Location: 20 miles E of Tucson, Pima Co. AZ
Specific location: Aqua Caliente Hill (Aqua Caliente Hill to Reddington Road)
Date of Origin: 05/12/08
Cause: prescribed fire
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 80
Size: 11,000 acres (intended at ignition)
Containment: 100% (intended at ignition)
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May 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Arizona
Location: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, south of Alpine, Gila Co., AZ
Specific Location: East Eagle Creek, Clifton RD
Date of Origin: 04/22/2008 at 180 hrs.
Cause: Human — ember From Citty Prescription fire set by USFS
Current Situation: 100% contained 5/1/08
Former situation
Total Personnel: 70
Size: 3,800 acres
Percent Contained: 100%
Fuels: ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, juniper
Summary: The Eagle Fire is on the Clifton Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. It was a prescribed fire started on Thursday, April 17,2008 but burned over containment lines into the East Eagle Creek drainage west of Highway 191.
May 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Arizona
Location: 12 miles southeast of Tusayan, Kaibab NF, Coconino Co. AZ
Date of Origin: 05/06/2008 at 1430 hrs.
Cause: Lightning
Situation as of 05/14/08
Total Personnel: 5
Size: 900 acres
Percent Contained: 65%
InciWeb quote: Fire managers are pleased with the results of this wildland fire use event and the resource objectives that were met. The resource benefits to this area include hazardous fuels reduction, cultural resources and wildlife habitat protection and forest health improvement. Fire managers will continue to monitor the fire area.
Interpretation: The 22 WFU Fire did not blow up and destroy tens of thousands of acres of cultural resources and wildlife habitat as did the Kaibab’s Warm WFU Fire in 2006.
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Situation as of 05/13/08
Total Personnel: 45
Size: 812 acres
Percent Contained: 60%
The Kaibab NF has announced that the desired management area for this event is 1200 acres. No NEPA documents, such as Environmental Analysis or Environmental Impact Statements have been prepared for the “treatment.” No public involvement process was been implemented prior to this Federal action.
However, should the 22 WFU Fire get out of control, or do damage to resources, then a full NEPA process will be required prior to any rehabilitation efforts or actions.
No announcement has been made regarding the cost of this unprepared burning of public forests, nor of the damage to resources that has occurred.
Fire progression:
05/07 __ 25 acres
05/08 __ 133
05/11 __ 650
05/12 __ 812
05/14 __ 900
National Fire Weather report: Yesterday’s Red Flag Warning has been lifted. A strong cold front will continue to move across Arizona today bringing areas of rain and snow along with isolated thunderstorms, much higher afternoon minimum relative humidities, and much cooler temperatures. Locally accumulating snowfall will occur above 6500 feet over portions of northern and central Arizona. After a drier day on Wednesday scattered showers may return to portions of eastern and central Arizona for Thursday and Friday.
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Situation as of 05/12/08
Total Personnel: 45
Size: 650 acres
Percent Contained: 52%
Fuels Involved Grass, ponderosa pine, pinon juniper
Summary: The “22″ Wildland Fire Use fire is currently burning in a fairly open ponderosa pine stand interspersed with meadows. Roads and previously burned areas to the north, northeast and east will limit potential for significant growth. The fire is moving gradually to the southwest as local fire managers predicted. The “22″ Fire will continue to be managed as long as resource objectives are met.
Fire Behavior Primarily surface fire with 1-2 foot flame lengths, isolated interior tree torching.
Weather: Red Flag Weather Warning for strong winds
Current Wind Conditions: 8 mph SW
Current Temperature: 70 degrees
Current Humidity: 10 %
Remarks: Local public interest is high and being addressed by Fire Information Officer. So far, no significant smoke impacts to communities.
Statement released by Kaibab NF: WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Thunderstorms passed over the Kaibab National Forest on Tuesday afternoon igniting several fires on the Kaibab National Forest between Williams and Tusayan. Suppression actions are being taken on all of the new fires except the “22″ Wildland Fire Use fire on the Tusayan Ranger District. The “22″ Fire is about 25 acres, 10 miles southeast of the Tusayan community and is being managed for resource benefits. All of the other new starts have been contained at less than an acre.
The resource benefits from the “22″ Wildland Fire Use fire include: reducing hazardous fuels, protecting and improving wildlife habitat, protecting archaeological sites and restoring fire in its natural role in the ecosystem. This area has benefited from numerous prescribed fire projects over the past 5 years. These treated areas will act as natural barriers to rapid fire spread and will assist fire managers in keeping the fire within a pre-determined area. Actions have been taken to secure the north and the east sides of the “22″ Wildland Fire Use fire to allow it to back slowly into the wind toward the southwest.
Each natural ignition in a fire use management area must meet specific conditions before it can be managed for resource benefits. Some of the criteria include: whether threats to life, property or resources can be alleviated, if sufficient resources are available to manage an incident over the long-term and whether the potential risks outweigh the benefits of a specific wildland fire use incident. If the risks outweigh the benefits, the fire will be suppressed.
Once the decision is made that a fire will be put into wildland fire use status, fire managers actively manage the fire by determining the appropriate boundaries, weather conditions, fuels conditions, etc., under which the fire will be allowed to burn. The “22″ Wildland Fire Use Fire will be managed as a natural part of the ecosystem in a defined area as long as it continues to meet resource objectives.
