The 636 acre Bylas fire, which started Friday afternoon, according to BIA Spokesman, worked its way north along the tamarisk infested Gila River Bed, getting close to structures but not burning any of them.  As Globe and other hot-shots battled the flames with heavy equipment standing by, the flames spread south until they met the area burned out in the BEE Town fire of 2013 according to Zach Saavedra who was managing the last phase of the fire for a “type 3 team” out of Albuquerque.  This barrier stopped the flames in that direction just south of Navajo Point. It also eventually nosed its way north under the bridge over the Gila River into an area west of Highway 70 closing that road. Bylas was issued a pre-evacuation notice. Apache Gold Casino offered workers from Bylas the opportunity to stay the night as the highway was closed on Monday until 7:00 p.m.

The BIA Wildfire management Agency took on the fight calling in Hotshots from Globe as well as San Carlos and other areas.   The team from Albuquerque drove over to take control of the last phase of the effort.

Heavy equipment and Hand Crews like that of the San Carlos type 2IA team from Southwest Wildland Fire Fighters faced the fire and were working Tuesday to insure that no “hot spots” remained to flare up again.