Fire Information: Phone: (928) 218-4240 daily from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Email: 2025.whitesage@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLMArizona and https://www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azasd-white-sage-fire
| 31% contained | 58,639 acres | 680 personnel | 15 miles southeast of Fredonia, AZ | Burning in brush, timber, & grass | No structures lost | Cause: lightning |
Highlights
The White Sage Fire is mapped at 58,639 acres, which is unchanged from yesterday. Containment is now 31 percent – up 4 percent from yesterday. Low winds and moderately high humidities allowed crews to continue their progress, increasing containment on the west and south sides of the fire. The warming and drying trend will continue over the next few days, which means the fire could become more active as temperatures rise and humidity drops.
On the west side of the fire, crews are patrolling for any lingering heat that could ignite under the right conditions. Heavy equipment and firefighters are also engaged in suppression repair, which involves knocking down berms created by dozers and seeding some areas with ecologically appropriate vegetation to help the landscape heal after the fire.
Multiple crews are working on the north side of the fire, constructing line directly on the fire’s edge. Most of the trees in that area are pinyon pine, so firefighters can make faster progress through the smaller trees. Fire managers are hopeful that crews will make significant gains in that area in the next few days.
On the east side of the fire, crews are working to secure the fire perimeter from House Rock Valley Road. Difficult terrain is presenting some challenges, but the fire is not currently growing.
On the southeast portion of the fire, crews conducted a burn operation yesterday to help contain the fire north of Highway 89A. The purpose of burning is to create a barrier of burned fuel that the fire cannot cross. Burning is carefully planned and only executed when conditions are favorable and there are adequate resources in place. In a burning operation, firefighters can control the intensity, speed, and direction of fire to optimize both the tactical advantage and the ecological benefit of fire.
Recent lightning also started two new fires to the south of the main fire, but because they were already close by, firefighters were able to quicky respond and contain them while they were still small.
Highway 89A will remain closed while crews are falling fire-weakened trees and chipping debris to ensure that the road will be safe for travel when it can be re-opened.
Fire Weather: The Incident Meteorologist predicts no precipitation and moderate winds today. Fire activity will be moderate and gradually increase over the next few days. There may be some smoke from burning operations in the southeast and east portions of the fire.
Evacuations: Local emergency management officials are coordinating closely with fire managers. Evacuation information is being updated regularly by Coconino County. Residents and the public are urged to stay informed by visiting: Coconino County Evacuation Map
