Bottom Fire command transfers back to the local unit with fire at near-total containment

Photo Courtesy InciWeb: A rainbow is seen through the smoke of the Bottom Fire on Saturday. The fire was listed at 94 percent containment as of Monday.

Photo Courtesy InciWeb: A rainbow is seen through the smoke of the Bottom Fire on Saturday. The fire was listed at 94 percent containment as of Monday.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

BYLAS – Command for the Bottom Fire burning west of Bylas has transferred from the Southwest Area Type 2 Management Team 4 back to a local unit led by Type 4 Incident Commander Irwin Goseyun on Monday.  

The lightning-caused fire began June 28 roughly seven miles west of Bylas and has scorched 4,655 acres along the Gila River. As of Monday, it had a listed containment of 94 percent and suppression repair began Saturday. 

Photo Courtesy InciWeb: A helicopter makes a water drop on the Bottom Fire near Bylas.

On Sunday, Operations Section Chief for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 Buck Wickham said the fire was pretty much taken care of. 

“There’s just a little bit of rehab to do on the eastern side of the fire,” Wickham said. “It’s all looking good.” 

“Our short stay here has been a good one, and we appreciate all the support and everything we had from the locals,” Wickham said. 

Fire suppression efforts were aided by Monsoon moisture and scattered cloud cover.