Photo caption: Aerial resources delivered over 179K gallons of retardant on the 49, 286 acre White Sage Fire. Photo by BLM Arizona Strip Field Office/Travis Legler
COCONINO COUNTY — The White Sage Fire that began last week now covers 49,286 acres in Coconino County, according to a press release from the Bureau of Land Management sent at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 14. 467 personnel have been utilized for the fire, which is presently 0% contained, according to the update.
On Sunday, July 13, numerous aerial firefighting resources, including Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) and Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs), dropped 179,597 gallons of retardant along the southern and northern perimeter. These efforts provided critical support to firefighters on the ground, by slowing fire spread.
On the west side of the fire, near the point of origin, the line is holding well, and crews are actively mopping up and securing the perimeter. Multiple hand crews on the southern flank worked late into the night to continue building and reinforcing containment line.
Fire Behavior
The fire experienced extreme fire behavior yesterday, primarily driven by north/northwest winds, which pushed the fire southward across Highway 89A near House Rock Valley. This southern flank became the most active edge of the fire, with intense runs through grass, brush, and timber, along with torching and running fire behavior.
Weather conditions played a significant role in fire activity. Today’s temperatures will range from the upper 80s at 8,000 feet to the low 90s at 6,000 feet much like yesterday. Relative humidity is low at 10–13%, and gusty winds up to 25 MPH challenged suppression efforts. A 10% chance of thunderstorms is possible over the fire area which can create gusty outflow winds.
Evacuations
Evacuation notices and road closures remain in place due to the fire’s progression and continued activity along the southern edge. 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: https://coconinocounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=c579ef2e9406468d8575a289253d73d9
The White Sage Fire is 15 miles southwest of Fredonia, which recently declared a state of emergency on July 4. The city’s emergency service provider in Kane County, Utah, was banned from operating in Arizona by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
