Wildfire continues to burn near Mexican border

KOLD News 13, Tucson, AZ ^ | April 9, 2005 | Not Credited

[HiJinx]

CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz. Firefighters have cut a rough line around a wildfire burning in the Coronado National Forest near the Mexican border.

However, forest spokesman Gail Aschenbrenner says fire crews remain concerned because of windy and dry conditions expected in the area today.

Aschenbrenner says crews made good progress on fighting the fire last night and are working to strengthen their fire lines.

The fire has burned across 121 acres in the remote area west of the Coronado National Memorial. No structures are threatened.

[HiJinx]

As is the case with so many TV Station news items, this is brief. This morning's Sierra Vista Herald has a much more detailed article. Here is a transcription of that article. Visit their site after noon MST today and you may find it posted.

Crews Battle Wildfire Near Huachucas

by Bill Hess
HERALD/REVIEW

SIERRA VISTA - A more than 100-acre wildfire that burned west of the the Coronado National Memorial was human-caused, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service said Friday.

The fire began around 9:30 AM Thursday near the fence line separating the United States and Mexico, said Ellen Brown, a fire prevention officer for the Coronado National Forest's Sierra Vista Ranger District.

Forest Service firefighters happened to be nearby doing a prescribed burn around Lone Mountain, just west of the Huachuca Mountains.

"We were fortunate to have crews working a prescribed burn close by," Brown said, adding they were on the scene in minutes.

The blaze is in Cochise County, but close to the Santa Cruz County line, she said.

The fire remained north of the international boundary and blackened 121 acres by 5 p.m. on Friday.

The blaze, called the 103 Fire because of the number of a nearby drainage area, was contained, Brown said.

About 100 firefighters fought the blaze, with Arizona Department of Corrections hand crews, the Northwst Fire Department, the Douglas Ranger District, and four engines and crews from the Sierra Vista Ranger District participated (sic) in fighting the fire.

Federal, state and local officials have expressed concerns that this year's fire season could be dangerous.

Gail Aschenbrenner, a spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest headquarters in Tucson, said fire investigators have determined that the cause of the blaze was due to a warming fire along a known trail used by "illegal border crossers."

The emphasis is mine (HJ). Three years ago news organs did not say who started fires. Our local paper now does so, because they are trying to get the word out that our porous borders are a clear and present danger to the well-being of both the residents of our communities and to our environment.

[HiJinx]

Another reason to shut down the crossings in between Ports of Entry.

[softwarecreator]

Maybe it is Bush's plan to stop illegal immigrants from crossing? =)

[Dane]

The emphasis is mine (HJ). Three years ago news organs did not say who started fires. Our local paper now does so, because they are trying to get the word out that our porous borders are a clear and present danger to the well-being of both the residents of our communities and to our environment.

Whew, you were born 20 years too late. Your above would have gotten you a job at Pravda in a heartbeat, IMO.

[Dane]

Maybe it is Bush's plan to stop illegal immigrants from crossing? =)

JMO, probably some pyro minutemen.

[axes_of_weezles]

Hijinx is right. Only now that the Minutemen are on the border they are forced to expose the root cause of the fires.
There has been no rain or inclement weather for about a month. The fires could not be caused naturally.

[raybbr]

Dane's fishing again....

[R. Scott]

Well, golly – I hope none of the illegal border crossers were hurt.
Yea. Right.

[axes_of_weezles]

You definitely do not know what you speak of Dane.
Good of you to be an illegals sympathizer.
How come your not down in Naco smoking dope with the ACLU?

Hijinx is 100% correct in his assessment.

For the last 5-6 years the illegals have been starting campfires in the wilderness areas around the huachuca mountains.

Two years ago the fires were whipped by wind and burned30-40k acres of land including about 1/4 of Fort Huachuca.

We know. We live in Southern AZ.

I dont care if you employ mexican labor to do jobs "Americans" wont do.

[Dane]

Hijinx is right. Only now that the Minutemen are on the border they are forced to expose the root cause of the fires. There has been no rain or inclement weather for about a month. The fires could not be caused naturally

Whoa, aren't the minutemen patrolling the area and having great success according to their press releases and posts on FR.

You're right,IMO, it wasn't caused naturally, and there are some 500 extra people in the area there to make a political point.

[Carry_Okie]

Whew, you were born 20 years too late. Your above would have gotten you a job at Pravda in a heartbeat, IMO.

Your race-baiting projections are worthy of a mirror. Too bad you wouldn't recognize what you saw.

[FBD]

Dane, why are you attacking Hijinx?
Can't you make your comments without being an absolute ass?
You would have jumped all over this article, had it been related to the Minutemen causing some problem, but since it appears it was started by some people illegaly entering our country; (as usual), you attack the poster.

---

Gail Aschenbrenner, a spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest headquarters in Tucson, said fire investigators have determined that the cause of the blaze was due to a warming fire along a known trail used by "illegal border crossers."

[shebacal]

JMO, probably some pyro minutemen.

Please don't besmirch the Minuteman Project. These brave citizens are putting their lives in danger to protect America's borders. They deserve acclamation, not denigration.

[Dane]

Gail Aschenbrenner, a spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest headquarters in Tucson, said fire investigators have determined that the cause of the blaze was due to a warming fire along a known trail used by "illegal border crossers."

And known by the minutemen, also.

Afterall they are the ones who are proclaiming in the media and on FR that they are doing a better job than the border patrol.

[Dane]

Your race-baiting projections are worthy of a mirror. Too bad you wouldn't recognize what you saw

Uh carry oker, poliitcal agendas know no racial boundries, only human boundries.

Nice try though at deflection.

[axes_of_weezles]

Get your map out.

Naco and Douglas are about 30-40 miles due east of these fires.

The Huachuca mountains are to the west of where the Minutemen are.

The East side of the Huachucas is Fort Huachuca.

The West side is primarily ranches, and BLM land.
Farmers and the ARMY do not start fires.

In addition there are privately owned cabins and homes in this area.

There are locals there.

Where the fire started was at 6-7000 ft elevation, on a 30-45 degree slope.

The Minutemen are nowhere near there.

Stop being a dumbass.

[janetgreen]

We've all read about and have actually seen the pictures of the damage that illegal aliens do to the land. They have no respect for our country, our laws, our homes, our pets or wildlife. Starting a fire to keep warm then leaving it burning means nothing to them in their trek to sneak into America.

What will it take to get this President's attention?? Why are illegal aliens from Mexico exempt from American law once they sneak in??

[FBD]

Sir,
Why do you continue to allow this Dane character to continually disrupt thread, after thread, after thread, after thread?

Dane has been suspended how many times now...2,or three times? Always for the same repetitive, obnoxious, and slanderous comments, and then you continue to allow him/her back, where Dane again engages in the same behavior.

Please, Sir.

And Dane: This constant prefacing of your insulting remarks with "IMO", or "JMO" (just my opinion) is getting tedious.. We all KNOW the *origin* of your comments.

[Dane]

The Minutemen are nowhere near there.

Stop being a dumbass.

And there is an Easter bunny also.