KINGMAN – Tuesday rain and snow helped diminish intensity and spread of the Flag Fire burning in the Hualapai Mountains since Sunday. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said drying conditions raise concern that the wildfire can take off again.
“Incident commander Alan Sinclair reminds everyone that despite the recent moisture, there remains a threat until all lines are secured,” a BLM news release stated. “A great deal of heat remains on the west and north side of the fire.”
Command of the Flag Fire containment effort transitioned from the Arizona Central West Type 3 Incident Management Team to a Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. 263 firefighters played defense Tuesday.
“Five crews, working with aircraft resources, were directly working the fire line Tuesday, while others were conducting structure protection actions adjacent to values at risk,” the news release said. “These actions involve reinforcing contingency lines adjacent to area neighborhoods and removing dead trees along the north and east perimeter to create defensible space.”
Some 200 homes in the community of Pine Lake remain evacuated. Hualapai Mountain Park and the lodge are closed, and only necessary traffic is permitted past mile marker #10 on Hualapai Mountain Road.
No injuries have been reported and only one outbuilding has been destroyed by fire.
Dave Hawkins