Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area Response
OtherRafael Fire
Unit Information
Prescott National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
344 S Cortez St
Prescott, AZ 86303
Incident Contacts
Public Fire Information
Email: 2021.Rafael@firenet.gov
Phone: 928-421-4579
Hours: Phone: 8 am - 8 pm
Media Fire Information
Email: 2021.Rafael@firenet.gov
Phone: 928-421-4983
Hours: Phone: 8 am - 8 pm
https://www.facebook.com/RafaelFireInfo/
Phone: 000-000-0000
Hours: 8 am - 8 pm
https://twitter.com/RafaelFireInfo/
Phone: 000-000-0000
Hours: 8 am - 8 pm
Highlighted Activity
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The Rafael Fire was discovered on June 18, 2021 on the Prescott National Forest, the result of passing predominantly dry thunderstorms. The fire was located in a remote area approximately 4 miles north of Perkinsville had grown to 1,000 acres by the morning of June 20. At this time, the Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed management of the Rafael Fire. Strong winds on June 20, combined with dry fuels and favorable uphill topography in front of the fire, added nearly 18,000 acres for a total of 18,671 acres. The fire moved 9 ½ miles on June 20 and moved from the origin to above the Rim onto the Kaibab National Forest and into the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area.
On June 21st, the fire added another approximately 5,500 acres to 24,191 acres, and burned actively in Tule Canyon within the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness on the Kaibab National Forest. The fire continued to grow in Sycamore Canyon and on Tuesday, June 22 the fire continued to move east and crossed into the Coconino National Forest. Again, topography and dry fuels drove the fire approximately 7 ½ miles on the 22nd and by Wednesday morning, and by the morning of June 23rd the fire had grown to 34, 949 acres. On the morning of June 24, the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team 2 led by Incident Commander Dave Bales assumed management of the fire. The fire was returned to the local unit with a Type 3 organization led by Incident Commander Troy Mueller on Friday, July 02 at 0600.
Basic Information
| Current as of | |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Friday June 18th, 2021 approx. 07:27 PM |
| Location | 4 miles N of Perkinsville, AZ, E of Hwy 89 |
| Incident Commander | Prescott National Forests |
| Incident Description | 4 Lightning Caused Fires In The Area: Rafael, Sand Flat, Archibald, Horney. |
| Coordinates | 34.942 latitude, -112.162 longitude |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 12 |
| Size | 78,065 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 95% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Thursday July 15th, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Brush (2 feet) Timber (Litter and Understory) The fire has primarily been carried by short brush and sparse grasses in the lower elevations and dense cured brush in the mid-elevation drainages. |
| Significant Events | Minimal Creeping Smoldering. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Hold, mop-up and secure the fire perimeter, remove hazard trees if necessary, and recheck hot spots near the fire line. Continue suppression repair work in accordance with the suppression repair plan. |
| Projected Incident Activity | No additional perimeter or personnel increase anticipated. additional personnel decrease will occur due to equipment/crews timing out. |
| Remarks | Fire has transitioned back to the Prescott National Forest with coordination with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests
|
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | Though, scattered thunderstorms continue to develop around and over the Rafael Fire and general lightning awareness/safety should be adhered to, there is the chance of drying out to occur Wed/Thurs, which may reignite unburned fuels within the fire perimeter. |
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