Yarnell Hill Fire activity continues to diminish

  Yarnell Hill Fire Update  

Wednesday, July 5, 2013, 9 a.m.

Fire Facts

Fire Start Date:  June 28, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

Location:  West of State 89 between Yarnell and Peeples Valley

Size:  Estimated at 8,377 acres

Percent Contained:  80 percent containment

Cause:  Lightning

Personnel: 550 (includes 12 crews and 18 engines)

Aircraft:  Five helicopters are assigned to the incident and available to support firefighters.

Evacuations:  The evacuation for parts of Peeples Valley was lifted for residents at 6:30 pm on July 4.  Residents of other sections of Peeples Valley and Yarnell, evacuated by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, June 30, remain out of their homes.  The Yarnell Fire Department and Yavapai County are assessing homes and structures around Glen Ilah and Yarnell.  For information on the status of your property, please call 928-777-7481. Red Cross shelters are open at Yavapai Community College in Prescott at 928-717-8210 and at the Wickenburg High School in Wickenburg at 480-213-0706.  People and small animals are welcome at both shelters while large livestock can be taken to Hidden Springs Ranch on Highway 89. 

Fire Closures:  State Highway 89 remains closed between mile post 270 and mile post 283 south of Kirkland.  The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has three different road blocks: the junctions of Highway 89 and Hays Ranch Road; Hays Ranch Road and Sickles Ranch Road; and at Buckhorn and Frontier Road.  For updates on road closures call ADOT at 602-712-7355 or check their website at http://www.az511.gov or follow http://twitter.com/ArizonaDOT.

Fire Conditions and Weather:  Temperatures are expected to continue in the low 90s.  Predicted winds today, July 5, will be out of the southwest at 10 miles per hour.   There is high potential  for continued cooling and decreasing chance for major rain.  The decreased relative humidity and increased drying could cause more erratic fire behavior.  Overall fire behavior should continue to diminish due to fuels being consumed.

Firefighters will continue work on the two remaining areas of active fire.   Firefighters will also support initial attack in the area as needed.

Updates  throughout the day will be posted to the following websites:
Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3461/(may be intermittently out of service due to high demand)
Follow the fire on Facebook at https://facebook.com/yarnellhillfire
https://twitter.com/yarnellhillfire