The blaze that has engulfed the terrain northwest of Kearny, drawing in over a hundred firefighters to battle its spread, remains untamed. Known as the Simmons Fire, it has been reported to have calmed overnight as cooler temperatures and higher humidity slowed its advance. According to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, a dedicated nighttime crew worked tirelessly to fortify defenses along the eastern and southeastern perimeters, close to Kearny. They also focused on the protection of structures directly in the path of the impending inferno.
With today ushering in winds alongside soaring temperatures and parched conditions, the concern for the firefighting teams has spiked. Efforts are being channeled primarily towards the east and southeast flanks to prevent the conflagration from encroaching upon the town of Kearny, with extra measures being implemented to shield homes in the area. As a safety measure, power was cut off to the northern areas of Kearny on Tuesday night, impairing the town in the face of the fiery threat. Following the destruction of two buildings last evening by the fire, conditions have deemed it too perilous for a thorough damage assessment to take place.
In a morning statement, fire authorities mapped the Simmons Fire at around 475 acres, currently with no successful containment. A Department of Forestry and Fire Management team is set to fly above the disaster zone to procure a better gauge of the fire's conduct and project its possible trajectory. Additionally, the Great Basin Incident Management Team has been reassigned from the Rocky Fire in San Carlos to bolster efforts against the Simmons Fire.
Residents in the nearby Riverside neighborhood are still on high alert, with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office enforcing a GO – Evacuate order. Those residing to the south of Riverside and up to the limits of the city of Kearny remain in a SET – Be Alert status. This precautionary measure affects roughly 50 homes. Residents looking for updates can turn to the PCSO’s Twitter/X page, and for those eager to stay abreast of evacuation notices, the Pinal Emergency Notification System maintains a constant stream of alerts to subscribers.
The arteries of the region, State Route 177, have been reopened by the Arizona Department of Transportation, with real-time road information available by calling 511 or visiting their portal. The ignition point of the fire, identified as Tuesday, May 28, at approximately 4.5 miles northwest of Kearny, was exacerbated by the whims of the wind and the region’s arid heat, presenting hazardous conditions that thwart immediate firefighting efforts. Initial reports indicate that the fire originated in the Gila River bottom, its cause still under investigation.
