Pinal County community must prepare to evacuate Whitlow Fire burns 218 acres

QUEEN VALLEY, AZ (AZFamily) — A small Pinal County community should prepare for possible evacuations due to a wildfire that started on Saturday morning.

According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, a fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. near the river banks west of Hewitt Station Road and Forest Road 3493. The blaze is roughly four miles outside of Queen Valley, which is 18 miles west of Superior.

According to Tonto National Forest officials, as of Sunday afternoon, the fire has burned 218 acres and is 40% contained.

On Sunday afternoon, residents in the town of about 1,800 people have been put onto READY status and should be prepared to evacuate if the fire worsens.

Five engines, a Phoenix handcrew and members of the Mesa hotshots are working to contain the blaze. A Type 1 helicopter and two air tankers have been requested to assist ground crews.

With temperatures above 100 degrees outside, just imagine how hot it is for firefighters on the frontlines heading toward flames in heavy gear. Despite it being fall, the heat isn’t letting up, which is why finding ways to keep crews cool is key to avoiding any heat-related illnesses while on the job.

“It’s been a very long season starting at the beginning of May and we’re still rolling through it,” said Amanda Oliver from the Tonto National Forest. “The biggest safety concern is how hot it is. So, our crews and our firefighters working in this heat.”

Oliver said there have been 182 wildfires so far this year, burning more than 130,000 acres in the Tonto National Forest alone. More than half of them were human-caused.

No one was hurt in this latest fire, but the extreme heat can be dangerous for those battling the flames. “It’s hot out there,” said Oliver. “We all know it’s still over 100 degrees in October and so the biggest challenge I would say is that it’s hot. It’s been a long season. And just fatigue I would say.”

Residents should follow the tips below:

• Residents should consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating.
• Grab your emergency go kit.
• Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.
• Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.

Sign up for the Pinal emergency notification system to receive alerts.

Closures

There are multiple road closures north of US 60 and west of Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The closures will be in effect through Oct. 31, unless they are rescinded.

Roughly 18,000 people have been in set status but no evacuations have been ordered. Officials say the fire is human-caused, but exactly how it started is still under investigation.

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