Yarnell, Peeples Valley Evacuated As Tenderfoot Fire Burns 3,300 Acres

By Kathy Ritchie, Stina Sieg
Published: Thursday, June 9, 2016 - 7:23am
Updated: Friday, June 10, 2016 - 7:46am
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(Photo by Bureau of Land Management)
Bureau of Land Management Firefighters work to contain the Tenderfoot Fire that broke out near Yarnell, Arizona, June 8, 2016.
(Photo courtesy of Kathleen Stowe)
Smoke from the Tenderfoot Fire, which has burned more than 600 acres near Yarnell, southwest of Prescott.
Stina Sieg/KJZZ
The Tenderfoot Fire spotted above US 89, where cars were being turned back before reaching Yarnell.

The town of Yarnell has been evacuated due to a wildfire — nearly three years after a blaze killed 19 elite hotshot firefighters. This time, the Tenderfoot Fire has burned an estimated 3,300 acres in and around the area southwest of Prescott, as of Friday morning.

On Thursday afternoon, some residents were also evacuated in the nearby community of Peeples Valley. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies went door to door at about 30 homes and told people to head north out of town.

On Wednesday afternoon, the entire town of Yarnell was asked to evacuate, though some people refused.

Three outbuildings were destroyed by the flames, but most of the community was untouched. Highway 89 has been closed in both directions in Yarnell since Wednesday. Although there was talk of reopening the highway Thursday, authorities said these new evacuations might change that.

It's terrible déjà vu for the hundreds of Yarnell residents who've been evacuated, some of whom only recently rebuilt. In June of 2013, the Yarnell Hill Fire became Arizona’s deadliest-ever wildfire, taking 19 lives and destroying 130 homes.

Though fire officials don’t expect this fire to have the same kind of impact, there’s a lot of uncertainty for residents like Richard Dickson, who’s waiting for word he can go home.

"I’m feeling kind of worried, you know. I really don’t know what to expect. You don’t know which way the fire is going to go, so we’re just waiting to see what the outcome is," Dickson said.

Fire officials said the blaze appears to be moving away from town and give credit to fire breaks that were built after the tragedy three years ago.

Kathleen Stowe, who lives in the neighboring town of Peeples Valley, described the scene.

"Its low-lying smoke, with air pressure, low lying some, white grey looks very settled down ... [to] the southeast of the fire, you can see white smoke burining still, but no flames," she said.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, between 250 and 300 people have evacuated.