Posted on 04/16/2014 7:53:05 AM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — A large swath of the Coronado National Forest is being closed off to the public to curb any potential safety hazards that may arise from ongoing emergency fire suppression efforts of the Brown Fire.
Most of the closed area is within Fort Huachuca, though the southern portion does fall within public lands.
The closure encompasses a number of trails and Forest Service roads and will remain in effect until May 1 or until the order is rescinded.
Use of Forest Service Road 5736 is prohibited while the closure is in place, as is the use of Forest Service Trail 115, 116, 117, 122, 123,129 and 103.
“Any violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for individuals, $10,000.00 for organizations and/or imprisonment for not more than six months,” writes Heidi Schewel, spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest, in a Tuesday afternoon release announcing the closure.
Those seeking more information are asked to call the Sierra Vista Ranger District at (520) 378-0311.
A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for most of Cochise County and will go into effect at 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson.
Several factors are taken into consideration when issuing such a warning, said Jim Meyer. They include relative humidity, wind speeds and the fire danger rating from the National Forest Service that takes into account the availability of fire fuels.
The warning will remain in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday, when sustained winds speeds are expected to diminish in the area.
Until then, however, fire crews working the Brown Fire can anticipate sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph through Tuesday with “normal winds overnight,” Meyer said.
In the Huachuca Mountains, that means sustained winds of up to 15 mph.
Windy conditions will continue through Wednesday, with sustained winds of up to 10 mph in the morning, increasing to 15-25 mph winds in the afternoon with anticipated gusts as high as 40 mph.
“Winds should start to weaken after 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., and overnight falling back toward normal levels,” to include the mountains and ridge line, Meyer said.
Apparently suppression actions are having an effect.
SIERRA VISTA — Wednesday is expected to be “pretty windy,” which may create problems fighting the Brown Fire in the Huachuca Mountains.
National Weather Service Forecaster Jerald Meadows, who works in the the Tucson office, said the forecast is for winds to be 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph
However when it comes to the fire in the immediate area of the blaze, winds could be stronger, Meadows told the
Illegals planning their picnics along this border please be careful when cooking the tacos and beans. Fire danger is still high.
“public land”
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