KLONDYKE — While strong winds temporarily knocked out power in many parts of the Gila Valley Monday evening, the wind appeared to stay away from the Pinnacle fire for the most part.
Fewer gusts allowed firefighters to shore up fire lines and prepare for burnouts east of Klondyke.
The fire has grown to 13,054 acres as of Tuesday morning and remains at 0-percent containment. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The evacuations of residents southeast of the fire and north of Aravaipa/Klondyke Road remains in place, with Klondyke residents moved into Ready mode.
Light smoke is predicted for the area, moving the air quality prediction for the Gila Valley up to good.
A total of 264 personnel are fighting the fire, including six hand crews, four helicopters, 13 engines, nine water tenders and two dozers.
The Coronado National Forest has moved into Stage 2 fire restrictions and there is a temporary flight restriction over the area by order of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Telegraph fire
Crews constructed containment lines to the edge of the San Carlos Apache Reservation to prevent the Telegraph and Mescal fires from merging.
The result of the Telegraph fire’s growth — at 123,078 acres as of Tuesday morning — has resulted in evacuation orders for east and west El Capitan, Dripping Springs, Wind Spirit, Hagan Ranch, Slash S Ranch, Government Springs and Beverly Hills. Superior, Globe and Miami are in Ready mode.
The Telegraph fire is at 68-percent containment, while the Mescal fire, at 72,250 acres, is at 88-percent containment.
With a number of wildfires — Mescal, Telegraph, Slate, Pinnacle, Salt, and Cornville fires — burning in and near Arizona’s first congressional district, U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., visited a number of command posts to see what his office can do to help.
“The brave men and women who are laboring in difficult conditions around the clock to get these fires under control are doing great work, and I thank them for their efforts,” O’Halleran said. “If Arizonans have questions or need assistance they can call my Flagstaff office or contact my southern district staff. We are continually monitoring the situation and working with boots on the ground to ensure all necessary resources are available to fight these wildfires and keep Arizonans safe.”
