CLIFTON — The Bear fire in Greenlee County has grown to 23,480 acres but, because its location is difficult to access, firefighters are focusing on confining the fire’s spread rather than knocking it down.
The fire is 10 miles south of Hanagan Meadow and is slowly moving northwest. It’s currently at 18-percent containment.
The closure of U.S. Highway 191 between Morenci and Blue Vista continues and will remain in effect until further notice.
The Fox fire, between Glenbar and Fort Thomas, ignited Monday during the late afternoon storm. It is listed as one-tenth of an acre and at 0-percent containment.
In addition, dry lightning Monday is believed to be the cause of three fires on Mount Graham, all burning above Turkey Flat — Switchback, Twilight 1 and Twilight 2 fires — as well Veach fire on the east side of the Pinalenos. The Veach fire is listed at 1.5 acres while fire sizes of the others on Mount Graham were not yet listed, though they are described as “single snags with some ground fire.”
The Johnny fire, northwest of Safford, near Brushy Canyon, started Sunday and it remains listed as at 40 acres with 0-percent containment.
