
Bridge Creek Fire grows to 2,274 acres, new team takes command

Navajo Times | Krista Allen
The Bridge Creek Fire burning on Navajo Mountain near the Arizona-Utah border has grown to 2,274 acres. Fire crews are working to contain the blaze, which is producing heavy smoke but poses no immediate threat to nearby communities.
WINDOW ROCK
The Bridge Creek Fire burning on Navajo Mountain expanded to 2,274 acres as of June 23, prompting a shift in command and the deployment of additional firefighting resources to the area.

Navajo Times | Krista Allen
The Bridge Creek Fire burning on Navajo Mountain near the Arizona-Utah border has grown to 2,274 acres. A homestead sits in the foreground near Navajo Canyon and Tsai Skizzi Rock, Ariz.
The Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team 2, led by Incident Commander John Truett, assumed operational control on Sunday morning following an increase in fire activity.
The fire, located roughly 35 miles east-northeast of Page, remains at 0% containment. Lightning ignited the blaze on June 13 in an area characterized by grass, dead and down fuels, and timber.
Fire crews have grown to 229 personnel, supported by two Hotshot crews, one Type 2 crew, a Type 1 helicopter, two bulldozers, seven engines, three water tenders, and six utility terrain vehicles. Additional reinforcements are expected to arrive.
Efforts on the ground are divided into two operational groups which are scouting on the mountain’s summit near the fire, including identifying and assessing structures and cultural sites at risk.
Fire managers have not directly attacked the fire because of the rugged terrain, potential land damage, and the dangers posed by high winds, steep roads, and limited communication access. Long extraction times in case of injury remain a concern.
The fire poses potential threats to the culturally significant areas and the nearby communities of Rainbow City and Navajo Mountain. According to incident managers, past burn scars and natural rock features have slowed the fire’s progress, helping suppression efforts. They assessed the probability of successfully defending threatened values as high.
Weather conditions on Monday were expected to be hotter, with reduced winds and slightly higher humidity. Overnight humidity recovery was reported to be favorable. However, officials warned that decreased wind could allow heat to build within the fire’s interior, reigniting previously burned areas.
No evacuation orders have been issued at this time. The Federal Aviation Administration has established a Temporary Flight Restriction zone over the fire area, which was recently modified on Sunday.
Drone use within the restricted zone is illegal and threatens aerial firefighting operations. Incident officials reminded the public that unauthorized aircraft could halt all air response efforts.