The Bull Flat Fire on the Fort Apache Agency in eastern Arizona left this scene in its wake. The fire is almost totally contained.Crown King and three smaller communities 40 miles north of Phoenix remained evacuated Monday as fire crews prepared for "extreme activity" due to weather conditions, federal officials reported.
The Gladiator Fire, burning since May 13 when a house fire in Crown King spread to nearby dry vegetation, had burned 14,184 acres as of a Monday morning report on the federal government's Incident Information System website.
"Forecasted winds and extended periods of very low humidity, along with high temperature and extremely dry fuels indicate active to extreme fire behavior today (Monday)," the website report on the Gladiator Fire said. It said firefighters use a scale called the Haines Index to describe the potential for extreme fire behavior, and the index for Monday was at 6, the top of the scale.
The fire was 15 percent contained, and 1,100 firefighters were on the lines, supported by aerial tankers. There was no prediction for full containment.
Meanwhile, the Sunflower fire to the south and east in the Tonto National Forest was stabilized at 16,105 acres Monday morning, with 33 percent containment. In fact, officials said they had reduced their estimate of the fire's size by 588 acres based on ground reports.
Crews on the Sunflower Fire, burning since May 12, were being demobilized and sent elsewhere as activity slowed.
The Bull Flat Fire on the Fort Apache Agency in eastern Arizona was reported to be 95 percent contained Monday, at 2,145 acres.
Extremely dry conditions and high heat have led federal and state officials to impose restrictions on public lands in most parts of the state, including the Coronado National Forest in Southern Arizona. Here's a video report on the Coronado:
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