Arizona Wildfire Update

The Gila County Board of Supervisors held an emergency meeting yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon to declare a state of emergency in Gila County due to the Poco Fire, 6 miles northeast of Young.

The Gila County Emergency Hotline number is 402-8888 or 1-800-304-4452.

The Poco fire was very active yesterday and is now estimated at 8,100 acres after spreading rapidly to the east. The fire is still only 15% contained.

The fire spread under a portion of the two 500 kV electrical transmission lines that supply energy to the Phoenix and Tucson areas. The lines are currently inactive and will be evaluated for future re-energizing.

Today crews will contend with an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service.

A fire in the Pinal Mountains, 7 miles southwest of Globe has been completely contained. That fire burned about two acres.

The Comet Fire that burned around 200 acres  11 miles from Superior is also 100% contained.

The 257 fire, about four miles southeast of  Superior, is 85% contained.

The Sunflower Fire, 20 miles from Payson, is 80% contained.

The Fox Fire that started over the weekend in the Coronado National Forest is 10% contained. That fire has burned 3,400 acres.

Poco Fire information is posted at www.inciweb.org/incident/2911.

For information about forest recreation sites and fire restrictions, contact the Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200 or check online at www.fs.usda.gov/tonto