A wildfire that began Saturday afternoon continued burning through the night growing to almost 300 acres, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
More engines were ordered to support suppression efforts, according to fire officials on Sunday.
As of Sunday morning, the fire remains 0% contained after it “slopped over containment lines, according to DFFM officials.
The fire is now under the command of DFFM, which relieved Buckeye Fire and assisting agencies that worked through the night to battle the wildfire.
“A dozer worked through the night along the east perimeter from north to south to construct and reinforce the line and assist in boxing in the fire,” states a post on DFFM social media.
Officials told InBuckeye that crews conducted burnout operations from the south/southwest corner along State Route 85, continuing north to the northwest corner of the fire.
“These efforts successfully anchored the fire into the black, or already burned area,” officials said Sunday morning.
As temperatures rise throughout the day on Sunday, fire activity is expected to increase.
Resources on the south side will continue aggressive monitoring due to persistent heat and active interior pockets, according to a DFFM statement.
“Safety remains a top priority,” the statement reads. “Crews are working in challenging river bottom conditions, with additional hazards including bee activity in the area.”
Officials urge the public to use alternate travel routes to avoid the area.
The fire spread to the northwest on the east side of State Route 85, which was closed because thick smoke made visibility hazardous.
"Crews have been successful in stopping the fire’s westward progression at the State Route 85 bridge," stated Rayne Gray, BFD assistant fire chief. "Natural barriers are in place and providing support along the south, north and northwest flanks, which are helping to limit further spread in those directions."
At 9 p.m Saturday, Gray told InBuckeye.com, “The fire has been contained at approximately 275 acres. The State Department of Forestry and Fire Management has joined the effort, bringing in dozers to strengthen containment lines.”
Additionally, Arizona Public Service has de-energized power lines in the area.
"Some damage to electrical infrastructure has been sustained; however, the extent of outages is currently unknown," Gray stated
Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
FROM DFFM
“The fire is 0% contained and we'd like to take a moment to clear up confusion among the public and media. Understanding Wildfire Status: Contained, Controlled, and Out
“Wildfire terminology can be confusing, especially when multiple agencies are working together during an incident. We want to help clarify what these terms mean in wildland fire operations.
”Contained means that firefighters have completed fireline around a portion of the fire’s edge, or are using existing features such as roads, dozer lines, handlines, rock outcroppings, or other natural barriers to help hold the fire in place. Containment is reported as a percentage.
“That percentage does not increase simply because crews have built line. It increases only when fire managers are confident that a section of line is expected to hold under current and forecasted conditions, including wind, terrain, fuels, and fire behavior.
“For example, a fire may have line constructed around much of the perimeter but still be reported as 0% contained if crews are not yet confident that the fire will stay within those lines. On a wildfire map, containment is typically shown as a black line along the fire perimeter. A red line indicates uncontained fireline, meaning that section of the perimeter has not yet been secured or is not expected to hold with confidence under current and forecasted conditions.
“Controlled means the fireline has been strengthened and secured to the point that the fire is not expected to escape the established perimeter. Crews may still be working inside the fire area, cooling hot spots, removing hazards, or patrolling the perimeter.
“Out means there is no remaining heat, smoke, or active fire. At that point, the fire is fully extinguished.
“In the early stages of an incident, different terms may be used quickly as information develops. In wildland fire reporting, however, “contained” has a very specific meaning tied to confidence in the fireline holding under both current and expected conditions.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as agencies work together to provide accurate, consistent information. The most current official updates from DFFM will continue to report containment based on wildland fire standards.“
