Tracking wildfires online

One of the best resources for following wildfires is the Incident Information System "InciWeb" - http://www.inciweb.org/

Here are excerpts from the latest update for the fast-moving Wallow fire [photo credit, InciWeb.org] in eastern Arizona:

Wallow Fire Update - June 4, 8:30 Am

Incident: Wallow Wildfire
Released: 1:49 hrs. ago

For Immediate Release Fire Information: 593-333-3412

8:30 a.m. June 4, 2011 928-339-4339 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 928-339-4339 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Wallow Fire Update

Contact: Fire Information 593-333-3412 or 928-339-4339 Website: www.inciweb.org

Email: eazfireteam@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/firescoop

Fire Facts

Date started: 5/29/2011

Personnel: 1,089, including 29 handcrews

Cause: under investigation

Equipment: 60 engines, 15 water tenders, 4 dozers

Size: 140,000 estimated

Aircraft: 9 helicopters , 4 Air Attack planes,

Percent contained: 0

4 Air Tankers

Injuries to date: 0

Estimated containment date: Unknown

Cost to date: $3 million

NOTE:

· The Apache County Sheriff's Office has issued a pre-evacuation notice to the residents of Greer community and the surrounding areas


· Blue River residents have been evacuated by Greenlee County officials.

· Residents in the communities affected by this fire are asked to remain prepared in the event an order is needed.

· A community meeting is being held tomorrow at the Round Valley High School in Eagar at 4 p.m.

Fire Activity: Winds are not expected to increase today but there is varied relative humidity across the fire which will affect the fire behavior. The fire grew by 14,000 acres yesterday. The fire advanced to the north and north-west and impacted Big Lake Lookout but not the Big Lake Recreation area. The has fire crossed the 249 road. The perimeter of the fire is close to Nutrioso and Mongollon rim but has not gone over yet.

Closures/Evacuations/Advisories: Apache County Emergency Management (ACEM) issued an evacuation order of the communities of Alpine and Nutrioso. ACEM will make the decision when the order will be lifted.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Fire Restrictions: A Temporary Emergency Closure Order for the Apache National Forest has been issued today, June 3 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). Due to extreme fire conditions, the Apache National Forest is closed to all public entry. Property owners and their guests will continue to have access to private lands within the Forest. See website for closure order details. Please see the Forest website for more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/