Element Fire Rages to 5,364 Acres, Threatens Mount Tipton Wilderness

The Element Fire expanded significantly overnight on Thursday, consuming an additional 1,400 acres and reaching a total size of 5,364 acres by Friday morning. Doloras Garcia of the Bureau of Land Management reported that most of the fire’s growth occurred to the north and northwest. Despite rainfall in the Kingman and Golden Valley areas, the primary fire zone received only 0.3 inches of precipitation, insufficient to significantly impede the fire’s progression.

“It was really active last night with the winds from those storms,” Garcia noted. “Most of the moisture hit closer to Highway 93 and Stockton Hill, but the actual burn area got minimal rain. That’s typical around here. I’ve been on fires where it hits everything except where you need it.”

As of Friday afternoon, according to inciweb.wildfire.gov, the fire had advanced into the Mount Tipton Wilderness. Although rain largely missed the most active parts, increased humidity provided a much-needed boost to fire suppression efforts.

“We’re leveraging the higher humidity to get into risky areas and establish more containment opportunities before it dries out again,” Garcia explained. “We expect conditions to dry out in the next couple of days.”

The Element Fire ignited on Tuesday evening about 12 miles north of Kingman, west of Stockton Hill Road. Initially, two separate fires, the Element Fire and Left Fork Fire, merged due to erratic winds from passing thunderstorms. Lightning strikes are suspected to be the cause.

Throughout most of Wednesday and Thursday, the blaze remained within a 4,000-acre boundary before expanding overnight into Friday.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office notified Vock Canyon residents and those west of Stockton Hill Road between milepost 18 and 23 to be on “set” status, advising them to prepare for possible evacuation. This status remains in place, urging community members to have an emergency go-kit ready.

Garcia confirmed that no new structures have been threatened, with protecting existing structures and preventing the fire’s spread into Mount Tipton Wilderness being top priorities.

“The southern portion, including Vock Canyon and areas along the east side of Stockton Hill Road, appears stable,” Garcia reported. “There is very little smoke in those areas. Depending on last night’s rain, these areas may soon be marked for increased containment.”

As of Friday afternoon, the Bureau of Land Management reported 5% containment, a conservative estimate according to Garcia. “We’ve been cautious with containment lines due to recent challenging storms.”

Road closures resulting from the fire include Big Wash Road from the water tank junction (CM1470) to Cherum Park Trailhead, and CM1364 to Big Wash Road. Packsaddle Campground, Windy Point Campground, and Cherum Peak Trailhead were also closed as of Thursday afternoon.

Fire management advises the public to avoid the northwest fire perimeter near Big Wash Road and exercise caution on Highway 93 and Stockton Hill Road north of Kingman.

Approximately 145 fire personnel were assigned to the blaze as of Thursday, including two water tenders, six engines, two interagency hotshot crews, two Department of Corrections crews, one suppression module crew, and two helicopters. Additional personnel were expected to join the efforts on Friday, though exact numbers were not specified.

In addition to BLM resources, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management dispatched aircraft and crews. Support also came from local departments, including Pinion Pine Fire, Northern Arizona Fire District, Kingman Fire Department, Golden Valley Fire District, and a crew from Lincoln, New Mexico.