November 6, 2007, 7:00 am

Working day and night over the last two days, firefighters have succeeded in establishing a fireline around the August Fire between Ash Creek Ridge and Senator Highway northwest of Palace Station on the Prescott National Forest. Fire managers expect full containment tomorrow, Wednesday, November 7, before an anticipated wind event forecast for Friday or Saturday.

Burning operations along the established dozer lines north and south of the fire and along the Senator Highway completed the containment lines. Firefighters are now conducting patrol and mop-up operations, cooling hot spots within 100 feet of the line.

To ensure public and firefighter safety, road closures in the area of the fire remain in effect. Forest Roads 52B and 52 from Union Saddle (below the junction of FR 52 and FR 261) to County Road 177 are closed. There is still active fire within the perimeter and there is heavy traffic along the roads and fire lines.

“Unburned islands of fuel within the perimeter of the fire will continue to burn in the coming weeks,” PNF spokeswoman Debbie Maneely said in a press release. “Residents are advised that smoke will continue in the area for several days.”

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the fire.

Drought conditions are continuing across the state of Arizona. To prevent additional wildfires, officials ask visitors to the Prescott National Forest to exercise extreme caution with fire.

Details of the fire released by officials this morning, Tuesday, Nov. 6 include:

Fire size: 620 acres
Containment: 60percent
Cause: Human, under investigation
Time/Date Started: October 30, 2007
Location: 10 Miles South of Prescott, AZ
Fuels: Heavy dead/down Ponderosa pine, timber, slash (debris left behind from woodcutting operations)
Terrain: Steep, rugged
Total Personnel: 214
Resources: Seven crews, seven engines, two water tender, two bulldozers
Air Support: Two helicopters, two air tankers
Structures: No structures threatened

For current information on the wildfire visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott or call the Prescott National Forest fire information line at 928-777-5799.