The Bert Fire was started by lighting on May 29 near Highway 180 about 10 miles southeast of Valle. This natural fire was allowed to burn in a fire adapted ecosystem.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
The Bert Fire was started by lighting on May 29 near Highway 180 about 10 miles southeast of Valle. This natural fire was allowed to burn in a fire adapted ecosystem. The fire reached about 200 acres by the end of May and a total of 6000 acres by June 27.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 28, 3:35 PM MST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 335 PM MST SAT MAY 28 2016 .SYNOPSIS...Just enough moisture will linger through next week for a very slight chance of showers or thunderstorms each day. Otherwise, warmer temperatures are in store starting today and continuing into next week. && .DISCUSSION...Weak troughing will affect the region through early next week. Hghts in this pattern are around normal and temperatures will begin to rise each day as a result. Enough mid-level moisture exists in this trough for spotty high-based convection for the next several days. A few light showers or thunderstorms cannot be ruled out through Tuesday or Wednesday. The remainder of next week will feature a high amplitude ridge, bringing the warmest temperatures so far this year. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z Package...Expect VFR conditions for the next 24 hours. Few -SHRA north of I-40 should diminish by 02z. Only isolated -TSRA are expected aft 18Z Sunday over the higher terrain around and north of a KFLG-KRQE line. && .FIRE WEATHER...There is a slight chance of light showers and thunderstorms Sunday and again Monday, generally over the higher terrain north of Interstate 40. Erratic and gusty winds possible near storms. Tuesday through Thursday...Only isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected over the higher terrain, with relatively light winds. Expect minimum RH below 15 percent most areas. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...Peterson AVIATION...BAK FIRE WEATHER...MAS/BAK For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bert Fire was started by lighting on May 29 near Highway 180 about 10 miles southeast of Valle. This natural fire was allowed to burn in a fire adapted ecosystem. The fire reached about 200 acres by the end of May and a total of 6000 acres by June 27.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, May 2016
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 632658.