HikeArizona.COM

And so it begins... in February....

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5682/

I was recently pondering whether the lack of substantial rain during the fall and winter of 2017-2018 was a good thing or a bad thing with regard to potential forest fires. I hiked a trail recently that was fairly bereft of grasses; when I had hiked the same trail on an earlier occasion, the grass was nearly up to my waist. In that particular location, I'd guess that the lack of fuel is a good thing despite being really dry. However, I suspect that the area had seen some grazing too, so that might be one reason for the lack of grass.

There were signs along the 17 yesterday about a fire situation by I didn't see anything.

@Tough_Boots
Inciweb has several Controlled Burns listed right now....

Mead Fire on the Tonto National Forest west of the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery and North of Mead Ranch. 70 acres as of this posting, fire works caused.

I was advised it was called the Mead Fire, actually listed as the Knoll Fire and now contained. Was at the airport in Payson a couple of days ago to check for aerial firefighting units and noted this visitor.

Pinery Fire in the Chiricahuas: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5795

Glad to see them announce the exact location of where the fire began-- they might actually catch someone. Looks like it must have been backpackers camped below the Sycamore Basin Trail about a mile NE of the Junction with Dogie-- about 2.5 miles from the Taylor Cabin (by trail).

34°58'21.0"N 112°00'59.0"W

I was waiting for this morning's update to see how things progressed overnight. I'm no firefighting expert, but from the weather conditions yesterday (and overnight) combined with the photos ( and what we know so far, I'm hoping that they've already managed to get some containment.

joebartels wrote:The human-caused Sycamore Fire
Quote Highlighted Text Post a reply
Hike Arizona it ROCKS!
Top

that sucks...they may have to close every forest in the state

DixieFlyer wrote:they may have to close every forest in the state

I'm sure Sedona is pushing hard against that.

230 acres. 25% containment.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott ... EPRD581971

Or else dayhikers who bit off more than they could chew and spent an unplanned and cold night in the canyon.

Tough_Boots wrote: ↑May 29 2018 6:36 am Glad to see them announce the exact location of where the fire began-- they might actually catch someone. Looks like it must have been backpackers camped below the Sycamore Basin Trail about a mile NE of the Junction with Dogie-- about 2.5 miles from the Taylor Cabin (by trail).

34°58'21.0"N 112°00'59.0"W

@Tough_Boots Brings up a dilemma I was just apart of in New Mexico, a group I was semi social with in afternoon, sparked up a fire at a backcountry lake that night. I debated back and forth for nearly an hour whether to go over and ask them to put it out, or not. Ultimately, I just let it go, because it was a group of three, they were all drunk and I was not about to get in a debate over their fire alone in the backcountry....Just a tough spot to be in, I wonder if backpackers passed these guys too and were also annoyed by fire, but figured it was not worth the potential fight?? Self entitled people are tough to argue with...sigh

Near Durango...
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5822/
Near Eagle Nest...
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5820/

New one north of Silver City...
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5823/

4mi NE of Heber: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5825/
http://ktar.com/story/2095073/fire-burn ... ntainment/
Human caused (trailer dragging tailgate sparked)

Not good.
https://nmfireinfo.com/2018/06/08/soldi ... 18-940-pm/

Dry lightning causing grief in SE Arizona. Mule Mtns. North of Bisbee were on fire.