The southwest United States just can't catch a break with monsoon season bringing many, many thunderstorms, and with these thunderstorms, dangerous lightning strikes that have caused countless wildfires throughout Arizona, Colorado and California. Most recently in Arizona, lightning was again the culprit that ignited a quickly growing fire in the Hualapai Mountains, east of Dean Peak.
According to InciWeb, the Dean Peak Fire has burned nearly seven square miles since first being reported on Saturday June 29 at 3:30 p.m. Located 10 miles southeast of Kingman, Ariz., as of Wednesday afternoon the fire had already burned through 4,400 acres of steep, rugged Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and is being fueled by dried brush, pinyon, juniper and ponderosa pine. Fire officials say the area is very dry.
"Everything is available to burn," said Matthew Reidy, the incident commander coordinating firefighting efforts. "This is the new normal: severe burning conditions and sustained hot, dry periods."
Over 200 fire personnel have been assigned to fight the Dean Peak Fire, which is currently at 0 percent containment. Firefighting resources include 4 hotshot crews, 3 hand crews, 12 fire engines, 3 water tenders, 2 dozers, 3 helicopters as well as heavier aircraft, including a DC-10 which is capable of dropping a mile-long stretch of fire retardant more than 500 feet wide, azcentral.com reports.
InciWeb reports that crews will continue preparation work in and around the communities of Pinion Pine, Atherton Acres and Ponderosa Lake and initiate preparation work on Hualapai Mountain Road and along Wheeler Wash to the south of the fire to serve as containment lines. Additional containment line will be created up Soap Canyon from Yellow Pine Ranch into the retardant line applied by air tankers.
The Mohave County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with the Pine Lake Fire Department have issued mandatory evacuation orders for nearly 350 homes housing approximately 500 residents in the communities of Pinion Pine, Pine Lake and Hualapai Mountain Park. The evacuation route is down Hualapai Mountain Road, according to a press release from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.
For evacuees needing shelter, the Red Cross has set up a reception center at the Kingman High School campus, located at 4182 N. Bank Street in Kingman.
Excluding those living in Pinion Pine Community, Pine Lake Community and Hualapai Mountain Park, other local residents are currently still being allowed into the Hualapai Mountains by showing identification. They should be advised, however, that several roads in the area are closed, including: Hualapai Mountain Road at MP 4.5, DW Ranch Road at Interstate 40 (on the Hualapai Mountain side), Blake Ranch Road at Interstate 40 (also on the Hualapai Mountain side), Old Highway 93 in the Hualapai Mountains, Yellow Pines into the Hualapai Mountains and Antelope Wash to the Hualapai Mountains.
ABC 15 News reports that a community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Mohave County Board of Supervisors auditorium, located at 700 W. Beale Street in Kingman. Officials from the Northern Arizona Incident Management Team will be present at the meeting to provide updates and answer any questions.
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