Sunflower Fire

[chumley]

Sunflower Fire 2012 - Perimeter Map

Firefighter friend posted a video of a new fire that began this morning near Sunflower, south of Payson. They've got two air tankers on it already, so hopefully they get it under control today. With the warm weather coming next week, it will be tougher to fight. Appears to be kicking up quite a bit of smoke.

Besides my friend's video, the only "official" news I could find is here:
( dead link removed )

[Dschur]

That whole top of the ridge and mountains in that area were really burning/smoking yesterday on the way home and is now on the north side of some of the mountains.. I don't know which ones right at the moment was was really going good.

[Sredfield]

Photo of fire from Mt Ord:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/slidesho ... -36839393/

[tibber]

Photo of fire from Mt Ord:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/slidesho ... -36839393/

Those were some great pics. Thx for sharing the story.

[Grasshopper]

by Grasshopper » May 18 2012 7:29 pm
Official InciWeb link for the Sunflower Fire: http://inciweb.org/incident/2861/
(The Incident Information System with updates)

Bump..

[kingsnake]

Is it still burning? If not, when will the area be open to hiking again? I'm kind of curious to go back to some of the places I was a few months ago to see the change ...

[Grasshopper]

Is it still burning? If not, when will the area be open to hiking again?

The last InciWeb update was ~6 days ago at 80% containment. This past weekend, "Management of the fire is expected to be transferred from Achziger’s Type 3 Team to the Tonto National Forest.." (This means the Mesa Ranger Station is now "making the calls". I was told on 5/29 that this area will remain closed to the public until at least sometime after our summer Monsoon Rains come to this area).

[Dschur]

The Willow fire I think it was about a year before they reopened the fire area... may open areas not in the actually fire area before that....

[Tough_Boots]

I noticed that all the roads were not as securely closed off anymore this weekend. Sycamore Creek was open (I imagine because there's private land back there) and Barnhardt was not blocked off at 87 either that I could see. Deer Creek was still roped off, though.

[Tough_Boots]

For those interested-- I learned today while volunteering at the Sunflower Ranger Station that the Sunflower processing facility was damaged in the fire. They will be dismantling it and taking it away. Apparently it is now a haz-mat issue because of the cinnabar being heated by the fire (I don't understand the chemistry behind it but they sounded pretty certain). Say goodbye

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=163370

[outdoor_lover]

@Tough_Boots
Wow, that's a real bummer. That's a very popular destination for 4x4 enthusiasts. I think I have some pics from a 4x4 trip taken several years ago....

[CannondaleKid]

We hiked through there on our Saddle Mountain Mine Tour hike back in March and felt even then that it wouldn't be long before the lingering hazards of the derelict buildings would be enough to close the area, or at least dismantle the hazards.
The last part of this photoset has a number of photos of the processing site:
http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=19366&start=30

Yes, it definitely has been a favorite of the off-roads crowds, ATV's and 4x4's alike, of which we encountered groups of both on our hike.

[BobP]

Looks like they now know how this one started. Someone a incendiary device out of a shotgun at a bachelor party...

[Alston_Neal]

@rlrjamy
Really? I haven't heard about how it started.

[chumley]

The full story and copies of the court documents can be found here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/ ... ire-879543

... recalled firing an “orange shotgun round” at a soda box, expecting the round to “shoot out flame or act like a flare gun.” Shiflet provided Woolf with the “exact same type of shotgun shell that he fired” on May 12, triggering the massive blaze.

A warning on the Fiocchi 12 gauge round’s packaging made its danger clear: “Shoots 100 feet of fire, setting everything in its path ablaze. Warning: Extreme FIRE HAZARD.”

[Tough_Boots]

I'm gonna remember that dude's face.

[PrestonSands]

What an idiot! Common sense is such a rarity these days. Thanks for torching one of my most favorite places, Craig.

[Thoreau]

For those interested-- I learned today while volunteering at the Sunflower Ranger Station that the Sunflower processing facility was damaged in the fire. They will be dismantling it and taking it away. Apparently it is now a haz-mat issue because of the cinnabar being heated by the fire (I don't understand the chemistry behind it but they sounded pretty certain). Say goodbye

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=163370

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnabar

"Mining and extraction of mercury

*snip*

To produce liquid (quicksilver) mercury, crushed cinnabar ore is roasted in rotary furnaces. Pure mercury separates from sulfur in this process and easily evaporates. A condensing column is used to collect the liquid metal, which is most often shipped in iron flasks."

[Sredfield]

Looks like the closures are lifting soon.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/ale ... rdb5246945

[Grasshopper]

Looks like the closures are lifting soon.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/ale ... rdb5246945

I've lost track of the latest status for again allowing public access on FR25 to the Mormon Grove TH and FR201 to the Mount Peeley TH.
Closure Order No. 12-12-030 1R: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 383903.pdf
Closure Map: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 383903.pdf

Now reviewing Shawn's above Tonto NF link, I don't see any newly issued "Order" which rescinds and terminates this above Closure Order No. 12-12-030 1R (issued 7/30/12).

Does anyone have any updated information or have an updated Tonto NF link to confirm the present status differently from my present understanding? :thanx:
(I have a desire to want to personally view this area after the fire)

[mazatzal]

My understanding is the forest is open but the paved access road off the Beeline is closed because they are using that area for storing re-paving equipment. :roll: