Sawtooth Fire

[whereveriroam]

I saw an ugly orange glow to the east from where I live in AJ (Silly Mountain area) this evening. I called it in and drove out to the Peralta School to see if I could see the glow. Yes I did, looks to be down by the Peralta TH.

[big_load]

I saw an ugly orange glow to the east from where I live in AJ (Silly Mountain area) this evening. I called it in and drove out to the Peralta School to see if I could see the glow. Yes I did, looks to be down by the Peralta TH.

I guess I won't be hiking there when this is over, at least not for a while.

[whereveriroam]

I guess I won't be hiking there when this is over, at least not for a while.

Strange night weather wise here in AJ/Gold Canyon. Very monsoon like. impressive lightning show which most likely caused the fire, shifting strong winds and rain! According to Maricopa County Flood Control the local rain gauge measured .04" We'll see what the morning brings with resources to fire.

[whereveriroam]

Very smokey this morning, can see the smoke rising from fire.

[AZLumberjack]

I could smell the smoke while out on my morning walk. When I got home I called 911 to report the smell and was told that the fire is in the Woodbury area.

[LindaAnn]

Looks like it’s near Queen Valley? Very smoky while driving through Gold Canyon.

[00blackout]

https://wildfiretoday.com/2020/05/31/sa ... 7adFG8Sa80

Sawtooth Fire burning in the Superstitions at 2,000+ acres currently burning near Coffee Flat. Quarter Circle U Ranch is under full evac. More then likely lightning caused, we got hit pretty hard last night.

[AZLumberjack]

The fire, so far, is being referred to as the Sawtooth Fire, but it's burning in and around the Reeds Water area of Coffee Flats. From my place on the east side of Apache Junction, I haven't seen flight activity or Forest Service activity heading in that direction.
https://wildfiretoday.com/2020/05/31/sa ... ld-canyon/

[Sun_Ray]

@AZLumberjack Surprised you’re still in the area. When are you headed to your cooler place?

[wildwesthikes]

Sounds like mother nature wasn't content with the job the OHV guys started last year.

[00blackout]

@AZLumberjack
Looking at flight tracker there are two tankers up flying out of Mesa Gateway.

[AZLumberjack]

When are you headed to your cooler place?

With all the quarantines, we decided to stay here in the valley.

[AZLumberjack]

Looking at flight tracker there are two tankers up flying out of Mesa Gateway.

I was following the action on Flight Tracker and counted three tankers, one was the DC10 and the others were the Bombardier.

[pixelfrog]

And there go the western Supes.

[outdoor_lover]

According to Tonto NF, the fire was a lightning strike and it started 2 miles NE of the Peralta TH very close to a previous burn. Peralta Road is now closed where it turns to dirt.

[whereveriroam]

The fire glow from my place was much bigger tonight than last and closer. I bet this one will burn into July. Prevailing wind tends to come from the SW but today they seemed like they were from the SE.

[AZLumberjack]

Dawn's early Light? Not really. This is an early morning shot of the Sawtooth Fire, presently burning out-of-control in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area. The fire started as a result of several lightning strikes in the Coffee Flat area more than 24 hours earlier.

All day yesterday, I observed tankers flying over my Apache Junction, AZ home en route to the active areas dropping Fire retardant to suppress the fires. So far the fires have consumed 2,500 acres and are zero percent contained. Winds, gusting to 25 mph have helped spread the fire in all directions.

Fire in the Sky by Jack Olson https://www.facebook.com/Images.in.the.Wilderness/

[wildwesthikes]

Yikes it's going to be rough seeing the aftermath.
I was real close to doing an overnight trip starting Saturday evening from peralta up to LaBarge via Whiskey Spring and back early before the heat. Would have been a front row seat to the blaze... or worse!

[AZLumberjack]

@wildwesthikes
Peralta Road is closed due to the fire. Road blocks are where the blacktop ends.

[pixelfrog]

It's closing in on Weavers Needle if not there already. Major sadness.