2024 Fire Season

[Nighthiker]

Spring Fire
8pm 6/1, 1900 acres East side of North bound 87 at mile post 210.

[Jim]

@FOTG
A fire will definitely freshen the range, stimulating new growth of any shrubs and warm season herbaceous plants and grasses that are present, since the area is getting some summer rain. By now, most spring growth has hardened off and is woody, so new growth will be tender and nutrient rich. However, it seems like the exotic cool season grasses thrive in burned areas, so it also helps them out a lot, too. Not that they needed any help.

If it was still an intact system from 200 years ago, and it carried fire frequently, then periodic fire would help it out a lot. Fire was commonly used to stimulate prairies and grasslands to rejuvenate new growth for game, and cattle after they were brought in. No way for me to know exactly what the mesa was covered in, in 1800, but if it was native warm season grasses mixed with shrubs, then a fire would be great. I am sure the vegetation on Perry Mesa wasn't so miserable when the ruins were built.

Arizona isn't Idaho, but in the Snake River Plain of southern Idaho exotics like cheat grass are taking over the range-lands post fire. The cool season natives like rice grass and others, and sage brush are killed off by the hot fires and cheat grass takes over creating a biological desert only suited to early season grazing. Not sure if anything similar happens or has happened in the AFNM. We know exotics are an issue in the Sonoran Desert, and this area is closer in elevation and very close in proximity to areas still dominated by saguaro. At least it isn't buffel grass out there!

[Alston_Neal]

I have to believe that AFNM and neighboring Black Mesa along I-17 has the highest rates of fire than any other place in the state.
BTW, any idea how the Skeleton fire got it's name?

[outdoor_lover]

and for some reason, pronghorn won't jump a fence, even if they are more than capable.

They will if they absolutely have to. This younger one was in danger of being left behind by the herd, since he did not see where they all went under the fence. In an act of final desperation, he finally just went over.

[ photo ]

[LindaAnn]

The season is not over yet (I think AZ has a permanent wildfire season at this point), fire currently burning near Horton Creek.

https://www.azfamily.com/2024/12/15/see ... ar-payson/

[Nighthiker]

Located in Horton Creek Canyon, started this am apx 45 acres.

[Jim]

The Soap Fire is the one producing smoke up north in the Bradshaws. Discovered the 15th. I sensed a disturbance in the fire wavelengths and thought I should report it here.

[Jim]

https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/us ... .07,12.47z

@david_allen_3 https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/prescott/alerts-notices it was on the map.