UPDATE, 9-10-24: 70% contained.
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UPDATE, 9-9-24: N. Hing Ave., E. Cliffside Rd., & N. Battle Axe Rd. near Ray are under “Ready” status. The fire is 65% contained and has burned about 7,200+ acres.
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UPDATE, 9-4-24: Another fire, the Wood 2 Fire, had also started on Aug. 31st, south of the Wood Fire. Both fires merged yesterday. It is now at least 4,600 acres, primarily in the Telegraph Fire burn scar. Officials state, “This natural lightning-caused fire is consuming dead grass and brush as part of a frequent fire ecosystem created by the heavy amount of dead grass. This fire is reducing fuel loadings and will increase defensible space around infrastructure and private property for the future. Today, firefighters will work to continue to hold fire west of Arnett Creek in order to minimize impacts to private property, power and gas lines, State Highway 177 and range infrastructure which are the primary values at risk. As the fire moves out of the steep rugged inaccessible country that it has burned within for the last several days, it will give firefighters more safe options to mitigate risk to the above listed values. We do ask patience in allowing firefighters to contain this fire in the safest way possible with the least amount of damage to important properties and infrastructure.”
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The Wood Fire, south of Superior, is at an estimated 2,500 acres. According to Tonto National Forest Officials, “Firefighters were able to use indirect firing tactics to hold the fire west of Arnett Creek and south of Forest Road 4. The remainder of the fire activity is on the south end of the fire and is not currently threatening infrastructure or other values. This lighting-caused fire is primarily consuming dead grass and brush. Fire managers will continue to explore options for indirect containment in the coming days using the available resources. The fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain inaccessible to firefighters.”
