KINGMAN – About 200 homes in the community of Pine Lake have been evacuated due to a wildfire burning in the Hualapai mountains about 11 miles southeast of Kingman. Hualapai Mountain Park and the nearby resort are closed the Hualapai Mountain road is closed at mile marker 10 to all but first responders and evacuees.
Residents of the communities of Atherton Acres and Pinion Pine are on standby status for evacuation if necessary. Authorities said the Flag Fire ignited about 2:00 p.m. Sunday between the Flag Mine and Wild Cow campground.
60 firefighters were battling the blaze reported at 600 acres Monday morning. No one made use of an emergency shelter the Red Cross has established at the Palo Christ Elementary School in downtown Kingman.
Water and refuge is available at the shelter. Other arrangements will be made if anyone requires overnight lodging assistance as the shelter won’t be used for that purpose due to COVID-19 issues.
The fire broke out on the back side of the Hualapai Mountains between Flag Mine and Wild Cow Campground around 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon and has burned approximately 600 acres.
Strong wind Sunday out of the south and southwest gusting at 20 to 30 mph pushed the blaze to the north. As of Sunday evening, the blaze was moving north towards the footprint of the Dean Fire that burned more than 5,000 acres in 2013, and south of the Ridge Fire that burned more than 3,000 acres in 2020. There is a chance for showers this morning in the fire area, which may help contain the fire.
For more information on Arizona’s Ready-Set-Go program, visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go
Dave Hawkins
