Evacuations ordered as Black Fire burns thousands of acres in Tonto National Forest

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Evacuation orders remain in place, and several forest areas are still blocked off as the Black Fire continues to burn thousands of acres in Tonto National Forest.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the lightning-caused fire near the Tonto National Monument in Gila County has burned 11,102 acres since it was reported last Thursday, July 11. As of the morning of July 22, officials say it’s 85% contained.

The closure will last through September.(U.S. Forest Service- Tonto National Forest)

Several communities and recreation areas within Tonto Basin have been ordered to leave and placed in GO status. Here are the areas currently being evacuated:

Tonto National Monument
Black Brush Ranch
Cross-P Ranch
Reevis Mountain School
Cottonwood Campground
Fraser Horse Camp
Group Site Windy Hill Campground (the boat ramp will remain open)
Schoolhouse Campground (boat ramp closed)
Grapevine Campground (boat ramp closed)

The following areas have been placed in SET status and should prepare for evacuation:

Roosevelt Lakeview RV Park
Roosevelt Lake Marina
Roosevelt Post Office
Quail Run
Lakeview Mobile Home Park

Residents should evacuate immediately to a shelter or with family and friends outside the affected area.

On Monday, Gila County Emergency Management established a call center to assist area residents with up-to-date info on evacuations and other resources. The call center can be reached at (928) 910-4009, ext. 1, and is staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Southwest Incident Team 3 is also planning to host a virtual public meeting to share the latest information on the fire. Watch it at 7 p.m. on Friday via Tonto National Forest’s Facebook account here.

Cholla and Windy Hill boat ramps will be open for use. However, Tonto Basin Ranger Station is closed until further notice.

Earlier this week, Tonto National Forest officials said a section of the forest just south of Roosevelt Lake, including parts of the Superstition Wilderness and Arizona Trail, is blocked off. The order went into effect on Sunday and will last until Sept. 1 unless it’s rescinded.

The conditions from the fire have led to the temporary relocation of the post office in Roosevelt to the Tonto Basin Post Office at 77 S. Old Highway 188.

Officials say 348 personnel have been assigned to the fire, including seven hand crews. Other resources include seven helicopters, four engines, six water tenders and three bulldozers.

Air tankers and helicopters have been used since this past weekend to slow the fire’s progression as crews focused on structure protection.

Officials say the fire was active on Wednesday evening due to thunderstorm outflows and gusty, erratic wind. Hot and windy conditions are expected once again on Thursday as crews continue to secure the fire’s edge outside the Superstition Wilderness.

For more information or to sign up for evacuation alert notifications, visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.

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