George Jozens, spokesperson for the Coconino National Forest, said their main tactics for the Museum Fire burning through the forests on top of the Flagstaff peaks was fire suppression on the flanks and fire lines on the east side of the blaze.

“We’re trying to keep the fire east and south of Schultz Pass Road, to the north of Mt. Elden Lookout Road and west of Brookbank trail,” Jozens said. He added that they are using more than a dozen aircraft to put down retardant and water today, which have been effective on the flanks of the fire.

Meteorologist Darren McCollum with the National Weather Service forecast warmer temperatures throughout the day, and said any possibility of thunderstorms today would likely be small systems that bring wind and lightning, but little to no rain.

The small systems might strike once or twice, McCollum said, adding there was a low probability of creating another serious fire. The small systems might create winds of up to 35 mph, with wind moving in directions relative to where any small thunderstorms form.

For that reason, the weather service’s main concern at this time is the personnel on the ground fighting the fire.