Helicopter crews battle lightning-sparked Steeple Fire near Alpine, containment expected soon

A lightning-sparked fire near New Start drew helicopter bucket drops and hotshot crews building line in heavy fuels on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest land, a response that showed firefighters were treating the Steeple Fire as a real threat even as full containment was expected soon.

The fire burned in the Blue Range Primitive Area near the Steeple/Foote Creek Trailhead south of Alpine on Forest Road 29A, within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, which spans more than 2 million acres in east-central Arizona and was formed when the two forests merged in 1974. Third-party wildfire trackers showed the fire growing from 20 acres on May 10 to 73 acres on May 12, a jump that underscored how quickly lightning starts can move in the White Mountains.

That country is not easy terrain for crews. Forest Service information says the northwest portion of the Blue Range Primitive Area was severely affected by the Wallow Fire in June 2011, and the trailhead area remains prone to falling trees, flooding and burned-out stump holes. Steeple Trail #73 and Foote Creek Trail #76 run through the area, where motorized and mechanized travel is prohibited and access is intended for hiking and horse use.

The Steeple Fire also comes after another difficult White Mountains season. The Greer Fire burned 20,308 acres in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and was 100% contained on May 26, 2025 after triggering closures and evacuations in Greer, South Fork and parts of Eagar. That fire was far larger, but it showed how fast an ignition in this forest can turn into a community emergency.

Fire officials point residents to InciWeb as the most current and reliable source for incident updates. National preparedness levels, set from 1 to 5 by the National Multi-Agency Coordination Group, help determine how many crews, engines and aircraft can be committed to a fire, which is why helicopter support and hotshot line construction can arrive quickly when conditions warrant.

A county notice last year said fire restrictions were lifted in much of the White Mountains on July 25, 2025 after rain improved fuel moisture, but the message from the Steeple Fire was clear: in Apache County, one dry lightning strike can still test the margins of a landscape that has already burned hard and continues to carry heavy fuel.