Wyrick and Chev Fire Updates

6-24-21

Evacuated residents of Heber -Overgaard may now return:

NCSO in cooperation with USFS, Heber-Overgaard FD and the Type 2 Incident Management Team have concluded that the GO! orders can be lifted at 6:00 am on Thursday 6/24/2021 due to current fire conditions. Residents in Heber-Overgaard, Antelope Valley, Chevelon Retreat, DeSpain Ranch, and Chevelon Ranches will remain on SET status until further notice. Please continue to monitor www.311info.net or vetted social media pages for updates.

Wyrick Fire North of Heber-Overgaard - Photo Credit - Arthur Gonzales

Wyrick Fire North of Heber-Overgaard – Photo Credit – Arthur Gonzales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 % containment is now being reported on the Wyrick Fire.  Click the video below to see this morning’s update:

 

 

Wyrick-West Chev Fire Daily Update June 24,2021

Wyrick Fire Wildfire
News – 2 hrs. ago

Fire Activity moderates, allowing firefighters to build fireline on Wyrick Fire

Wyrick Fire

Start Date: 
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Acres: Wyrick: 7,452 acres
Cause: Lightning
Location: 2 miles north of Mogollon HS, Heber, AZ
Containment: 15%
Fuels: Pinyon-Juniper, Timber and grass
Total Personnel: 288

Announcement:
 Communities that were asked to evacuate were allowed to return to their homes at 6:00 am this morning. Please stay diligent and be aware of current fire conditions.

Overview: Clouds and light rain showers provided a welcome relief, slowing fire growth on both the Wyrick and West Chev fires. This will give firefighters an opportunity to build fireline directly next to the fire, taking advantage of this temporary reprieve to gain containment on the Wyrick Fire.

Fire Update: On Wednesday, the West Chev Fire remained active. Helicopters were used to keep the fire from moving to the south in the timber that lines the steep canyons. Firefighters are assessing how to safely construct fireline to contain the West Chev Fire. Firefighters were able to make progress on the Wyrick Fire, slowly building line by hand and dozers to contain the fire. Today, firefighters will patrol and douse hot spots on the southeast corner of the fire and Crews will also continue to work toward the rim of Black Canyon on the eastern edge of the Wyrick Fire to prevent movement to the south and east.

Weather: Light showers on Wednesday provided a welcome relief, cautioning that one day of rain doesn’t erase the two-year rain deficit. There is a 20% chance of lightning, with the potential for gusty outflow winds. Winds will be out of the west/southwest today with gusts up to 25 mph. As the weather dries out and warms up the next few days, smoldering logs and trees will again begin to burn and winds could carry spots out in front of the main fire.

Ready, Set, Go: The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office announced that residents in GO status were allowed to return to their homes this morningVisit Navajo County Emergency Management for additional information about the Ready, Set, Go program and how to sign up for alerts.

Areas in SET:

·         Antelope Valley

·         Despain Ranch

·         Heber-and Overgaard

·         Chevelon Retreat

·         Communities south and east of State Route 277

·         High Country Pines in Heber

·         Kendall Ranch / Camp Ponderosa

Areas in READY:

·         Chevelon Ranches

Closures: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have announced a forest closure starting Thursday morning at 6:00 am. Additional details can be found at Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests – News & Events (usda.gov). Forest Road 504 remains closed because fire crews are working to secure the Wyrick Fire. State Routes 260 and 377 have reopened heading into the Heber-Overgaard aera, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Continue to watch AZ511.gov for the latest updates.

Smoke: Localized smoke impacts may exist in communities east of the fire if fire activity picks up, mainly in the afternoon. Expect smoke production from the east side of Wyrick this afternoon once conditions dry out, especially southern facing slopes in the fire perimeters. While not a lot of smoke is expected from both fires today, this weekend is trending drier and hotter, so expect some smoke production. A predominant southwest wind today should transport any generated smoke to the Northeast. If fire activity increases, expect smoke impacts to Holbert, Snowflake, Concho, St. Johns, and Winslow. Overnight drainage winds may push smoke into Forest Lakes. Air quality today is moderate because of multiple fires in Arizona.The Daily Smoke Outlook can be found by visiting https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternArizona

Values: Firefighter and public safety are the highest priorities on these fires. The fire areas include power lines and radio towers, private property, and natural resources.

