Public asked to avoid area as Siphon Fire grows to roughly 16,000 acres in Superstition Wilderness
Lost Dutchman State Park closed until further notice
APACHE JUNCTION, AZ (AZFamily) — Evacuations were lifted as a wildfire continues burning in the Superstition Wilderness.
Tonto National Forest officials say the human-caused Siphon Fire is burning in rugged terrain northeast of Apache Junction. As of Sept. 18, the fire is estimated to have burned 15,527 acres with 58% containment.
A “GO” status was issued late morning on Sept. 12 for an evacuation of the Canyon Lake/Tortilla Flat area, but all GO statuses were returned to READY on Sunday.
Lost Dutchman State Park is also closed until further notice. Forest officials asked the public to avoid First Water, Boulder, Siphon Trails and Forest Road 78 while the fire is active.
On Sept. 21, crews focused on improving the fire lines around SR 88 and dropping water to limit the spread of the fire.
“Now that the firefighters have started cold trailing the perimeter and looking for hot spots, but that doesn’t mean that we’re out of the woods yet,” said Tonto National Forest Public Affairs Officer Susan Blake.
On Sept. 21, a READY status was issued for residents east of Mountain View Road and west of the Tonto National Forest. The Apache Junction Police Department previously issued a SET status for the area.
Apache Junction added areas with horse property adjacent to the mountain to READY or SET status on Sept. 20. They said the Rodeo Grounds are available as a large animal shelter site if residents are evacuated.
Pinal County officials said the fire behavior has been “erratic and unpredictable.”
The wildfire exploded in size in the Superstition Wilderness, where the terrain is just too rough for ground crews to access the flames.
Tonto National Forest officials say firefighters got a better look at the eastern side of the fire during an aerial mapping mission on Friday. In addition to more than a dozen fire engines and two helicopters, scooper aircraft were also called in to assist.
Authorities ask that the public avoid the Superstition Wilderness area, SR 88 and Forest Road 78.
Fire officials believe the wildfire was human-caused, but the exact cause is still under investigation.
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