Big Idea

• The Horse Fire has spread to nearly 8500 acres
• Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Crown King, Minnehaha, Horsethief Cabins and others nearby
• Firefighters are focusing on protecting communities and infrastructures, airtankers and helicopters are working to slow the spread
• This article also includes maps that helps to visualize the fire and the closure areas
• Read more...

The Horse Fire is at 0% containment

Horse Fire Information: Phone 928-925-1111

Location: 7 Miles Northwest of Crown King; 18 miles south of Prescott, AZ on the Bradshaw Ranger District (T1N, R2W, S24)

Size: 8,458 Acres Start Date: October 15, 2020

Percent Contained: 0%

Vegetation: Juniper, Chaparral and Timber

Cause: Under Investigation

Prescott AZ, October 17, 2020 - The Horse Fire grew to 8,458 acres late yesterday afternoon.

Airtankers and helicopters continued working on efforts to slow the spread of the fire; firefighters worked on structure protection in and around the community of Crown King and Towers Mtn. The fire is in a remote section of the forest with steep, rugged terrain. Efforts were focused on the protection of the communities, and infrastructure that are being affected by the Horse fire. Extreme fire behavior was observed over the fire making uphill runs throughout the day.

Many of the following maps were developed from: https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/#/%3F/%3F/34.2133/-112.4041/12

Closures: All roads leading into Crown King have been closed including-Jefferson St. at Goodwin, Senator Highway at Palace Station, County Road 59 from Cleator, and Wagoner at Hozoni. Please avoid the area to allow suppression resources to travel safely to and throughout the incident. A Forest Closure Order is in effect for the trails and roads in and around the Horse Fire area .

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Code Red ‘GO’

There are evacuations currently in effect for the communities of Crown King, Minnehaha, Horsethief Cabins and any private inholdings in and around the fire area. For information on the Code Red alerts issued you can visit the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for updates or call (928) 771-3321 or to sign up for Code Red notifications visit Yavapai County Code Red Notification. American Red Cross and Community Health are hosting the Evacuation Center set up at Mayer High School which is located at 17300 E Mule Deer Drive Spring Valley, AZ 86333.

Resources:

1 - Air Attack

3 – Air Tankers

3 – Helicopter

4 – Hotshot Crew

3 – Type 2 IA Crew

10 – Engines, Miscellaneous Overhead.

Weather: Maximum temperatures ranging from 80-82 degrees, minimum relative humidity 11-13%, Westerly wings are forecasted to develop by Saturday afternoon around 10 mph with gusts to 20 mph.

For more incident information please see:

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7244/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/ 

Twitter: @PrescottNF

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited within the area described in this Order (the “Restricted Area”) and as depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A, within the Verde Ranger District, Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County, Arizona.

1. Going into or being upon the Restricted Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting

resource in the performance of an official duty.

3. Residents, owners and lessees of private property within the Restricted Area are allowed ingress and egress only to and from their properties.

RESTRICTED AREA

The Restricted Area consists of all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the boundary starting at the intersection of National Forest System Road (NFSR) 94 and the National Forest (NF) boundary, proceeding south along the NF boundary for approximately 11 miles, then following the NF boundary east for approximately 6 miles, then south 2 miles, then east 12 miles, then north approximately 17 miles, then west 3 miles, to the intersection with County Road (CR) 177, then following west along CR 177 for approximately 7 miles to its intersection with NFSR 52, then following NFSR 52 northwest 4 miles, to its intersection with NFSR 82, then following NFSR 82 south for approximately 3 miles to its intersection with NFSR 82A, then following NFSR 82A southwest to its intersection with NFSR 94, then following NFSR 94 northwest approximately 3 miles back to the point of beginning at its intersection with the NF boundary.

Note: NFSR 94 is closed from NFSR 82A to the NF boundary. CR 177 is closed from the NF boundary to NFSR 52. NFSR 52 is closed from CR 177 to NFSR 82. NFSR 82 is closed from NFSR 52 to NFSR 82A. NFSR 82A is closed from NFSR 82 to NFSR 94.

PURPOSE

To provide for public and fire fighter health and safety due to firefighting operations and fire danger associated with the uncontrolled Horse Fire on the Prescott National Forest.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order will be effective on October 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. and shall remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. on November 30, 2020, or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

2. A map identifying the Restricted Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A.

3. Any violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both (see 16 U.S.C. § 551, 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(6), 18 U.S.C. § 3581(b)(7)).

4. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Bradshaw Ranger District located in Prescott, Arizona, telephone number 928 443-8000, and at the Prescott National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Chino Valley, telephone number 928 777-2200, and at http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott.

5. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same acts covered by this Order.

Done at Prescott , AZ , this __16th_day of October, 2020.

Dale A. Deiter
Forest Supervisor
Prescott National Forest