[HikerInGilbert]

Sad, sad... hope those good people are successful.

Lightning sparks three new fires
07/13/2003


Lightning sparked one fire on the White Mountain Apache reservation and two in the Prescott National Forest this weekend.


The Kinishba fire is burning five miles west of White River. It's between 1,200 and 1,500 acres at this point, and the flames are heading northeast. The blaze is about 3 1/2 miles long and nearly a mile wide.


Larry Humphrey's Type 1 Incident Team, the team that worked the early days of the Aspen fire near Tucson, has been called in and will take over handling the Kinishba fire Monday.


In the Prescott National Forest, two small fires are burning in the Big Bug Mesa area, which is southeast of Prescott.


The Breezy fire, which is less than an acre, is burning about 1/2 mile south of the Breezy Pines subdivision. Fire crews managed to line the fire before intense lightning forced them to leave the site.


The Palace Fire has consumed about four acres and is burning in chaparral vegetation two miles east of Palace Station. Firefighters expect to have that blaze contained Monday.


"Fortunately we received some precipitation with these thunderstorms," said Tom Tobin, Central West Zone Fire Coordination Center manager. "With the number of strikes we received, we could have had a lot more fires."


A fourth fire also started near Tucson this weekend, but it's not clear what sparked it. This as-yet unnamed fire is burning near Peppersauce Canyon, which is on the east side of Mount Bigelow. Engines and two helicopters were called out. That fire has burned between two and three acres.

[mike t]

Why is this sad? If these are lightning caused fires, it's just the natural order of things. Our tendency to snuff out every one of these fires immediately has lent a hand to our current tinderbox forest conditions. Let nature take it's course.

[HikerInGilbert]

Why is this sad? If these are lightning caused fires, it's just the natural order of things. Our tendency to snuff out every one of these fires immediately has lent a hand to our current tinderbox forest conditions. Let nature take it's course.

I agree to a point Mike. But, with the condition of our forests in the area, it would be very easy for a small 'naturally' ignited fire to become major devastation. We have already seen what humans can do. I don't see much of a difference.

We all need a good soaking. As in the whole state...

I want to be able to enjoy what nature has created. Not look past it. It can be an ugly scene.

Just my .02

[RedRoxx44]

I hope the Kinishba ruins are not devastated by the fire- I know plans have been afoot to restore them . When I visited a couple of months ago really impressed by what was there that had been restored in the 40's. The archeologist in charge had dreams of a place similar to Wupatke but was sidetracked by the war and lack of money. Again- one of those special places that cannot be replaced. As far as fire goes- I live in Tucson and got a daily dose of the Aspen fire- prevailing comments I've heard is if they find out who did it- they better have a really good lawyer----

[matt gilbert]

if they find out who did it- they better have a really good lawyer----

I would hope they will prosecute whoever started the fire, but lets keep in mind that Valinda Elliott walked off scott-free after the rodeo fire (I know, she said she was trying to save her life; but c'mon, really, someone should have been held accountable for that fire)

[joe bartels]

In 2009, a judge ruled that she is eligible to be tried in a civil suit in the White Mountain Apache tribal court