SUPERIOR, Ariz. — The Pinal County Sheriff's Office and fire crews are continuing to patrol, extinguish, and remove burning material on the containment line along Forest Road 651 due to a fire.
The fire, called the Telegraph Fire, has burned around 87,078 acres and closed multiple roadways in the area.
Fire officials said on Saturday that containment around the fire was at 45% and 20 structures have been destroyed.
Highway 77 is closed from Globe to Winkelman.
Multiple communities in Pinal and Gila counties have been ordered to evacuate or are preparing to evacuate, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
The following communities are under the "GO" order and have been asked to evacuate:
- Residences west of Miami town limits
- Lower Central Heights (Russel Road from Coyote Trail through Russel Gulch)
- Ice House Canyon
- Kellner Canyon
- Six Shooter Canyon (from the Community Center South).
- The East Side of El Capitan.
Photos from the Telegraph Fire
Photos from the Telegraph Fire
The following communities are under the "SET" order and have been asked to prepare for evacuation:
- Top-of-the-World, Gila and Pinal counties
- Oak Flats campground
- Town of Miami
- Claypool on the south side of Highway 60. From the 60/188 junction to Miami.
- Central Heights area between the 188 junctions to De Marcos. This includes Central Heights, Little Acres, Miami Gardens, and the Copper Country Mobile Home Park.
- South Globe, all areas south of Highway 60 and Highway 70 from De Marcos to the 70-77 junction.
- West Side of El Capitan and Dripping Springs
The following communities are under the "READY" order, meaning residents who voluntarily relocated can safely return home:
- Town of Superior, Pinal County
- Area of Battle Axe
Post Office buildings in Globe, Miami, Claypool were closed due to the fire but will reopen on June 11, the U.S. Postal Service said.
There has not been an update on post offices in San Carlos, Bylas, or Peridot. They have been closed until further notice.
The Tonto National Forest in Gila County was closed for safety Monday afternoon, the National Forest Service said. Power has been cut to more than 200 homes in Top-of-the-World, the sheriff's office said.
Approximately 400 people were affected in the evacuation of Top-of-the-World, authorities said. There is no word on how many are affected by the most recent evacuation orders.
There is an evacuation shelter open at the High Desert Middle School in Globe, Gila County Health and Emergency Management said in a Facebook post.
The Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Lee Kornegay Intermediate School at 4635 Railroad Ave. in Miami and at Skyline High School in Mesa.
On Wednesday, ADOT has announced that US 70 has reopened between mileposts 256 and 302. ADOT also announced State Route 77 has reopened between Globe and Winkelman. The closure between mileposts 135 and 170 was due to the nearby wildfire.
US 60 has been reopened in both directions on Friday.
A temporary public access order has been issued for National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the boundaries below.
Residents in evacuation areas are urged to have an emergency supplies kit to bring with them when leaving their homes.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that residents near a disaster store emergency supplies in a plastic tub, small suitcase, trash can, backpack, or other containers.
Residents should make sure they have the necessities, such as three gallons of water per person and a three-day supply of ready-to-eat food, the NFPA said. A first-aid kit, prescription medications, contact lenses, and non-prescription drugs should also be taken into account.
Copies of any important family documents, including insurance policies, identification, bank account records, and emergency contact numbers should also be taken and put into a waterproof, portable container in your kit, the NFPA said.
The association lists other items that would help in a disaster, including:
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio and an NOAA weather radio to receive up-to-date information
- Dust mask or cotton T-shirt to filter the air
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Complete change of clothing including long pants, long sleeve shirts, and sturdy shoes stored in a waterproof container
- Signal flare
The entire NFPA checklist of supplies can be found here.
The Arizona Humane Society's Emergency Response Team has been deployed to the Telegraph Fire on Sunday to provide resources for family pets.
A team of seven including medical and animal care personnel has set up an emergency shelter at Skyline High School in Mesa.
One pug, two poodles and a parrot are currently being cared for by AHS workers.
Wildfires in Arizona
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