Greer Fire reaches 88% containment, one week after the eastern Arizona blaze began
Calmer winds have helped firefighters make incredible progress on the Greer Fire.
The blaze was 88% contained, as of 8 p.m. May 20 and at 20,308 acres, according to federal tracker InciWeb.
"It's always a good thing when we can add some containment on the fire, so we're looking good on that part," Operations Section Chief Bryan Carpenter said during an operational update May 20.
Residents in the eastern Arizona unincorporated community and surrounding areas returned to their homes as the fire, which had burned more than 20,000 acres, reached its one-week mark.
Here's what else to know about Arizona's largest fire to date in 2025.
Residents were allowed to return home as the evacuation orders that rely on a "ready, set, go" scale were downgraded to "set."
Fire officials warned the fire was still burning, and people should expect smoke and the occasional flames as work continued.
Dry and much warmer weather was on the way for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Winds will be light through May 21, then become gusty over the next few days, the weather service said.
People planning a Memorial Day weekend getaway should not be deterred. Businesses were open, but guests at lodging facilities were subject to the same "ready, set, go" guidance as the locals.
Campfires and stove fires were banned across the area, including charcoal briquettes and smoking, according to a notice from Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
Forest officials have also closed trails and roads near the Greer Fire as of May 19.
As of May 19, State Route 260 and State Route 373 were open to traffic, save for a small section of State Route 261, to the east of the fire area, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The fire's origin was still under investigation. As of May 20, 636 people were still deployed to beat back the fire.
The Northeastern Arizona Public Information System has links to numerous agencies involved in fighting the fire, from the U.S. Forest Service to local emergency management information. This can be found at www.311.info.net.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on social media @maryjpitzl.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Greer Fire reaches 88% containment, burning 20K acres since its start
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