Jan. 12, 2025 - Horton Fire 80% contained
The Horton Fire continues to burn up in the Payson Ranger District with fire crews still working to contain the flames as of Sunday.
Containment efforts have slightly increased. The U.S. Forest Service says containment efforts are being enhanced along the State Route 260 corridor.
“We're reporting that the fire is at 8,346 acres, and that's due to updated mapping with the hand line. And we're at 80% contained," William Dudley with Southwest Team 1 said in an operational video update in Saturday.
The U.S. Forest Service says all communities have returned to a READY evacuation status.
Jan. 10, 2025 - Fire is halfway contained at more than 8,000 acres
The Horton Fire that began in mid-December is now more than halfway contained, and growth has halted after burning more than 8,000 acres northeast of Payson.
Fire officials say cold and wet weather conditions decreased fire behavior in recent days. Gila County has lowered their evacuation levels along the western containment line.
A public meeting and live stream is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.
Jan. 7, 2025 - Horton Fire doubles in size again to over 7,000 acres
The Horton Fire near Payson has doubled in size again, burning just over 7,000 acres, at nearly 20% containment. Some expressed frustration at a community meeting Monday, Jan. 6.
A team of fire experts told community members that the rough, remote terrain, dry winter and other weather conditions have hindered a swift containment of the fire that started Dec. 14.
While the fire is burning under some APS power lines, Incident Commander Carl Schwope says there are no planned outages.
"So still no plans to turn off any power during our operations. And as for evacuations we still don’t have any plans to go above the SET status to elevate anywhere above the SET status, as long as fire’s within our primary control lines," Schwope said.
Several communities are SET for evacuations, though Fire Behavior Analyst, Stewart Turner, says he’s not expecting flames to move past perimeter lines. But he warned of smoke, even with wet weather predicted this week.
“Those fine dead fuels are going to soak up that moisture, they’re not going to allow that spread. However those big fuels, the logs, the stumps, are still dry. They will continue to burn. That’s what’s going to be smoldering out there," Turner said.
He says crews will extinguish the stumps near the perimeter and let the rest burn themselves out.
“When that sun sets those are going to glow, and it’s going to be scary. But just know those crews are working that edge and keeping it well interior," Turner said.
The fire was determined to be human caused.
Experts are hoping the predicted snow and wet weather this week will help to control the flames.
Jan. 6, 2025 - Horton Fire doubles in size; some communities in SET evacuation status
The Horton Fire burning near Payson has nearly doubled in size over the weekend, without much progress being made to contain it. Now, some nearby communities are on evacuation watch.
At 3,598 acres burned, fire spokesperson Celeste Prescott said over the weekend it’s been stuck at the same containment level for several days, in part because of its challenging location.
"Not only is it very steep and nearly inaccessible terrain, but it’s also got a lot of heavy fuels on it, so it makes for a very, potentially dangerous situation for our firefighters to go in and go direct on this fire," Prescott said.
According to the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team, the following communities are in SET evacuation status: Christopher Creek, Hunter Creek, R-C Scout Camp, Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, Kohls Ranch and Zane Grey Cabins.
The fire is 17% contained.
"And then of course the heavy fuels that are in there. That area has not experienced fire for as long as we’ve been tracking fire history, so at least 150 years," Prescott said.
A public meeting is scheduled for Monday and will be live streamed on the Tonto National Forest Facebook page. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Jan. 4, 2025: Horton Fire remains at 17% containment for several days due to steep terrain
The Horton Fire burning near Payson continues to grow a bit without much progress being made to contain it.
The fire has scorched 1,518 acres and is 17% contained. Fire spokesperson Celeste Prescott said it’s been at 17% for several days, in part because of its challenging location.
“Not only is it very steep and nearly inaccessible terrain, but it’s also got a lot of heavy fuels on it, so it makes for a very, potentially dangerous situation for our firefighters to go in and go direct on this fire.”
She said that area has not experienced fire as long as they’ve been tracking fire history, at least 150 years. In some parts, it would take about six hours to get an injured firefighter out.
Crews have been dealing with low humidity and record 70-degree temperatures in Payson.
