SAN CARLOS — Evacuation orders due to the Watch fire have been rescinded, due to the fire’s 47-percent containment.
The fire, in the 7 Mile District of the San Carlos Apache Reservation, is at 2,162 acres and destroyed 13 homes and displaced 75 people when high winds moved the fire through residential areas Friday, prompting the tribe to declare a state of emergency and request disaster assistance.
The Watch fire started Wednesday, July 11 and is believed to be human caused. Investigation is ongoing.
“We did move a few resources from the Watch over to the Buckhorn, as this (Watch) fire becomes a little bit more secure,” said John McLaughlin, Planning Operations trainee for the Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 2.
The Buckhorn fire is on the reservation in northeast Graham County, on the Apache County border.
The Buckhorn fire is believed to have started from a lightning strike on Thursday, July 11, and is at 161 acres and 0-percent containment.
According to the update Monday morning, the fire “is active on three flanks, with potential for high rates of spread.” Aircraft is being used to fight the fire.
