Govind Tekale
Karmactive Staff
The small mountain community of Greer, Arizona, lies quiet tonight as its residents seek shelter elsewhere. A massive wildfire that started Tuesday morning has already burned through 3,500 acres, destroying multiple buildings and forcing residents to evacuate their homes.
The fire sparked around 11 a.m. on May 13 near County Road N1072, quickly growing into an inferno as wind gusts reached 65 mph. Within hours, flames raced through the dense forest surrounding Greer, a town that recorded 58 residents in the 2020 census, nestled in Arizona’s White Mountains.
“The smoke plume grew alarmingly fast,” says Jerry Porter, an Eagar resident who has lived through previous major fires in the region. His experience with the devastating Rodeo-Chediski and Wallow fires left him ready to pack up at a moment’s notice.
150 personnel are battling the blaze, but their efforts face major hurdles. The fierce winds have grounded air tankers that normally drop water and fire retardant. Ground crews must now rely solely on direct firefighting methods in challenging terrain.
Mandatory evacuation orders cover Greer, South Fork, and North Woods communities. Residents in parts of nearby Eagar, including the 26 Bar neighborhood and areas west of River Road, are under “SET” status – meaning they should be ready to leave immediately if conditions worsen.
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“I’m thinking of all those affected and deeply grateful for our brave firefighters,” Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs wrote on the social media platform X as the crisis unfolded.
Emergency shelters have opened at three locations:
- Round Valley High School Dome in Eagar
- Round Valley Rodeo Grounds in Springerville (for RVs and large animals)
- Alpine Community Center
The fire’s rapid spread has forced several road closures. State Route 260 is shut down between mileposts 385 and 396 near Greer. State Route 373 southbound into Greer is also closed. Power company Navopache Electric Cooperative cut electricity to the Greer area as a safety measure.
The blaze is moving through an area that has seen massive fires before. It’s now burning near the edges of land scarred by the 2011 Wallow Fire, which was one of Arizona’s largest wildfires in recorded history.
Both Eagar and Springerville have declared a state of emergency. Officials have placed Navajo and Apache Counties under Stage 2 fire restrictions, banning all outdoor fires and smoking to prevent new blazes from starting.
For those in fire-prone areas, emergency officials stress keeping an emergency kit ready with essential supplies in case of evacuation.
While the immediate focus remains on protecting lives and property, this fire highlights the ongoing wildfire risks in Arizona’s forests, especially during periods of high winds and dry conditions. The full extent of damage to homes and the surrounding forest will only become clear once conditions allow for a detailed assessment.
Tim Rasmussen, Springerville Town Manager, is working closely with fire officials to coordinate the ongoing emergency response. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
