Woodbury Fire 25% contained as crews work to protect property near Arizona highways

The Woodbury Fire burning in the Superstition Wilderness was 25% contained Sunday evening as crews worked to protect properties along two state highways, Tonto National Forest officials said.

Kait Webb, a spokeswoman with the U.S. National Forest Service, said the percentage of the perimeter contained fell from 34% to 24% because the fire burned through 16,000 more acres between Saturday and Sunday morning. By Sunday evening, the percentage of containment had increased slightly to 25%. The fire has consumed more than 96,300 acres since it started June 8.

"The lines that we had contained previously are still contained, it's just the fire is growing," Webb told The Arizona Republic. "So the piece of the fire that we have contained is becoming a smaller percentage of the entire fire."

Officials said fire activity slowed Sunday, as expected, as the flames hit sparser vegetation along the fire's eastern perimeter. An update on fire acreage is expected Monday morning.

The fire, burning five miles northwest of Superior, caused the evacuation of about 250 homes Thursday in the Roosevelt and Roosevelt Lake area. 

By Sunday, the fire had almost reached State Highway 88, which has been closed because of firefighter activity on the road. Winds pushed the fire west toward the Reavis Valley Trailhead, south of Apache Lake, fire officials said.

To hold the lines, crews conducted burnouts, which are smaller, controlled burns that reduce vegetation surrounding the fire. Firefighters conducted burnouts from Davis Ranch to Fish Creek along State Highway 88. 

Burnouts also occurred along State Highway 188 in Roosevelt to improve firelines. Fire officials said crews burned brush to add depth to the fireline, providing assurance that the line would hold if the fire moves toward Roosevelt Lake. 

Air crews dropped retardant between Sawtooth Ride and Montana Mountain. They also introduced low-intensity fire to strengthen the retardant line, fire officials said. Hotshots were stationed in the area to monitor fire activity.

Fire officials said containment lines along the west and southwest sides — which is northeast of Apache Junction — are holding, and fire crews have started suppression repair in the area. Suppression repair involves activities such as filling in bulldozer lines. 

About 900 people are working the Woodbury Fire. Full containment is expected July 15, about two weeks later than originally projected.