With two-thirds of the Nuttall Fire Complex now officially contained and no line left to build, firefighters are now focused on patrolling the area, extinguishing hot spots, and rehabilitating dozer lines, hand lines, and other areas used for suppression operations. “We have met our primary objectives on this incident,” stated Pruett Small, Operations Section Chief, Type I Southwest Area Incident Management Team.

Scattered thunderstorms have brought higher humidity and precipitation into the area over the past few days, and incident meteorologists predict this trend to continue for at least the next few days. Significant rainfall runoff and flow of woody debris has been seen in some drainages of the fire, including Noon Creek. On Monday, rainfall totaling .07” was measured by a weather station near the Mt. Graham International Observatory. These storms also bring the chance for dry lightning and gusty winds.

Yesterday, crews extinguished a new start resulting from a lightning strike on the evening of July 10 th. It was one-half acre and located just south of the Nuttall Fire containment line, close to Clark Peak. Resources will remain assigned for initial attack on new starts.

Representatives from the homeowners’ associations in Turkey Flat and Columbine, as well as from the Arizona Bible Camp, will be touring the fire area and visiting with fire officials today. There is no date scheduled for cabin owners and the general public to be allowed back into the fire area at this time, but officials expect to reopen Hwy. 366 in about a week.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is currently assessing the fire area and formulating a plan for further rehabilitation and erosion mitigation measures. A Type II Southwest Area Incident Management Team will assume command of the Nuttall Fire Complex on Tuesday, July 13 th, at 6:00 PM .

For more information, call the Nuttall Fire Complex Information Office at (928) 348-9425 or (928) 348-0261 - Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Visit our website: www.fireteam-sw.com/oltrogge/incidents/nuttall.

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