Polles Fire

POLLES FIRE UPDATE - July 7, 2020
 
Acres: 580 acres Percent Containment: 0%
 
Start Date: Friday, July 3, 2020 Cause: Lightning
 
Origin Location: 11 miles W of Payson, AZ Fuels: Pinion juniper, high desert grass
 
Resources: approx. 360, including 9 crews, 14 engines, 3 dozers, 2 masticators, 5 helicopters
 
Challenged by hot and dry conditions firefighters continue to make progress toward containment
 
Payson, Ariz. – Facing extreme conditions firefighters on the Polles Fire west of Payson continue to make marked progress toward containment. A total of 6 hotshot crews are directly engaged on the fire within the wilderness area, supported by airtankers and helicopters during the day, while other firefighters have been working adjacent to the communities and the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, scouting vegetation conditions and enhancing established fuel breaks and roads that could help protect homes and slow fire spread should there be a shift in fire behavior on the fire, to be used only if needed. The north/northeast portion of the fire continues to be the most active area.
 
Crews have been taking advantage of the nighttime increase in humidity and decreased wind to make progress in building containment line. They have worked shifts late into the evening for the last few nights. These crews remain “spiked out”, sleeping in the remote wilderness, their food, drinking water and supplies flown in by helicopter daily.
 
There are no current threats from the Polles Fire to the communities of Pine-Strawberry or Payson. We do encourage that residents become familiar with Arizona’s Ready-Set-Go program and sign up for their county emergency notification system and remain alert, ready and make essential preparations. Visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go for more information.
 
The Tonto National Forest has a Closure in effect across the forest to prevent new human caused fires. Details are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.
 
The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has closed due to the Polles Fire. For more information, visit: https://azstateparks.com/tonto
 
The fire is burning in the areas of The Arizona Trail, White Rock and Big Springs.
 
Smoke forecast for the Polles Fire, visit: https://bit.ly/2VNiwiY
 
Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info, visit: http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.
 
Polles Fire Public Information
 
Public Line: (928) 351-7723 Media Line: (928) 351-7596

Email: 2020.polles@firenet.gov

Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6825/ Tonto NF

Facebook: FB.me/TontoNationalForest/ Tonto NF

Twitter: twitter.com/TontoForest

Tonto NF Website: www.fs.usda.gov/tonto

• Polles Fire - July 7, 2020 Update PDF (pdf 270 kb)
• Public Information Map 7-7-2020 (pdf 203 kb)