FREDONIA— The Castle Fire’s acreage held at 16,538 today due to more consistent showers over the fire area. Precipitation has a direct effect of fire behavior by moderating or temporarily halting the spead of the fire. This does not mean the end of the fire, however. Warmer, drier days, such as those predicted in the long-term forecast can provide just enough heat to keep the fire moving through the fuels that are still available in the unburned areas. The weather forecast for today is partly cloudy with a light chance of thunderstorms in the morning followed by an increasing chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Over the past 27 days, since the fire started on July 12th, firefighters have continually worked on securing the 28-mile perimeter of the planning area. They had to assess and prioritize their day’s work based on the expected fire activity and potential rate of spread.

Staying ahead of the fire has been critical to the success of keeping it within the planning area. During the recent intermittent rainshowers, firefighters continue to stay busy working on suppression repair work in and around the planning area. Mastication work is also ongoing along Forest Road 226, which defines the westernmost boundary of the planning area. Constant monitoring and patrolling of the fireline is essential in ensuring that it is secure and that the fire has no opportunity to breach the line.

The origin of the fire is located about 11 miles south of Jacob Lake, 3 miles west of Highway 67, and just east of Forest Road 761 near Oquer Canyon.

The Castle Fire poses no danger to structures or other local infrastructure.