Yarnell Hill Fire

Fire Information Phone Number: 928-427-3347

Fire Information Center Hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Website: http://www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3461/ (may be intermittently out of service)

Follow the fire on Facebook at Yarnell-Hill-Fire

Fire Facts

Fire Start Date: June 28, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.

Location: West of State 89 between Yarnell and Peeples Valley

Size: Estimated 8,374 acres

Percent Contained: 0 percent containment

Cause: Lightning

Injuries to Date: A fire crew had to deploy their fire shelters late yesterday afternoon after strong winds pushed the fire to their position and 19 firefighters died in the line of duty.

Estimated Cost to Date: Unknown

Evacuations: At 4:00 p.m. yesterday the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office advised residents in the communities of Peeples Valley and Yarnell to evacuate their homes. Within a few hours after evacuation, strong winds out of the North pushed the fire front into Yarnell and Glen Isla South of Yarnell. Several homes and other structures burned in Yarnell.

Residents are advised that a Red Cross shelters are open at Yavapai Community College in Prescott at 928-717-8210 and at the Wickenburg High School in Wickenburg at 928-928-446-1766. People and small animals are welcome at both shelters.

Number of Resources: A Type 1 Incident Command Team will assume responsibility for the fire at or before 6:00 p.m. today. Currently the Arizona Type 2 incident Command Team is directing operations with: 18 engines, 18 fire crews, 8 support water tenders, 2 crash/rescue vehicles, 2 structure protection vehicles, and 4 dozers. On order are more 20-person hotshot crews, type 2 hand crews and other firefighting personnel and equipment.

Fire Conditions and Weather: Temperature is expected to reach 92 to 102 degrees, humidity at 18 percent and the winds out of the Southwest at 5 miles per hour and gusting higher. There is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms and possible rain showers. Fire behavior may become erratic again today because of the thunder storm generated winds, high temperatures and very dry fuels.

Fire Closure Update: The Department of State Public Safety has closed State Highway 89 between Date Creek Road South of Yarnell and Sorrells Ranch Road North of Peeples Valley. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has three different road blocks at the following: the junctions of Highway 89 and Hayes Ranch Road, Hays Ranch Road and Sickles Ranch Road and of Buckhorn and Frontier Road.

Today’s Activities: Firefighters will continue work to secure the Eastern flank of the fire and protect other homes at risk from the evacuated areas. Air tankers will be dropping fire retardant on the perimeter of the fire as needed and 5 helicopters assigned to the fire will be dropping water on hot spots in support of the firefighters.