The huge column of thin smoke rising south of the Verde Valley is due to a combination of fires burning south of Prescott on the Prescott National Forest. Prevailing winds are pushing the smoke northeast over Dewey-Humboldt and directly into the Verde Valley.
The larger fire is the Cellar Fire, burning about 1,000 acres four miles northeast of the Wagoner Road area. Two single-engine air tankers, four Hotshot crews and a helicopter are battling that blaze.
The smaller 100-acre Castle Creek Fire is burning about six miles east of Crown King in the Castle Creek Wilderness, according to the Prescott National Forest.
