2017 Highline Fire

[Grasshopper]

2017 Highline Fire--> https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5233/
(InciWeb Updates)

[nonot]

This fire is putting out a ton of smoke, and looks to be about as bad as Mt Graham is burning. This leads me to believe this is turning into a crown fire

[Grasshopper]

Mapped area for Highline Fire as of ~6pm on 6/13/17:

PIO_Public_Land_36X48_20170613_Highline_AZ-TNF-000780.pdf

(7.84 MiB) Downloaded 83 times

[Grasshopper]

[quote=]Because the Highline Fire merged with the Bear Fire on Monday-6/12, they are now being managed as a single incident. Acres and percent containment are now reported as combined totals. According to infrared flight mapping last night the Highline Fire grew by 308 acres to 1,661 acres and the Bear Fire grew by 75 acres yesterday to 2,591 acres, for a total of 4,258 acres. Combined containment is now five percent. Containment achieved to date was on the Bear Fire.[/quote]

See latest Highline Fire InciWeb reporting for update details.

[Nighthiker]

Today at 3 pm from the Payson airport.

[Grasshopper]

"Evacuation Order for La Cienega and Ellison Creek Estates
Based on recommendations from the Highline Fire Incident Management Team, Gila County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Order for residents in the these communities effective June 15, 2017"

See latest Highline Fire InciWeb reporting for update details.

[chumley]

The evacuation was ordered due to anticipated downflow winds between 3-6am this morning. So assuming the communities were unaffected, the forecast is now favorable for the fire to be moving away from them.

[flagscott]

I really hope that the Forest Service isn't sending firefighters into harm's way to defend property (as they have done over and over in the past). No amount of property is worth a single firefighter's life.

[SuperstitionGuy]

No amount of property is worth a single firefighter's life.

So lets close all fire stations in the greater Phoenix valley?

[Tough_Boots]

I really hope that the Forest Service isn't sending firefighters into harm's way to defend property (as they have done over and over in the past). No amount of property is worth a single firefighter's life.

Seriously. Its not their job to care about private property. That's what insurance is for.

[Nighthiker]

Firefighter risk mode.

WE WILL risk our lives a LOT, in a calculated manner to save SAVABLE lives.

WE WILL risk our lives a LITTLE, in a calculated manner, to save SAVABLE property.

WE WILL NOT risk our lives at all for lives or property that are already lost.

[flagscott]

WE WILL risk our lives a LITTLE, in a calculated manner, to save SAVABLE property.

That is messed up.

[LindaAnn]

Huh, I'm pretty sure they are fireFIGHTERS and not fireWATCHERS. I've known plenty of firefighters, and they all love what they do, and all risks they take are calculated--they're not reckless. And the last I checked, firefighters do their job voluntarily, they are not being forced into dangerous situations against their will. I'm content to let them decide how to fight fires the way they see fit, rather than second guess their training and how they perform a difficult job from behind a keyboard.

[Nighthiker]

Posted in the stations that I was assigned at during my career.

[trekkin_gecko]

payson area campground closures:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/al ... ?aid=41174

[outdoor_lover]

@Nighthiker
I think there should be a couple of things added to that....

We will not Risk our Lives at all for Persons who will not attempt to Save themselves

We will not Risk our LIves at all for Property where Owners refuse to maintain their Property for Fire Risk

[Grasshopper]

"Highline Fire - June 19, 2017 Evening Update
Acres: 6,634 acres (based on infrared data)
Start Date: June 10, 2017
Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Origin: 8 mi N of Payson in 1990 Dude Fire Scar
Containment: 76%
Fuels: Grass, brush, heavy and down fuels, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer
Total personnel: 1,181

Today firefighters focused on locating and extinguishing remaining heat near containments lines. Infrared flights are being used to detect remaining heat for crews on the ground. Crews continued to patrol and mop-up containment lines in the Ellison Creek drainage, along the fire’s west flank above Dry Dude Creek and along the Road 95 and 139A above Bear Canyon.
All Evacuations and pre-evacuations have been lifted. Some roads near the fire are only open to residents and businesses due to heavy fire equipment traffic and fire crews working in the area.
The Coconino and Tonto National Forests Closure Orders and Fire Restrictions remain in effect."

[ljcygnet]

For anyone interested in the Highline Trail, it appears it was impacted from somewhere a bit west of Bonita Creek to the west side of Myrtle Point. Myrtle Trail was burnt -- they initially tried to use Myrtle Trail as a firebreak, it jumped it, so they stopped it on that long ridge that takes off from the west side of Myrtle Point.

The firefighters say they did not actually use (most of?) the Highline as a firebreak, they put one in a few hundred yards away, because the Highline is a historic trail.

I would, FWIW, recommend hiking with caution on the Highline for the rest of the year even if they reopen it this year. Flash flooding is going to be a concern.

The firefighters deserve incredible kudos for getting that fire stopped. That terrain is extremely difficult, and there was very real concern that it could have been another big one. They went to a type one incident within an hour of the start because of the location ... I pretty much assumed that they wouldn't get it stopped until weather stopped it in July; I am beyond impressed. If it had gone out of control it could have taken everything out from the Control Road to somewhere far north of the Rim -- affecting multiple communities, the watershed for Blue Ridge, and decimating a tremendous amount of country.

(GLad to be home ... thanks to the firefighters.)