2015 Fire Season

[chumley]

It's upon us already. :tt:

INFORMATION FROM THE MOGOLLON RIM RANGER DISTRICT
Thursday, March 26, 2015

First Forest Fire of the 2015 Spring/Summer Season – Unfortunately we did not get a good snow pack over the past winter, and the forest is drying out quickly with the warm temperatures and spring winds. We had a 10 acre fire near the Long Lake area Monday/Tuesday, human caused. This is a good reminder for all of us to be extra careful with fire especially this year and every year. Thank you!!

[azbackpackr]

Oh, jeez. I'm heading back to Williams soon, into the thick of it. Last year they closed Bill Williams Mountain for at least a month during June, and I was told that is "normal." If that watershed were to burn there would be terrible flooding in Williams during monsoon. Williams already has a flooding problem during really big rains. Many of the streets become small rivers.

Hopefully they won't close the whole forest, but even so I've learned there are always places to hike or bike legally, you just might not get to go exactly where you'd hoped.

[joebartels]

seems early, just out
Fire banned at 41,000 acres of Phoenix preserves

[ALMAL]

I think it was earlier last year? Wasn't stage 1 implemented in late April for Tonto, Apache Sit, and Coconino?

[chumley]

@ALMAL
April 16-ish I believe ... though the attached article was updated and isn't the original anymore.
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=8226&#p99709

[whereveriroam]

I didn't think much of it until I saw this post. On Tuesday I saw a mid sized aerial "fire truck" flying NE towards and over the Superstitions. It was flying somewhat low, it returned about 45 minutes later. Anybody hear of any fires, inciweb has only 2 AZ fires with one being prescribed.

[azbackpackr]

I didn't think much of it until I saw this post. On Tuesday I saw a mid sized aerial "fire truck" flying NE towards and over the Superstitions. It was flying somewhat low, it returned about 45 minutes later. Anybody hear of any fires, inciweb has only 2 AZ fires with one being prescribed.

I saw a huge slow airplane take off from GCNP airport a couple of days ago, at about 9:30 a.m. or so. I didn't get a good look at it. Definitely not a tourist airplane. So, I wondered what it was all about.

[chumley]

A firefighter friend of mine posted a video of a helicopter working a fire along the the salt river. It was started by fireworks. I don't know if they needed an air tanker though and if they did it surely came from AZA and not GCN.

[outdoor_lover]

New Fire - The Aliso Fire...Not on Inciweb yet, but it's now at about 100 Acres...Near Redlington Pass on the North side of the Rincons... By Aliso Canyon.... http://www.wildcad.net/WCAZ-TDC.htm

[Jim]

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4264/

Posted.

[Jim]

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4268/

Smallish fore, technically in NM, but in the Arizona based Coronado National Forest. Probably one of the least visited areas of the forest, and from the pics, this lightning caused fire is not really doing much beyond, perhaps, "freshening up the range".

[chumley]

@Jim_H
Oh no! The Peloncillo Porter is not supposed to be a smoked porter!

[Jim]

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4277/

The Horse Tank Fire is to be a managed fire, up to 2,000 acres, and was started by lightning. It's about 35 acres now, and is down on the Rim, Mogollon that is.

In 2009, the rainy May-June allowed managers to conduct numerous managed lightning fires on the Rim, west of Flag on the Kaibab, and north of the Peaks. This was largely beneficial until the rains failed, dew points and live fuel moisture levels dropped, a cold front or two came through, and by August a lightning fire started out near Sycamore Canyon. Time will tell if a similar situation sets up this summer.

For those interested:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/ ... RDB5342976
http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=11080

[outdoor_lover]

I wonder if that's what Barrett and I saw on the 8th....

[Jim]

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/3/

There is now a laundry list of fires, many of which are being used, but they are contributing greatly to the state's smokey skies. We can't blame California (exclusively) for it this time. Personally, I view this as good, and the air is hazy, but not overly smokey, so I consider it tolerable. 200 years ago, this likely would have been a normal annual ritual, perhaps twice annual (spring-early summer, and fall).

On the plus, it makes fantastic sunsets!

[outdoor_lover]

Coming Home on I-17 tonight, there is a pretty substantial Fire below Crown King...Not sure if it's a Controlled Burn or not, too tired to Research it right now, but maybe someone else knows something about it.....

[AZWanderingBear]

@Outdoor Lover
Summary from inciweb is the fire is called the Rattlesnake Fire and is in the Castle Creek Wilderness area. Lightening caused. Area too rugged to fight it, so they hope to let it burn out. Have established lines at which they will defend with back fires. Horse Thief Basin area is closed for now just in case.

Drove down I-17 from up on the Rim this afternoon. Looks to still be pretty active.