wildfire

A group of firefighters who had to deploy their fire shelters this week while battling an Arizona blaze were part of the Navajo Interagency Hotshot Crew.

Six firefighters in the 20-member crew deployed their shelters Tuesday, a few days before the three-year anniversary of a fire that claimed the lives of 19 Yarnell Hotshot crewmembers.

The Yarnell Hotshots deployed their fire shelters in a last-ditch effort to save themselves. The lightweight cocoons are made of reflective material and are intended as a firefighter's last resort.

Fire restrictions begin Wednesday at four national forests around Arizona.

Campfire and smoking restrictions will be enforced on the Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed under the restrictions only in developed campgrounds managed by concessionaires or have campground hosts.

The restrictions also limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles or buildings or in developed campgrounds.

UPDATE, 6/13/16, 7 a.m.:

Residents of Yarnell and Peeples Valley have been allowed to return to their homes as crews make progress containing the Tenderfoot Fire. No other evacuation orders are in place and officials do not anticipate further orders. 

Prescott has approved survivor benefits for another widow of a wildland firefighter who died three years ago.

The city's Public Safety Retirement Board reviewed and approved survivor benefits claim made by Marsena Thurston. She's the widow of Granite Mountain Hotshot Joe Thurston.

The 32-year-old Thurston was among 19 firefighters who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013.

The elite Granite Mountain Hotshots were trained to confront wildfires head-on and prevent their spread.

Authorities say some private residences are threatened by a 100-acre fire on unincorporated private land in Clints Well, located south of Flagstaff.

Arizona State Forestry officials say the human-caused Reservoir Fire began Monday morning south of the boat ramp at C.C. Cragin Reservoir.

They say several private residences northeast of the reservoir are threatened and two of those were occupied and self-evacuated.

The Moqui Lookout Tower also has been evacuated as a precautionary measure.