Sept. 16, 2024: West Fire still at zero containment
Efforts to put out multiple fires in the Tonto National Forest continue, though the Preacher Fire is now more than 60% contained.
There’s nearly 500 personnel working on the West Fire with zero percent containment.
Firefighters are using many tactics to control the blaze, including setting ignitions on the West Fire to consume hazardous fuels and overgrowth.
“Smoke levels should diminish within the next couple of days due to the moisture that we should be receiving. So everyone will get a little reprieve from that," said Annette Disert with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.
Disert says residents near the West Fire are set for evacuation orders while those near the Preacher Fire have a lesser warning to remain ready.
Sept. 11, 2024: West and Preacher fires zero percent contained
The West and Preacher fires burning near Payson are still zero percent contained, Tonto National Forest officials said Wednesday morning.
Officials said residents are noticing more smoke in the area as crews work to battle the lightning-caused wildfires that started Aug. 28. Authorities recommend residents close their windows at night.
There have been no evacuations, but "some residents east of Payson near the Preacher Fire have been moved to SET status, and Geronimo Estates residents near the West Fire have also been placed in SET status," officials said Wednesday.
Land surrounding the West Fire, including Pine Trailhead, is closed.
As of Wednesday morning, the West Fire has burned more than 700 acres, and the Preacher Fire has burned more than 1,000 acres.
Sept. 8, 2024: 2 fires in the Payson Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest
Two fires are burning in the Payson Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest.
Crews are trying to put out the lightning-caused West Fire and Preacher Fire.
The West Fire has burned 46 acres while the Preacher Fire has burned three. Containment of the fires are zero-percent contained.
Brandalyn Vonk is a spokesperson with the complex incident management team.
“They're not too close. However, the fires are close enough that it does allow us to use resources and move them back and forth between the two fires to accomplish any operational needs that we may have," she said.
Vonk says people in the area are on a “Set” advisory, meaning there is no immediate threat but they should be prepared. The fires have not caused any damage to homes.
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