GLOBE — The Mescal wildfire, on the southwestern edge of the San Carlos Apache Reservation, has grown to 5,500 acres and has thus far avoided containment.
Helicopters and air tankers are being used to try and stop the fire’s spread further onto the reservation to the north and east. At risk are power lines, as well as cultural and historical sites.
Complicating matters is the weather forecast, which is calling for hot and dry conditions in that area over the next few days, with winds at 15 to 20 miles per hour coming out of the northwest.
Cause of the fire, which started June 1, remains under investigation. A Type 2 incident team, with about 200 total personnel, has been assigned to the blaze.
The other fire burning on the reservation, the Sam fire northeast of Bylas, has grown to 400 acres.
Two hotshot crews and heli-repellers are tasked with fighting the fire due to the terrain preventing engine access.
Cause of the Sam fire is also under investigation.
