 200, south of FR 291 and north of FR 512.
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