Rafael Fire Morning Update – June 29, 2021
The next scheduled virtual community meeting will be Wednesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. on the Incident Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RafaelFireInfo/
Acres: 78,708
Percent Containment: 59%
Date/Time Detected: Friday, 06/18/2021 at 1927 MST
Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 0
Number of Personnel: 596
Cause: Lightning
Origin/Location: 4 miles north of Perkinsville
No smoke is being detected on any air quality monitors this morning. Tonight, what smoke is present may settle into the Chino and Verde Valleys. Smoke forecasts are available at Wildfire Smoke Forecast | ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (azdeq.gov)and https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/NorthCentralArizona.
Today, crews will continue to patrol and mop up to secure the fire perimeter. Firefighters will begin to chip woody debris that was created during line preparation activities and either remove the chips or spread it on the ground. Smoke from burning interior fuels will continue to be visible for a few days. On the south side of the fire the remaining structure protection crew will be released. Thunderstorms and possible rain are predicted for this afternoon. Firefighters around the fire are prepared to take suppression action on any new ignitions resulting from lightning strikes. The process of demobilizing Crews and equipment will continue.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were used for multiple operations on the Rafael Fire. These operations are coordinated with other aerial operations within the Temporary Flight Restriction for the Rafael Fire to keep all operations safe. Wildfires are no place for recreational drones—they put firefighters and aircraft personnel at risk and will shut down aircraft operations, hampering firefighting as well as firefighter safety. Remember if you fly, we can’t.
Evacuation status as of 6 a.m. June 29 (Notifications are in place until status is rescinded or changed by each respective County Sheriff’s Office):
“GO” in Coconino County Sycamore Canyon
“SET” in Yavapai County, Loy Ranch
“READY” in Coconino County, Garland Prairie South and Garland Prairie North, South of Williams, Sherwood Forest, Camp Navajo, West of I-17 south of 1-40, Westwood Estates, Flagstaff Ranch (including W.L. Gore), Mountain Dell, Pine Del, Forest Highlands, Kachina Village, University Heights, Equestrian Estates, Upper Oak Creek Canyon, West Fork, Lower Oak Creek Canyon, and in Yavapai County, Grey Ranch, Windmill Ranch, Bear Mountain and Sedona.
Information about evacuation status can be found on the Coconino County Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CoconinoCountyand at the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/YavapaiCountySheriff/Maps of evacuation status in Coconino County can be found at: CoconinoCounty Situational Awareness Viewer (arcgis.com)
It’s fire season in Northern Arizona. Residents in Northern Arizona should be Ready. https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go
Full forest closures are in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, Coconino National Forest, and Prescott National Forest Coconino National Forest – Alerts & Notices (usda.gov) Kaibab National Forest – Alerts & Notices (usda.gov)and Prescott National Forest – Alerts & Notices (usda.gov)
All Arizona State Trust lands are closed effective Friday, June 25 at 8:00 a.m. Fire Restrictions and Closures Across Arizona | Department of Forestry and Fire Management (az.gov)
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