Rim Country Gazette

WILLOW FIRE UPDATE

June 23, 2011 - 8 a.m. update

FIRE FACTS
Date started: June 19, 2011
Location: 1 mile north of Bear Canyon Lake
Size: 213 acres
Cause: Under investigation
Containment: 45 percent
Estimated containment date: June 23, 2011
Cost to date: $908,205
Number of firefighters: 384
Equipment: 2 bulldozers, 1 air attack plane, 1 light helicopter

Fire Activity: The fire is burning in mixed conifer. Observed fire on Wednesday included smoldering in duff and timber litter. Today, crews will continue to hold and improve the lines installed around the perimeter of the fire, mop up more than 300 feet in and patrol the outside of the perimeter looking for hot spots outside of the lines. Crews will also continue fire rehabilitation work requested by the forest.

Closures/Evacuations/Advisories:
Area Closure: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has announced a Closure for Public Safety for a portion of the Black Mesa Ranger District (mainly on the south side of SH 260) effective 12:01 am today. Most of the District (on the north side of SH 260) remains open at this time. A description of
the area closed is posted on the Willow Fire Inciweb page www.inciweb.org/

Area Closure: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has announced a Closure for Public Safety in the area of the Willow Fire. A description of the area closed is posted on the Willow Fire Inciweb page.

Road Closures: Forest Road 91 eastbound at Forest Road 89. Forest Road 75 northbound and westbound off of Forest Road 34, (forest road 34 is open).  Forest road 84 north off of Forest Road 300. Forest Road 89 north off of forest road 300.

Camp and Lake Closures: Bear Canyon Lake and trails.

Restrictions: Stage II fire restrictions have been in place on the Sitgreaves Forest of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests since June 3, 2011. For information on the forest restrictions please visit www.fs.usda.gov/asnf/

General Information: The Willow Fire is on the Sitgreaves side of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on the Black Mesa Ranger District. The location of the fire is approximately one mile north of Bear Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim. Bear Canyon Lake is about 25 miles northeast of Payson and 25 miles west of Heber-Overgaard.