BACKBONE FIRE UPDATE, 06/26/21
Crews are making progress on the Backbone Fire burning west of Strawberry and Pine. The Southwest Area Incident Management Team reports 13% containment with at least 40,000 acres burned. Rainfall this week helped fire managers adjust suppression tactics and allow crews to get closer to the fire’s edge. Evacuation orders remain in place for residents of Strawberry and Hunt Ranch. Residents of Pine are allowed to return home beginning today. Beasley Flats and Verde Lakes are on READY status.
RAFAEL FIRE UPDATE, 06/26/21
The Rafael Fire burning southwest of Flagstaff has so far burned more than 45,000 acres. Evacuations remain in place for Garland Prairie South, areas around Sycamore Canyon and south of Forest Service Road 535 off the 231, Bill Grey Road and the area of North Forest Service Road 525. On SET status are areas around Camp Navajo, Garland Prairie North, Pine Aire Estates and residents in between, Grey Ranch, Windmill Ranch and Bear Mountain. The communities of Kachina Village, Pine Dell, Forest Highlands, Mountain Del, University Heights and Equestrian Estates were all downgraded Thursday from SET to READY status. Fire managers are concerned about possible dry lightning strikes and thunderstorms in the coming days. The Monsoon is expected to pick up early next week.
For information on evacuation status, and fire activity, there will be a virtual community meeting every day at 6 p.m. until further notice, on the Incident Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RafaelFireInfo/
