The Greer Fire had burned roughly 12,615 acres by the start of its fifth day in eastern Arizona.
According to InciWeb, containment lines near Greer held steady as firefighters concentrated on extinguishing hot spots and strengthening the fire’s western perimeter. On Friday, May 16, crews continued reinforcing containment lines.
On Thursday, May 15, a small, strategic firing operation near Fish Canyon helped stop further spread where the fire had crossed the Little Colorado River.
On the northeast side, crews conducted firing operations along Udall Road and Highway 261 to slow potential northern movement. Some of the fire crossed east of Highway 261, but was met with aggressive aerial and ground suppression. Aerial operations were critical throughout the day on May 15.
More than 100 homes south of Eagar were evaluated for fire risk, and structure protection plans were being developed. Crews were also prepared to conduct potential firing operations along the northern edge if needed to reinforce containment lines.
Two additional Type 1 helicopters were expected to arrive on May 16 to enhance aerial support. Firefighters continued to deploy multiple aircraft across all divisions of the fire.
Weather conditions near the Greer Fire
Dry air and gusts around 25 mph were expected on May 16.
According to InciWeb, fire managers were preparing for near-critical fire weather over the weekend, as stronger winds and lower humidity were forecasted.
Greer Fire map: See where the wildfire is burning in eastern Arizona
Strong southwest winds between 15 and 30 mph with powerful gusts were predicted by the National Weather Service for Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18. Gusty winds were expected to remain across eastern Arizona on Monday, May 19.
Chances for precipitation were expected to return late May 17 through May 18, primarily along and north of Interstate 40. Additional showers were possible on Monday, May 19, mostly along and north of the Mogollon Rim. There was a potential for light snow accumulation in areas above 8,000 feet.
Warm and dry weather was predicted to return starting Tuesday, May 20, and continue through the end of the week.
Red flag warning in effect
The National Weather Service in Flagstaff and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following advisories and warnings:
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Wind advisory on May 17 for portions of Coconino and Yavapai counties.
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Red flag warning for Saturday, May 17, afternoon for the Little Colorado River Valley, White Mountains and the Northeast Plateaus.
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Fire weather watch for Sunday, May 18, afternoon for the eastern Little Colorado River Valley.
Wind Advisory and Red Flag Warning – Saturday, May 17
Evacuations
On May 16, the Apache County Sheriff’s Office issued mandatory “go” evacuation orders for residents in Greer, South Fork, all areas west of State Route 261, and for all Eagar residents located south of State Route 260 and west of River Road. The fire had crossed east over SR 261.
Watch: Official says there is ‘a lot of work left to do’ on the Greer Fire
Residents located north and east of the fire had been placed under “set” status, as winds continued to push the fire in a north/northeast direction. Authorities advised those in the affected areas to be prepared to evacuate. Areas currently under “set” status include:
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All Eagar residents located south of SR 260 and between River Road and the SR 260/U.S. 180 junction — directly east of the fire — were included in the evacuation area.
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All residents south of SR 260, north of Forest Service Road, and between Water Canyon Road and the U.S. 191/180 junction — located east of the fire — were included in the evacuation area.
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Additionally, all residents north of SR 260 and west of Burk Road, including those in Springerville west of U.S. Route 191, were also affected.
A shelter opened at the Apache County Fairgrounds in St. Johns. The fairgrounds have the capacity to house small and large animals.
Another shelter opened at a Community Center in Alpine. Cots, blankets and food were available for those who had been evacuated, according to the Apache County Office of Emergency Management website.
Road closures
Three state roads were closed to travelers because of the Greer Fire:
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State Route 260 was closed in both directions between milepost 380 and milepost 394 near Greer, according to ADOT.
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State Route 261 southbound was closed from State Route 260 to the Three Point Mountain Trailhead.
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State Route 373 southbound was closed between mileposts 385 and 390 heading into Greer.
There was no estimated time for when these highways would reopen. For real-time traffic updates, visit AZ 511, download the AZ 511 mobile app, or call 511.
According to the Forest Service, roads, trails, and lands near the Greer Fire have been closed. Impacted recreation sites include Winn Campground, Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground, Benny Creek Campground, and Winn Group Campground.
Gov. Katie Hobbs to visit Springerville
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs was to travel to Springerville with Director Gabe Lavine from the Arizona Division of Emergency Management and State Forester Tom Torres on Saturday, May 17.
Arizona’s largest fire sites: Greer Fire is burning near sites of Wallow and Rodeo-Chediski fires
They were to receive a detailed operational briefing on the Greer Fire from federal, state and local officials led by Matt Rau, Incident Commander for the fire. Gov. Hobbs would also assess current operations and determine ongoing needs as suppression efforts continue.
According to a news release, the briefing was to take place at the American Legion Hall near the fire zone, followed by a situational field tour, contingent on weather and operational conditions.
“We are working tirelessly to put this fire out and won’t stop until we do,” Gov. Hobbs said.
FEMA approved funding for suppression efforts
On May 15, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal funds had been authorized to assist in fighting the Greer Fire.
The governor’s office said securing Fire Management Assistance Grant Funding from FEMA unlocked “critical federal dollars to help ensure … first responders have the support they need to respond to community needs.”
Arizona Republic reporters Ray Stern and Rey Covarrubias Jr. contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Day 5 of the Greer Fire in eastern Arizona: What to know
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