Update: Rafael Fire remains at 78,708 acres, 72% containment

The Rafael Fire remained at 78,708 acres as of Tuesday night, with 72% containment, and 596 firefighters were battling the blaze, according to a Prescott National Forest Service news release.

Monday on the north side of the fire, crews were heavily engaged in securing the fire by patrol and mop-up activities.

“All perimeter firing operations are substantially complete, but smoke from burning interior fuels will continue for a few days,” a news release stated. “Heavy smoke may settle into canyon bottoms and low elevation communities in the Verde Valley over the next few nights.”

Smoke forecasts are available at azdeq.gov.

On the south side of the Rafael Fire, aircraft will monitor the perimeter to determine if suppression action is necessary and structure protection specialists will continue monitoring values at risk to prevent damage. Firefighters are prepared for initial attack over the next few days as the probability of thunder storms and lightning increases.

“As containment increases some crews and equipment are no longer needed, and will be released for reassignment or rest and recuperation,” the news release stated.

EVACUATION STATUS

The following notifications were in place as of 6 a.m. Monday.

--“GO” in Coconino County Sycamore Canyon and in Yavapai County, Loy Ranch.

--“SET” in Coconino County, Garland Prairie South and Garland Prairie North. In Yavapai County, Grey Ranch, Windmill Ranch and Bear Mountain.

--“READY” in Coconino County, South of Williams, Sherwood Forest, Camp Navajo, West of I-17 south of 1-40, Westwood Estates, Flagstaff Ranch (including W.L. Gore), Mountain Dell, Pine Del, Forest Highlands, Kachina Village, University Heights, Equestrian Estates, Upper Oak Creek Canyon, West Fork, Lower Oak Creek Canyon, and in Yavapai County, Sedona.

Information about evacuation status can be found on the Coconino County Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CoconinoCounty and at the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/YavapaiCountySheriff/.

Maps of evacuation status in Coconino County can be found at arcgis.com.

Full forest closures are in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, Coconino National Forest and Prescott National Forest. For alerts, visit usda.gov.

All Arizona State Trust lands are closed effective Friday, June 25, at 8 a.m.

For information on evacuation status, and fire activity, there will be a virtual community meeting every day at 6 p.m. until further notice, on the Incident Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RafaelFireInfo/.

ROCK BUTTE FIRES

As of Sunday, June 27, management of the five Rock Butte fires north of Paulden and West of Highway 89 had transitioned to a Type 4 team. The fire managers’ main objective is to patrol and monitor all the fires in the Rock Butte Fire area. Crews will continue to check the fire perimeters and be available for initial attack if afternoon thunderstorms bring lightning. Resource advisors report that the fire lines are in good condition.

As of Sunday, the 126-acre Rock Butte Fire was 85% contained; the 49-acre Red Hat Fire was 100% contained, as were the 33-acre Limestone Fire and 27-acre Silent Fire. The 567-acre Spring Fire was 75% contained.