Maid Fire 100% contained
Arizona News – November 13, 2023 – UPDATE
The Maid Fire located just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit is 100% contained at 942 acres and may produce very small traces of smoke as leaves and small brush smolder within the fire perimeter on Apache Maid mountain.
An emergency closure order is in place for Apache Maid mountain, which includes Forest Roads 620, 620D, and 644G. This order will be in place through March 30, 2024 unless rescinded earlier. All Forest Orders for Coconino National Forest are posted online on our Forest Orders web page.
Firefighters will continue to patrol the area to ensure the fire remains contained.
The human-caused wildfire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. on November 4 by a member of the public. The specific cause is still under investigation.
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Maid Fire currently 942 acres, 55% contained
Arizona News – November 8, 2023 – UPDATE
Firefighters continue to work on containing the Maid Fire on Apache Maid mountain just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit and are hopeful to reach full containment within the next several days.
The Maid Fire is currently 55% contained on the northern and eastern flanks of Apache Maid mountain, and firefighters continue to work on containing the western and southern sides of the 942-acre wildfire.
Firefighters are utilizing a full suppression strategy, and all burnout operations have been completed. As containment increases, resources will move to a monitor and patrol status in the coming days.
Fire behavior has largely been moderate but continues to smolder in remaining heavy dead and down fuels, and limited pockets of leaf litter. Occasional increases in intensity are observed as the fire creeps into available fuels.
Resources on scene include three crews, three engines, and a medic team, equating to 88 personnel. Depending on fire activity, this wildfire can be very visible to surrounding areas such as Camp Verde, Sedona and Rimrock, as well as those driving along Interstate 17 between the mileposts of 285-310.
The immediate area around the wildfire is under a closure order, which can be viewed on the 2023 Maid Fire Inciweb site online, where details about the wildfire are updated daily.
The human-caused wildfire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. on November 4 by a member of the public.
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Suppression efforts continue on 543-acre Maid Fire
Arizona News – November 6, 2023 – UPDATE
Firefighters continue to work on containing the Maid Fire on Apache Maid mountain just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit.
By using a drone, firefighters were able to accurately map the perimeter of the wildfire, which is currently 543 acres and 0% contained, though containment numbers should increase in the next couple of days.
Firefighters also used a drone yesterday to conduct burnout operations in steep and difficult terrain on the west side of the mountain, while hand ignitions were conducted on the southern side, using a forest road as a control feature.
Crews plan on focusing their efforts today on the west and southwest sides of Apache Maid mountain, connecting burnout operations from forest roads to the fire itself to increase control. Weather and wind will be a determining factor as to whether they are able to continue burnout operations and how much they are able to accomplish today.
Smoke is predicted to move in a northeast direction and will be heavy today if burnout operations continue. Aside from weather and wind conditions, rough, rocky, and steep terrain create challenges for on-the-ground suppression efforts.
Resources on scene include four crews, two engines, a dozer, one helicopter and a medic team, equating to 81 personnel. This wildfire is very visible to surrounding areas such as Camp Verde, Sedona and Rimrock, as well as those driving along Interstate 17 between the mileposts of 285-310.
The human-caused wildfire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. on November 4 by a member of the public, and the specific cause is under investigation. Details about the wildfire will be updated daily on the 2023 Maid Fire Inciweb site online.
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Wildfire on Apache Maid mountain grows to more than 200 acres
Arizona News – November 5, 2023 – UPDATE
The Maid Fire, located on Apache Maid mountain 17 miles northwest of Clints Well, has grown to more than 200 acres as crews have worked overnight to protect Apache Maid lookout tower and used surrounding forest roads as control features.
Resources currently on scene include three crews, four engines, one dozer, one helicopter, and Jerome Fire Department, which equates to about 90 firefighting personnel.
Firefighters used burnout operations around the lookout Saturday to protect it from the wildfire moving up the mountain and consuming it.
Crews plan to spend the next two days (Sunday – Monday) conducting burnout operations near surrounding forest roads to create better control of the movement of wildfire and keep it from moving across the landscape.
Smoke is predicted to move in a northeast direction and will be heaviest the next two days as burnout operations commence. Rough and rocky terrain and steep mountain faces create challenges for on-the-ground suppression efforts.
This wildfire is very visible to those driving along Interstate 17 near the Stoneman Lake exit since it is only 5 miles from the interstate.
It’s possible that smoke from the wildfire may settle and drain in the evening hours in places like Wet Beaver Wilderness, which could drain toward communities such as Rimrock.
The fire was first reported at 5:11 a.m. Saturday by a member of the public, and the cause is under investigation.
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Crews responding to 25-acre Maid Fire near Apache Maid lookout
Arizona News – November 4, 2023
Crews are responding to the 25-acre Maid Fire, located approximately 17 miles northwest of Clints Well near Apache Maid lookout (GPS: 34.723056, -111.543889).
Resources responding to the fire include three engines, multiple firefighter crews and personnel, one helicopter, one dozer, Taylor and Jerome fire departments. Additional resources have been ordered.
The fire is moving at a moderate rate of spread through ponderosa pine and grass and is producing visible smoke to those in the immediate area.
This fire was reported early this morning and its cause is under investigation.
There are no closures associated with the Maid Fire at this time, but forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area and remain cognizant of firefighting efforts.