Verde Lakes and Beasley Flats areas have been placed on “ready” status for evacuation due to threats from the Backbone Fire.
The fire, which was ignited by lightning about 11 miles west of Pine on June 16, has now burned around 32,757 acres, according to InciWeb.
The communities of Fossil Creek, Childs, Verde Lakes and Beasley Flats were told to prepare for evacuation on Tuesday, June 22. The move to place Verde Lakes and Beasley Flats on “ready” status is a precautionary measure, and the two communities are not in imminent danger at this time as the fire is currently moving northeast.
“There is no immediate threat so just be diligent and have items ready,” according to a Facebook post by the Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District.
In a statement June 22, Copper Canyon Fire Marshal Ken Krebbs said he surveyed both Verde Lakes and Beasley Flats that morning and reported that the incident management team has established fire breaks in both areas and is working hard to keep the fire from spreading toward the communities.
“With all of the hard work that the fire crews have been doing, our community should feel confident but be ready,” he wrote.
According to InciWeb, crews are continuing to look for opportunities to curb any movement of the fire toward Camp Verde. The Verde River is currently being threatened, but fire crews are dropping water from helicopters along the river to suppress any threats.
