Telegraph Fire

Timber (Grass and Understory)

Brush (2 feet)

Timber (Litter and Understory)

The fire has primarily been carried by copious amounts of cured grass/brush in the lower and middle elevations.

- TU5; very high load, dry climate timber/shrub (ponderosa pine, oak, aspen)

- SH7; very high load chaparral (manzanita and oak brush)

- TL3; Ponderosa pine litter

Extreme

Crowning

Uphill Runs

Torching

Fire remained active throughout the night as humidity recovery only reached 10%. Fire continued actively backing down ridges and drainages on the northern, eastern, and southern aspects of Pinal Mountain. In the early afternoon, fire spotted east of Pioneer Pass road, became established at the base of East Mountain, and made a crown fire run to the top of East Mountain. Weather conditions remain conducive for extreme fire behavior to continue in Pioneer Basin, Mill Creek, and Sixshooter Canyon through the overnight hours.

Hold, monitor and secure fire in unburned areas near Top of the World, the Highway 60 corridor and holding features south of Miami and Globe.

Identify suppression repair needs and equipment in un-staffed divisions.

Construct and prep holding lines south and east of Pinal Peak where resources will have High probability of success meeting tactical objectives.

Improve and hold Highway 77. Continues to scout and identify holding lines.

Coordinate with IA response with Globe Ranger District resources.

12 hours:

Fire will continue spreading to the north, east, and south from Pinal Mountain.

Easterly growth will likely spread downslope over East Mountain and into Arrastra Canyon.

Fire will spread through Sixshooter Canyon and Icehouse Canyon through the pine, but slow considerably when moving from pine into much younger manzanita.

Southerly growth into Pioneer Basin and southwesterly growth towards the FS651 road.

24 hours:

Another night of extremely poor humidity recovery and light winds will allow fire to maintain momentum overnight and into the following day.

Fire will spread through the pine atop East Mountain but slow as fuel changes occur at the lower elevations to the east and north.

The fire within Sixshooter and Icehouse Canyons will also enter fuel transitions into less receptive young brush.

Westerly growth will likely connect to the main Telegraph Fire along the 222FS651 road.

Fire will continue to aggressively pulse within Pioneer Basin without establishing a consistent direction of sustained growth.

48 hours:

Uncontained fire will likely be established solely within brush fuels in lower elevations where inconsistent growth is anticipated.

Light winds and less severe topography will combine to significantly slow rates of spread, and growth will be based primarily on fuel availability and flammability.

72 hours:

Continued inconsistent flanking and backing fire in brush under light wind conditions

Anticipated after 72 hours:

Continued inconsistent flanking and backing fire in brush under light wind conditions.

The fire is also burning in Gila County

High pressure will continue to bring very hot temperatures to the fire area this week. There is an Excessive Heat Warning until 2000 PM Friday for the fire area. The center of the high will drift near the Four Corners this week which will bring an easterly flow over the fire. This will start to transport mid-level moisture westward which will lead to more clouds, virga showers, dry thunderstorms, and eventually the possibility of rain by the end of the week. Any storm that does form has the potential for strong gusty winds and dry lightning.