Fire Crews Leverage Calmer Conditions to Combat Greer Fire
In a race against worsening weather, fire crews in the White Mountains have seized the opportunity provided by lighter winds to reinforce containment lines around the Greer Fire, which is expected to face harsher conditions over the weekend.
During a community meeting held Thursday in Eagar, officials provided residents with updates on the wildfire’s progression, evacuation measures, and anticipated weather changes. “The nighttime is when we’re really having good success out there—nighttime and mornings,” explained Eric Johnson, a fire behavior analyst with the incident management team. “And then the afternoons are when we have to try to play catch up. It starts getting not so good over the weekend. Saturday is near-critical—about as dry as it gets.”
The recent reduction in wind speed has enabled increased air response efforts against the fire. However, officials anticipate that wind gusts could reach up to 40 miles per hour by Sunday, potentially accelerating the fire’s spread.
Currently, over 500 personnel are engaged in battling the Greer Fire, which has engulfed 12,615 acres of grass, shrubs, and timber in the rugged canyon terrain of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The fire poses a threat to homes in the southwestern and southern parts of Eagar, though containment remains elusive. Originating on private land last Tuesday, the cause of the wildfire continues to be investigated.
Evacuation orders are in effect for Greer, South Fork, areas west of State Route 261, and Eagar residents south of SR-260 and west of River Road. Pre-evacuation alerts have been issued for homes in Eagar south of SR-260, north of Forest Road 85, between Water Canyon Road and US-191/180, and for all residents north of SR-260 and west of Burk Road, including Springerville residents west of US-191. For detailed evacuation and emergency information, visit 311info.net.
Shelters are available for evacuees at the county fairgrounds in St. Johns and the Alpine Community Center.
The Arizona Department of Transportation has implemented closures on SR-260 in both directions between mileposts 380 and 394, as well as on SR-373 southbound and 261 southbound.
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