May 12, 2008 | 2 Comments | Topic: Arizona
Location: 20 miles east of Sells, Pima Co., AZ
Specific Location: Tohono O’odham Nation, Arizona State Trust Land, and BLM Baboquivari Wilderness Area north of Baboquivari Peak.
Date of Origin: 05/09/2008 at 0639 hrs.
Cause: Human
Situation 05/15/08
Total Personnel 68
Size 2,545 acres
Percent Contained 95%
Estimated Containment Date 05/15/2008 at hrs.
Management responsibility for the Solano Fire passed to the Tohono O’odham Nation at 1800 on 5-14-08.
Planned Actions: patrol and mop-up
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Situation as of 05/14/08
Total Personnel 196
Size 2,177 acres
Percent Contained 90%
Estimated Containment Date 05/15/2008 at hrs.
Demobilization continues this morning, 5-14. The incident will be handed over to local agencies on 5-15.
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Situation as of 05/13/08
Total Personnel: 278
Size: 2,177 acres
Percent Contained: 85%
Significant Events: Completion of all line surrounding fire. Demobilization began this morning at 0800.
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Situation as of 05/12/08
Total Personnel: 293
Size: 2,177 acres
Percent Contained: 40%
Estimated Containment Date: 05/15/2008 at hrs.
Costs to date: $563,000
Fuels: desert brush, juniper
Arizona State Type 2 IMT (Raley) are fighting the fire. Four miles of fireline remain to be built. No structures are threatened at this time. No injuries have been reported.
Red Flag Weather Warning: winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph today.
May 12, 2008 | 1 Comment | Topic: Arizona
Location: Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, Coconino Co. AZ
Specific Location: East side of state Highway 64 between Ten-X Campground and the southern boundary of Grand Canyon NP, about three miles southeast of Tusayan.
Date of Origin: 04/29/2008 at 1239 hrs.
Cause: Human-caused
Situation as of 05/02/08:
Total Personnel: 156
Size: 2,048 acres
Percent Contained: 80%
Additional Info: Three campers have been charged with criminal negligence for leaving their campfire unattended and inadvertently igniting the X Fire. See Comments below.
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Situation as of 04/30/08:
Total Personnel: 165
Size: 2,030 acres
Percent Contained: 60%
Fuels Involved: Ponderosa pine, grass and sage.
Fire Behavior: Spotting, torching, running. No structures have been lost.
April 30, 2008 | 1 Comment | Topic: Arizona
Where: Coronado NF, Cochise Co., Arizona
Specific Location: Pajarita Wilderness ~7 miles west of Peña Blanca Lake. No maps available at this time.
Date of Origin: 04/18/2008, AM
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Situation as of 04/30/08:
Alamo Fire
Total Personnel: Unknown
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 95%
Beehive Fire
Total Personnel: Unknown
Size 325 acres
Percent Contained 80%
Estimated Containment Date 04/30/2008
All resources were pulled off the fire yesterday. Fire will be monitored by air.
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Situation as of 04/25/08:
Total Personnel 190
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 85%
A second fire, the Beehive Fire which started early Wednesday afternoon has been declared a part of the Alamo Fire Complex. The Beehive Fire is 8 miles NNW of the Alamo Fire. It started near Murphy Peak on the Nogales Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. It is approximately 5 miles east of Arivaca Lake in a very remote area of the forest. The fire is in Santa Cruz county near the border with Pima County.
The Beehive Fire was reported to be 300 acres Wednesday. It is being fought with air tankers and helicopters because of the remote location. It is not known whether any on-the-ground attempt is being made to line or contain the Beehive Fire, but indications are that there are none at this time.
No cost estimates of the Alamo Complex have been issued or posted at InciWeb. Maps and a video are available [here].
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Situation as of 04/22/08:
Total Personnel 350
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 75%
High winds have moderated. Full containment expected Thursday.
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Situation as of 04/21/08:
Total Personnel 278
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 30%
Eastern Arizona Type II IMT has assumed management of the fire.
Pena Blanke Lake has been evacuated.
Maps are available [here]
About 200 acres of the Alamo Fire are in Mexico. The U.S. Border Patrol and the Mexican government are being advised and kept informed by the IMT.
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Situation as of 04/20/08:
Total Personnel 170
Size 3,000 acres
Percent Contained 10%
Summary: Fire began in U.S. but now burning on both sides of the U.S./Mexico International Border. Fire crews are conducting burnout operations where the Peña Blanca and Alamo drainages meet near Ruby Road.
No homes destroyed. Two ranches threatened.
Evacuations: None at this time.
Cause: Assumed human — under investigation.
Firefighting resources: Two Arizona State Forestry hand crews, one hand crew composed of Northwest Fire and Coronado National Forest firefighters, one Navajo Scout crew, fire engines from Nogales and Rio Rico Fire Departments, a light helicopter and two heavy air tankers. Ten additional fire engines and a water tender have been ordered, as have two more twenty-person hand crews and two more helicopters. An order is pending for seven Hot Shot crews. The Eastern Arizona Type II IMT has been assigned and will assume management at 8:00 PM tonight.
Fuels are grasses, brush, and oak. Terrain steep. No fire roads.
Outlook: Winds of 40 mph are forecast.
Photo courtesy Inciweb [here]. Credit Mark South.
April 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Arizona
