Crooks Fire burns over 2,800 acres, 5% contained
The Crooks Fire burning near Mount Union, about 10 miles south of Prescott, grew to 2,804 acres in size as of Saturday morning with no new evacuations since Tuesday afternoon.
The fire, which was reported on Monday morning, was at 5% containment as of Saturday morning, according to a briefing from the California Interagency Incident Management Team 4, which assumed command of the fire on Wednesday afternoon.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. According to Kyle Jacobsen, Operations Section Chief with the CIIM Team 4, the fire grew approximately 300 acres southwest into the Ash Creek drainage on Friday.
According to Jacobsen, aircraft fire crews worked on Friday to contain the fire from further extending into the west.
“Despite the difficult, really windy conditions that we had yesterday and last night, crews made really good progress in trying to get around this fire, increase the containment and get folks back into their homes as soon as possible,” Jacobsen said during a Saturday morning briefing.
According to Meteorologist Megan Taylor with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, much lighter winds and cool temperatures are expected for Saturday through early next week.
High humidity helped suppress the flames on Friday, but drier conditions are forecasted for Saturday afternoon, according to a Prescott National Forest press release.
InciWeb, a website tracking wildfire information, estimated the fire could be 100% contained by May 4.
Only two structures have been reported damaged since Monday, but additional information will be released when property locations have been verified and owners have been notified, forest officials said.
About 535 fire people were assigned to work on the fire Friday afternoon.
A community meeting will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. at Embry Riddle University located at 37000 Willow Creek Drive in Prescott.
The meeting will be live-streamed through the Prescott National Forest Facebook, according to a press release.
Where is the Crooks Fire burning?
Crooks Fire is burning about 10 miles south of Prescott in the west portion of Prescott National Forest, east of Lookout Mountain, northwest of Yankee Doodle Peak Venezia, southeast to Mount Tritle and south of Potato Patch.
The fire has reached Mount Union, Starlight Canyon, Mount Davis and Venezia.
The Forest Service closed sites in Groom Creek and Lynx Lake recreation areas, White Spar campground, Prescott Circle Trail and the Prescott Basin on Thursday night. A full list of what is closed can be found on the Forest Service’s website.
Evacuations in effect for Crooks Fire
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said Groom
Creek should be ready to evacuate on Thursday. The following areas are still on evacuation status:
● Potato Patch
● Breezy Pines
● Walker Road
● Lookout Mountain
● Mountain Pines Acres
No additional evacuation orders were given on Thursday, but the Sheriff ’s Office asked people nearby to be ready in case that changes.
The American Red Cross said a shelter was set up for residents affected by the fire at the Yavapai College gymnasium, at 1100 E. Sheldon St. in Building 2, in Prescott.
If anyone has questions or needs assistance, they can stop by or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).
The Sheriff ’s Office will continue to provide updates on evacuations.