More Information:

Inciweb:

Wyrick-West Chev Fire Information: (20+) Wyrick-West Chev Fire Information | Facebook

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests – Home (usda.gov)

Eastern Arizona Current Outlook: Smoke Forecast Outlooks (airfire.org)

Highway Closures: https://az511.gov/

Navajo County Emergency Management: https://www.navajocountyaz.gov/Departments/Emergency-Management-and-Preparedness/Ready-Navajo-County-Notification-System/Ready-Navajo-County-Registration

Navajo County Emergency Management Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavajoCountyEM/

Navajo County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.facebook.com/NCSO.AZ/posts/4060988313951038

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

6-23-21

A virtual community meeting will be held tonight at 7:00 PM on Facebook.  Click this link to view that meeting   (20+) Wyrick-West Chev Fire Information – Posts | Facebook

Click the image below to see the latest update (6-23-21) on the Wyrick and Chev Fires:

Wyrick-West Chev Fire Daily Update:
Clouds overhead, help firefighters on the ground
Daily Update 6/23/2021
Acres: Wyrick: 7,101 acres
West Chev: 288 acres
Cause of Both Fires: Lightning
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 158 Start Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Location:
Wyrick: 2 miles north of Tennyville HS, Heber, AZ
West Chev: 12.5 miles northwest of Heber, AZ
Fuels: Timber and grass
Announcement: The Wyrick Fire will host a virtual community meeting, Wednesday night, June 23, at 7:00 pm. Watch on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/search/top…
Overview: Clouds overnight prevented an Infrared Flight, so there is no updated acreage. Recent record breaking heat, combined with extreme drought conditions have set the stage for extreme fire behavior. Crews are working day and night to keep the Wyrick Fire from moving any closer to Heber-Overgaard. More favorable weather conditions will allow firefighters the opportunity to make some progress before sunny skies return.
Fire Update: On Tuesday, air tankers dropped retardant while helicopters dropped water on the southeast corner of the Wyrick Fire to keep the fire from moving to the south. Firefighters also worked on the south side of the Wyrick Fire between the 504 and 95 roads to construct fireline. The Wyrick fire is currently holding on the west side of Black Canyon. Firefighters were in place to begin assessing how to safely construct fireline to contain the West Chev Fire. Clouds helped to slow growth on both the Wyrick and West Chev fires yesterday afternoon.
Weather: Increasing cloud cover on Wednesday and Thursday, along with higher humidity will give firefighters a short window to make progress building fireline around the Wyrick Fire. Drought stressed plants and dead branches on the ground will still carry fire if pushed by winds. Winds will be out of the southwest Tuesday night and Wednesday, pushing fire away from Heber-Overgaard, although thunderstorms and gusty winds could quickly change the direction the Wyrick Fire moves.
Ready, Set, Go: There are no changes to the evacuation status. Visit Navajo County Emergency Management for additional information about the Ready, Set, Go program and how to sign up for alerts.
Areas in GO:
• Antelope Valley
• Despain Ranch
• Heber-and Overgaard north of State Routes 260 and 277
Areas in SET:
• Chevelon Retreat
• Communities south and east of State Route 277
• High Country Pines in Heber
• Kendall Ranch / Camp Ponderosa
Areas in READY:
• Chevelon Ranches

Closures: The Apache-Sitgreaves national forests have announced a forest closure starting Thursday morning. The Black Mesa Ranger District implemented an emergency closure of the district west of Heber-Overgaard yesterday. Additional information can be found at Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests – News & Events (usda.gov

). State Routes 260 and 377 have reopened heading into the Heber-Overgaard aera, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Continue to watch AZ511.gov

for the latest updates.

Smoke: Smoke is visible and may settle into low lying areas overnight. The Daily Air Quality Index can be found by visiting Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at https://azdeq.gov/node/5914

; or by downloading the Air Arizona mobile app on your smartphone. (https://azdeq.gov/airaz

)

Values: Firefighter and public safety are the highest priorities on these fires. The fire areas include power lines and radio towers, private property, and natural resources.
More Information:
Inciweb:

• West Chev: West Chev Information – InciWeb the Incident Information System (nwcg.gov

)

• Wyrick: Wyrick Fire Information – InciWeb the Incident Information System (nwcg.gov

)

Wyrick-West Chev Fire Information: https://www.facebook.com/search/top…

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests – Home (usda.gov

)

Smoke: Wildfire Smoke Forecast | ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (azdeq.gov

)

Highway Closures: https://az511.gov/

Navajo County Emergency Management: https://www.navajocountyaz.gov/…/Ready-Navajo-County…

Navajo County Emergency Management Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavajoCountyEM/

 

 

Additional Information can be found in the following link:

311info.net

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