The Rattlesnake Fire is located approximately 43 miles southeast of Whiteriver, 20 miles southwest of Alpine, and over 50 miles northwest of San Carlos, burning on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, San Carlos Indian Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Firefighters are making excellent progress improving the containment of the Rattlesnake Fire. Improving weather conditions allow for continued safe fireline construction along both the east and west flanks of the fire to the southeast. Hand crews are using firing operations to remove unburnt fuels from previously constructed firelines. Aerial ignition operations are being utilized to remove islands of unburned surface fuels within the interior of the fire. Contingency plans are in place to mitigate adverse smoke effects along the Highway 191 corridor to the east of the fire. […]

Fire managers on the south zone of the Kaibab National Forest will resume implementation on the Sunflower prescribed fire project beginning Saturday of this week. With red flag conditions subsiding and a measure of moisture in the immediate forecast, favorable weather conditions have presented an opportunity to continue with treatments in this specific area. The 15,195 acre Sunflower project is located approximately 7 miles southeast of Williams between County Road 73 and Whitehorse Lake. It began in the fall of 2017 and will likely be ongoing throughout the year as opportunities arise and conditions permit. […]