Jan. 2, 2025 - Horton Fire smoke could affect SR 260
ADOT is warning drivers that smoke from the Horton Fire could reduce visibility on State Route 260 between Kohl’s Ranch and Old Rim Road.
ADOT spokesman Steve Elliott says there aren’t really many detours for drivers concerned about the smoke, but there are things they can do to stay safe if they encounter it.
"We just want drivers to know if they’re in that area and they see there’s reduced visibility, just slow down, make sure your lights are on and proceed with caution," Elliott said.
Elliott says people can stay up to date on potential road closures and traffic conditions using AZ-511.
Jan. 1, 2025 - Containment has not increased since Friday
Nearly 250 firefighters are continuing to battle the Horton Fire near Payson. It is now burning 1,124 acres and it is 17% contained.
The fire started in mid-December. But very dry weather has persisted over the past few weeks, keeping fire risk elevated. Containment has not increased since Friday and officials say they expect the blaze to grow as it moves through dense fuels in a steep and remote area of forest.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but is believed to be human-caused.
Nearby communities of Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, and Zane Grey Cabins remain in pre-evacuation status.
A public meeting with fire officials is scheduled for Thursday evening at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Payson.
Dec. 30, 2024 - Complex incident management team to take over Horton Fire operations
The Horton fire has grown to 1,095 acres and is approximately 17% contained.
“The big thing they were looking at is whether or not the weather was gonna cooperate with us over Christmas and then moving into New Year’s,” Cole said. And unfortunately we didn’t really get the precipitation that we were really hoping for.”
So far, the fire has been managed by local entities, including the Tonto National Forest’s Payson Ranger District.
But Cole said a Southwest Area Incident Management team with more resources to combat the fire will take control of operations Wednesday. That team includes representatives from local, state and federal organizations.
Officials expect increased activity near the Promontory Point area on Dec. 30 and say increased smoke from the fire may be visible in the surrounding community for many days.
A community meeting will be held on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Payson.
Dec. 29, 2024: Weather pattern, holidays make fighting fire difficult
The Horton Fire continues to burn and has increased to 1,074 acres as of Sunday. The U.S. Forest Service says the increased fire activity occurred near the Promontory Point area.
Communities in the Tonto Creek Estates, Tonto Christian Camp, Tonto Fish Hatchery, and Zane Grey Cabins remain in SET evacuation status.
Fire spokesperson Chelsea Cole says a specific weather pattern affects the wildfire conditions.
“We are in a La Niña phase this year so that does bring in, you know, increased temperatures and lower precipitation for the entire Southwest area,” she said.
Cole also says the fire taking place around the holiday season makes it difficult to have consistent resources.
Dec. 26, 2024: Crew works through Christmas to keep fire contained
The Horton Fire near Payson has grown by nearly 30 acres since Tuesday, but it’s still at 15% containment.
Fire spokeswoman Chelsea Cole says that’s thanks to a crew of 150 personnel who worked through Christmas on getting the fire under control. Many on the crew are from out of state.
"There’s definitely local folks, but it absolutely is expanding. I know we have folks that came in from Washington, and across the country. It is a pretty good showing of personnel to come help out on the Horton Fire during the holidays," Cole said.
Cole says several areas are still on “Set” evacuation status as the crew continues to battle the fire, and that cooler temperatures in the region could cause the smoke to hang around.
Dec. 23, 2024: 15% containment
Fire officials said as of Tuesday morning, the blaze was 15% contained.
Dec, 23, 2024: Fire northeast of Payson at 900 acres
The human-caused Horton Fire northeast of Payson is at about 900 acres still without any containment.
Dry weather last week allowed the fire to spread, but forecasts show cooler temperatures and higher humidity through Christmas Day.
Fire spokesperson Chelsea Cole says the fire has prompted closures and caused some areas to be put under a set evacuation status.
"There’s an area to the west of the fire that kind of includes the Tonto Estates area, and the Fish Hatchery, and Christian Camp and Zane Grey," Cole said.
Cole says more than 180 personnel are assigned. Crews have completed prep work around powerlines and will monitor fire growth.
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