Salt, Gin, Griffin fires near Globe remain uncontained
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Three lightning-caused wildfires burning near Globe forced the evacuation of multiple communities on Saturday.
As of Saturday morning, the Salt, Gin and Griffin fires burned a combined 32,000 acres. The fires each remained uncontained.
The Gin Fire, located in the Apache Mountains five miles north of Globe, burned about 4,800 acres, while the 6,700-acre Griffin Fire, burned less than two miles away. The blaze crossed U.S. 60 and moved onto the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
The Salt Fire has burned through more than 21,000 acres near Roosevelt Lake in the Tonto National Forest.
As a result, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and Gila County Emergency Management ordered the evacuation of both sides of State Route 188 from Bixby Road to the junction of state routes 188 and 288.
Roosevelt Estates, Roosevelt Resort, Rockhouse, Spring Creek, Hay Hook and Quail Run were told to prepare for a possible evacuation.
The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 took command of the Salt Fire on Thursday morning and also took charge of the neighboring Gin and Griffin fires.
Forest officials said firefighters dealt with “erratic gusty winds” on Saturday, as well as the potential for more lightning from thunderstorms. Saturday afternoon winds from the west ranged from 5 to 13 mph with gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
As a result, SR 188 is closed from Old Alignment to Del Rio Lane. SR 288 is closed from the junction of SR 188 to Forest Road 465. U.S. 60 is also closed from SR 73 to Vuksanovich Drive.
On Friday, forest officials said they were able to extend containment lines through the south end of the Gin Fire. Throughout Saturday, firefighters monitored and held existing firelines on forest roads 220 and 224 and looked for ways to minimize impacts to U.S. 60, which is near the east end of the fire.
Due to the Griffin Fire crossing U.S. 60 and moving onto the San Carlos Apache Reservation, the highway remains closed in both directions from SR 73 to Vuksanovich Drive. On Saturday, incident personnel worked to protect Griffin and Tucker ranches to keep the fire south of Forest Road 330.
Throughout Saturday, crews held existing lines and scouted for areas to put in contingency fireline near neighboring communities. Firefighters also worked to minimize impact in communities near Wheatfields and Roosevelt, Pinto Valley mine, as well as worked to protect powerlines and state routes 188 and 288.
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