Residents concerned as Siphon Fire grows to almost 16,000 acres near Apache Junction
Amy Austin just finished walking the Cloud View Trailhead when officials began setting up a "Do Not Enter" sign at the start of the trail due to the Siphon Fire.
"This is all my favorite outdoor places to go to. I would be sick if something happened to the Tortilla Flats," Austin said.
The Siphon Fire ignited on Tuesday about 1 p.m. and has burned 15,876 acres with 0% containment. Tonto National Forest posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the fire was human-caused, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Austin, who lives near Tortilla Flats on the outskirts of Apache Junction, expressed her concerns about the fire and confirmed she had an evacuation plan ready if necessary.
"I have two emergency backpacks with about 72 hours worth of supplies," Austin said. "I also have essentials in the trunk of my car, as well as medications, pet food for my two cats and my parrot, and a tent so everyone can get by for at least three days. I usually try to do a week's worth of supplies."
This is the first time Austin has seen a fire get this close to her area and having everything ready to evacuate, but this does not worry her.
"I'm an independent traveler that is prepared for any situation, whether it's in the hot or cold or whatever, I can be good even if I'm just in my car," Austin said.
Siphon Fire threat
Pinal County issued a "Set" status for residents east of Mountain View Road and west of the Tonto National Forest, between Broadway Road and Lost Dutchman State Park.
A "Ready" status is in place for residents just south of Tonto National Forest in the Gold Canyon area, and the communities between East Broadway Avenue to East Southern Avenue, between South Geronimo Road and South Barkley Road.
Pinal County notified the public on its website that State Route 88, Apache Trail, is closed past Lost Dutchman State Park. Tortilla Flat, Canyon Lake Marina, and Lost Dutchman State Park are also all closed.
Residents adjacent to the Siphon Fire within the Superstition Mountains have been put into various stages of evacuation preparation as an extreme precaution, according to the Pinal County website.
Matt Wilcox, a public information officer with the Tonto National Forest, said the fire has been difficult to contain with it being a wilderness area and no roads.
"We're making sure crews are safe when they're hiking into the fire," Wilcox said. "We're utilizing aviation assets, we have a type one helicopter working and a super scooper aircraft working between the Point and Siphon fires."
Challenging hike
On Thursday, burnout operations were used toward the north side of the fire to burn out fuel before the fire reached that point, according to Wilcox.
Due to the rugged terrain, ground resources have not been able to safely access most of the fire, but firefighters were able to get a better look at the eastern side of the fire with an aerial mapping mission on Friday.
"The most challenging thing about this fire is getting access; the wilderness is brutal," Wilcox said. "It's a really popular hiking spot for a lot of folks in the Phoenix area, and they know how hard it is; imagine doing that with a chainsaw on your back like some of these firefighters have to do," he said.
Wilcox urges people to follow their local county emergency management website and to sign up for alerts and to begin preparing now.
"Just knowing where your pets, your prescriptions, and your paperwork are can be a big help if any status does change," Wilcox said.
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In the event of a full evacuation, the Apache Junction rodeo grounds, at 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd., will serve as a shelter for large animals. Residents in need of this service can call 480-474-5418 for advanced instructions.
