Siphon Fire

[herdbull]

Yet another fire in the western Supes Not much information on it yet but it's all over FB. Looks like it's right on the Ridgeline trail about 1 mile out from the exit of Siphon Draw. My hunch is it was another man made or man caused fire. Doesn't take a rocket surgeon to put 2 and 2 together. No clouds or lightning, right on a popular trail. Tough place for ground crews to fight it so I would imagine they may try and contain it to the ridgeline and let it burn some vegetation.

[mazatzal]

@nonot
Possibly by backburning along north side of Peralta road.

[Jim]

https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/us ... .44,11.75z

I see no fire along Peralta Rd. Looks like it has not yet descended towards US 60, either. With a mostly south wind, that will be a while. It's all up around the Apache Trail.

BTW, there is an inciweb page for the fire, but that site is down right now (7:40 AM EDT). If it comes back up maybe someone can inspect the page and link here. Sometimes they put up interesting photos, sometimes not.

[chumley]

#SiphonFire morning update:
Fire officials have estimated the #SiphonFire at approximately 15,876 acres with 0% containment. Yesterday, super scoopers conducted water drops to limit the spread of the fire near Weaver’s Needle as the southeast side of the fire was active. The southwest flank of the fire saw very little growth. Today, crews will be monitoring and improving fire lines along SR 88 (Apache Trail). An overflight this morning will conduct aerial mapping of the fire area, and the roadblock will be moved from Mile Marker 201 to Needle Rock Vista for the safety of fire crews during fire suppression operations. The fire is human-caused and under investigation. Resources assigned include 2 hand crews, 11 engines, two water tenders, and a medical team.

[outdoor_lover]

Lets hope Ileana throws enough precip up our way to do what the FS won't.

[chumley]

Mesa Ranger District has implemented a Trails and Road Emergency Closure Order to provide public health and safety due to firefighting operations and fire danger associated with the #SiphonFire on the #TontoNF.

This Order shall be in effect from Sept. 16, 2024, at 8 a.m. through Sept. 30, 2024, at 6 p.m., unless rescinded.

Closed Trailheads include: First Water Trailhead, Crosscut Trailhead, and Broadway Trailhead and Peralta Trailhead.

The Described Roads and Trails include the entirety of the following: National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 78, Trail 53 Siphon Draw, Trail 56 Treasure Loop, Trail 57 Prospectors, Trail 58 Jacobs Crosscut, Trail 60 Lost Goldmine, Trail 101 Hieroglyphic, Trail 102 Peralta, Trail 103 Boulder, Trail 104 Dutchman’s, Trail 129 Bull Pass, Trail 234 Terrapin, Trail 235 Bluff Spring, Trail 236 Second Water, Trail 239 Cavalry, and Trail 241 Black Mesa.

For a copy of this Order, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices

The forest order does include the term "Forest System Lands" but the map seems to specify only trailheads and trails. Normally a full "area closure" applies if you are not permitted to travel off-trail.

[herdbull]

Thanks for the update. Not sure why this took so long. In the last 2-3 days I have seen videos from people that were continuing to enter the area. A lot of them were of trees/shrubs still burning and smoking. They were literally following the fire. Were they in danger????Probably not but just stay away and give it some time. Then again, you can't fix stupid.

[chumley]

Perhaps Tonto NF reads the HAZ forum (we can only hope!) or they have just realized the folly of their ways, but they updated the trails closure to be a full area closure, including the coves on Canyon Lake. It is still only effective through 10/20/24, so not particularly lengthy at this time.

[mudlugs]

Pictures of the burned areas in this AZ Hiking Group FB post.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2eSFAthiKhafuiqx/

[chumley]

@mudlugs
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