Greer Fire: What to know about Arizona wildfire as it spreads to over 18,000 acres

Yahoo

18-05-2025

Firefighters held containment lines around the Greer Fire on May 17, which had burned a total of 18,617 acres by the end of its sixth day.
Though that marked an increase of nearly 3,000 acres from the previous day, the fire has not grown into a massive event like the 2011 Wallow Fire, which scorched more than half a million acres in the same region. Crews continued to protect structures and hold the fire back, despite facing strong wind gusts expected to persist for several more days.
An afternoon update on social media by the Southwest Area Incident Management Team reported that "all lines have held, despite the increased winds and crews are reporting that things are looking good around the fire."
The good news for area residents came after Gov. Katie Hobbs visited the area and, earlier in the day, declared a state of emergency that will release $200,000 in state funds to the firefighting effort.
High winds have fueled the Greer Fire from the beginning, leaving communities like Greer, Eagar and Springerville on edge.
The National Weather Service forecast strong wind gusts continuing through the night of May 17 and lasting at least through Monday, raising the risk of embers igniting new fires.
In response, fire managers used the forecasts to their advantage, conducting controlled burns to reduce available fuel and slow the fire's spread.
In a video posted to social media on May 17, Mike Wallace, operations section chief for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, explained how firefighters used both hand ignition and drone-based "aerial ignition" to build a "good buffer" ahead of anticipated winds.
These buffer zones, he said, are designed to help protect the 26 Bar community, Springerville, and other areas to the east — giving fire crews a 'higher probability of success' in holding the line.
Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency over the Greer Fire on May 17, releasing an emergency fund of $200,000 to help support the state's response to the fire, then toured parts of the area.
Fire officials told her the weather remained an extreme concern and they had plans to evacuate local communities in a worst-case scenario.
"I don't want to jinx anything, so I'm going to knock on this plastic table and pretend it's wood," Hobbs told them.
Major highways in eastern Arizona remain closed because of the fire and won't reopen until further notice.
The Arizona Department of Transportation reports:
State Route 260 is closed in both directions between mileposts 380 and 395.
State Route 373's southbound lane is closed between mileposts 385 and 390.
State Route 261 is closed in both directions between mileposts 394 and 412.
Reach the reporter at [e-mail] or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Day 6 of the Greer Fire in eastern Arizona: What to know