Spotter helicopter lands at Payson Airport (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)
PAYSON– An evacuation order remains in effect for residents of Whispering Pines and for the Water Wheel Campground eight miles northeast of Payson this morning. Officials still list the fire at 0% contained. The Water Wheel Fire started near the Water Wheel Campground and was reported just before 2:00 pm Sunday afternoon.. The fire grew to 500 acres by 9:30 pm Sunday night. The Red Cross and the Town of Payson set up the evacuation center at 4:30 pm Sunday afternoon at the Payson High School auxiliary gymnasium, according to Payson Police Chief Don Engler. 65 people checked into the evacuation center as of 7:30 pm. “We’ll have a few officers around the gym here, in case anyone decides to stay tonight,” Engler said. He says most people will likely stay with friends or in local hotels, but they are prepared nonetheless.
Local fire crews and police officers from towns around northern Gila County are still on the front lines at this hour, until relief arrives sometime this morning. “We called in almost all of our volunteer force (to help with traffic control and closures) and several additional officers to help with the effort,” Chief Engler mentioned. The Payson Fire Department has also called in several off-duty firefighters to cover for the engine companies that are out fighting the fire.
Message sign instructs evacuees to Payson HIgh School. (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)
Payson Police Lieutenant Donnie Garvin was one of the off duty officers called in to man the check points along Houston Mesa Road, which is closed to traffic at Freedom Acres, just over two miles from Water Wheel Campground, where the fire started. “This is as far as anyone can come, unless they’re helping with the fire,” said Garvin. “Freedom Acres is as close as you can get.”
Smoke settled in for the night over much of northern Gila County, including Pine, Strawberry, and Payson. The size of the fire was listed at around 150 acres as of 5:30 pm Sunday, burning mostly in Ponderosa Pine trees. Crews managed to get “two or three” slurry drops on the fire before dark Sunday, according to Chief Engler. The cause of the fire is still listed as unknown.
A Type-2 Incident Management Team has been requested to assist with suppression efforts. Two heavy air tankers, one helicopter, and 15 engines are currently on scene fighting the fire.
NAZ Today is actively tracking this fire– check back often for updates.
Police turn residents around at Freedom Acres (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)
My Mom and Sister live in Beaver Valley. I’m praying for everyone up there. God bless and stay safe.
I enjoy your news coverage. I’d enjoy it even more if you’d show a map of the Water Wheel fire you’re covering north of Payson. What specific areas have burned and what direction is the fire heading?
Also, in the past, it seems the firefighters have to wait until a fire gets to a certain level of destruction before they send in serious fire fighting equipment such as planes, to put out a fire. Often by then the fire is out of control. In these dry conditions, logically they should hit it hard as soon as someone smells smoke to stop it before the fire gets out of control. If you smelled smoke while you’re driving your car, would wait until the flames are at a certain level about your hood before you took serious action. Maybe the firefighters are stuck with a certain protocol instead of common sense.
Thanks
I’m not a fan of the USFS multi-use management plan that allows the over-growth of plants in the forest surrounding Payson. However, I would never say the USFS waits to fight a fire. The Diamond Point spotting tower, the radio alerts and responses, the stationed Hot Shot crews and the preparedness arrangements with local fire departments argue against such an irresponsible post. Whatever were you thinking?
I can see the fire from my house in Payson. Step outside and the wind will tell you which way it is headed if for some reason you don’t believe fire heads uphill.
I agree with Dan , the past fire ( Pack Rat ) was right behind my house before the USFS did anything about it, thank god it rained.