ARIZONA NEWS

Some evacuation orders lifted for destructive Telegraph Fire

Jun 18, 2021, 9:54 AM | Updated: 11:17 am
(Facebook Photo/Telegraph Fire Information)...
(Facebook Photo/Telegraph Fire Information)
(Facebook Photo/Telegraph Fire Information)

PHOENIX – Some evacuation orders were lifted Friday morning for the destructive Telegraph Fire, which is still burning south of Globe but is mostly contained, authorities said.

The incident management team said the sixth-largest wildfire in Arizona history had grown to 176,122 acres, with containment at 72%. Thursday evening’s report showed 173,202 acres acres consumed and the same containment percentage.

The blaze has destroyed or damaged 51 structures, including some homes. Nearly 1,000 personnel have been assigned to fight it.

The Telegraph Fire has been spreading eastward since igniting south of Superior on June 4 and has spilled into the boundary of the Mescal Fire, which 100% contained. However, the two fires are being handled and measured as separate incidents.

Gila County Health and Emergency Management lifted evacuation orders Friday morning for El Capitan on both sides of State Route 77.

Evacuation status remains at “GO” for Dripping Springs, Wind Spirit, Hagen Ranch, Slash S Ranch and Government Springs Ranch.

SR 77 is still closed between U.S. 70 and SR 177 because of the fire.

The exact origin hasn’t been determined, but the Telegraph Fire is considered a human-caused incident.

Here are the 10 largest wildfires in Arizona history, as tracked by KTAR News 92.3 FM reporter Jim Cross, as of Wednesday morning:

  • 1. Wallow, 2011, 522,000-plus acres (15,407 acres in New Mexico)
  • 2. Rodeo-Chediski, 2002, 468,000-plus acres
  • 3. Cave Creek Complex, 2005, 243,000-plus acres
  • 4. Horseshoe 2, 2011, 222,000-plus acres
  • 5. Bush, 2020, 193,000-plus acres
  • 6. Telegraph, 2021, 176,122 acres (active)
  • 7. Woodbury, 2019, 123,875 acres
  • 8. Bighorn, 2020, 119,987 acres
  • 9. Willow, 2004, 119,500 acres
  • 10. Aspen, 2003, 84,750 acres

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Telegraph Fire seen from the Troy Mountain area off State Route 177 on June 16, 2021. (InciWeb Photo) Telegraph Fire near El Capitan, Arizona, June 2021. (Facebook Photo/Telegraph Fire Information) Telegraph Fire near State Route 77 on June 14, 2021. (Facebook Photo/Russ Long via Telegraph Fire Information) Telegraph Fire on June 15, 2021. (Facebook Photo/Reid Barney via Telegraph Fire Information) Telegraph Fire on June 15, 2021. (Facebook Photo/Reid Barney via Telegraph Fire Information) Telegraph Fire as seen on June 14, 2021, from State Route 77 near El Capitan (Type I Incident Management Team Photo/Russ Long) Telegraph Fire. (Facebook Photo/Telegraph Fire Information) Telegraph Fire in Arizona, June 2021. (Twitter Photo/State Rep. David Cook) Telegraph Fire in Arizona, June 2021. (Facebook Photo/Arizona State Forestry) (Gila County Photo/Joseph Pachecho) (Gila County Photo/Joseph Pachecho) Telegraph Fire in Arizona, June 8, 2021. (Submitted by State Rep. Rusty Bowers) Telegraph Fire in Arizona on June 6, 2021. (Facebook Photo/Tonto National Forest) Near the Telegraph Fire in Arizona on June 6, 2021. (Facebook Photo/Tonto National Forest) Telegraph Fire in Arizona on June 5, 2021. (U.S. Forest Service Photo) Telegraph Fire in Arizona, June 4, 2021. (InciWeb Photo) Telegraph Fire on June 5, 2021. (InciWeb Photo) Telegraph Fire in Arizona on June 6, 2021. (Twitter Photo/Boyce Thompson Arboretum) Telegraph Fire in Arizona on June 4, 2021. (InciWeb Photo)

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Some evacuation orders lifted for destructive Telegraph Fire