Latest news with #NortheasternArizonaPublicInformationSystem
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Greer Fire reaches 88% containment, one week after the eastern Arizona blaze began
Calmer winds have helped firefighters make incredible progress on the Greer Fire. The blaze was 88% contained, as of 8 p.m. May 20 and at 20,308 acres, according to federal tracker InciWeb. "It's always a good thing when we can add some containment on the fire, so we're looking good on that part," Operations Section Chief Bryan Carpenter said during an operational update May 20. Residents in the eastern Arizona unincorporated community and surrounding areas returned to their homes as the fire, which had burned more than 20,000 acres, reached its one-week mark. Here's what else to know about Arizona's largest fire to date in 2025. Residents were allowed to return home as the evacuation orders that rely on a "ready, set, go" scale were downgraded to "set." Fire officials warned the fire was still burning, and people should expect smoke and the occasional flames as work continued. Dry and much warmer weather was on the way for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Winds will be light through May 21, then become gusty over the next few days, the weather service said. People planning a Memorial Day weekend getaway should not be deterred. Businesses were open, but guests at lodging facilities were subject to the same "ready, set, go" guidance as the locals. Campfires and stove fires were banned across the area, including charcoal briquettes and smoking, according to a notice from Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Forest officials have also closed trails and roads near the Greer Fire as of May 19. As of May 19, State Route 260 and State Route 373 were open to traffic, save for a small section of State Route 261, to the east of the fire area, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The fire's origin was still under investigation. As of May 20, 636 people were still deployed to beat back the fire. The Northeastern Arizona Public Information System has links to numerous agencies involved in fighting the fire, from the U.S. Forest Service to local emergency management information. This can be found at Reach the reporter at or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on social media @maryjpitzl. . Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Greer Fire reaches 88% containment, burning 20K acres since its start
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The Greer Fire has consumed 3,500 acres in eastern Arizona. Here's what to know
A wind-driven wildfire in the small Arizona community of Greer in the eastern part of the state prompted evacuations after the Greer Fire rapidly grew to 3,500 acres in one day, the town of Eagar said in a Facebook post. Authorities set a "go" status for the communities of South Fork and North Woods on May 13 after a fire started on private land and got into "heavy fuels" in the area, destroying "multiple structures," according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Greer, which had a population of 58 according to the 2020 census, sits within the White Mountains and is surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Apache County Emergency Management and Preparedness said shortly after 6 a.m. on May 14 that the fire was still estimated at 3,500 acres. Here's what to know. State Route 260 was closed in both directions between mileposts 385 and 393 because of the fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The southbound lanes of State Route 373 leading to Greer were also closed. The agency had no estimated time for when the roads would reopen as of May 13. American Red Cross Arizona opened an evacuation center at Round Valley High School Dome in Eagar, where evacuees were told to go, according to a Northeastern Arizona Public Information System Facebook post. It was closed the evening of May 13, with a new shelter set up at St. Johns High School. Mandatory "go" evacuations were issued for the community of Greer, as well as the North Woods and South Fork areas, according to the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System's website. Parts of Eagar, including the 26 Bar neighborhood and residents west of River Road, were placed under "set" status, advising them to be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Evacuees with recreational vehicles or large animals were told to go to the Round Valley Rodeo Grounds in Eagar, according to the website. The mayors of Eagar and Springerville signed a declaration of emergency on May 13 that prohibited the burning of any type outdoors as well as outdoor smoking. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs posted on X about the fire and said she was thinking of all those affected and was "deeply grateful for our brave firefighters." What to know: What is 'ready, set, go' and what does it have to do with Arizona wildfires? This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Greer Fire grows to 3.5K acres in eastern Arizona. What to know
