ARIZONA BURNING AGAIN! Pack Rat and Trick Fires

Southwest Area Wildland Fire Operations ^ | Aug. 27, 2002 | Fire Management Team

[madfly]

Last Update: 8:30 a.m. (MDT); August 27, 2002

Six fires reported for yesterday.  Three fires reported by the State of Arizona, two fires on Santa Fe NF, and one fire on Fort Apache Reservation.  One new large fire (i.e. fires >100 acres), LAKES FIRE on Santa Fe NF.  

ARIZONA
PACK RAT FIRE, located along the Mogollon Rim, 15 miles north of Payson, AZ, is now over 1,210 acres.  Burning in mixed conifer and chaparral on Coconino and Tonto National Forest's, the fire became very active yesterday with increased torching, spotting, and upslope runs.  A number of spot fires were found across the line to the north.  Crews, engines, and helicopter assistance were successful in suppressing these spots.  Progress was made along the eastern flank as crews were able to insert line to protect homes in the area.  Burnout operations and continuation of line construction will continue through today.  Potential exists for addition fire runs today in canyons to the east and north.  A Southwest Area Type 1 Team (Humphrey, Incident Commander) has taken over management of the incident.  The PACK RAT FIRE is expected to be contained by September 7. General location Map

PACK RAT FIRE PHOTOS
Photos by Margo Whitt Pack Rat Information Officer, August 21, 2002

TRICK FIRE, on Kaibab National Forest, is now 3,795 acres.  Located approximately 17 miles southeast of Williams, AZ, within the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area, the TRICK FIRE is burning in steep, difficult terrain with limited water sources.  Active fire behavior yesterday morning and through the day with uphill runs on southern slopes.  Above the rim, lighter fire intensity is being experience.  Crews have built line off the rim into Tule Tank Wash.  Scouting, continuation of line construction in Tule Tank Wash, helicopter water drops, and beginning mop up in several areas planned for today.  A Great Basin Type 2 Team (Broyles, Incident Commander) is managing the incident.  No estimate on containment reported.  General Location Map | News Release 8/26

TRICK FIRE PHOTOS
Photos by Jacqueline C. Denk Fire Information Officer, Williams/Tusayan Ranger Districts,  Kaibab National Forest

NEW MEXICO
LAKES FIRE is a new fire reported yesterday on the Santa Fe National Forest.  The fire originated south of Fenton Lake in the Jemez Ranger District.  Within hours, the fire grew significantly moving to the northeast.  By evening, this active ground fire with some significant torching and crowning, had grown to over 3,000 acres.  Crossing State Road 126, evacuations became imminent for residents in the Thompson Ridge residential area.  Other areas evacuated included Fenton Lake State Park and Seven Springs.  Evacuation centers have been set up at Cuba High School and Senior Center at Canon, south of Pueblo of Jemez.  Evacuees may also call the Red Cross at 505-265-8514 for assistance and direction.  Four summer homes have been confirmed destroyed.  One of these homes was under construction.  State Road 12 from Highway 4 to Highway 550 at Cuba, NM, has been closed.  Smoke is visible in Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Espanola, and Taos. General location map of area.

Santa Fe National Forest is also working the LABOR FIRE, a 75-acre fire located one-half mile south of Cerro Pelado.  The fire is moving in a northeast direction threatening an electronic site on Cerro Pelado.  

Gila National Forest continues to monitor two large fires managed as "fire use," fires that were ignited by lightning, are burning in remote areas and pose no threat to life or property, and help reduce the buildup of hazardous forest fuels (vegetation).  They include ADOBE FIRE USE and CREEK FIRE USE.  A third fire, CUB FIRE, is being managed as a confined wildfire.  Two additional "fire use" fires have been reported and being monitored also, the CASTLE FIRE USE and WATER FIRE USE. 

[madfly]

McCain's a knucklehead. But Senator Kyl was up in Show Low supporting the President. Our Congressman Jeff Flake was there also. Jane Hull, one worlder, wasn't living in the "real world" until this fire was burning in an area she had a home and some background teaching school in the 60's.

like, this time it's personal and I'm the boss!

And she has a human connection to the victims up there. She herself was almost a victim.

She seems to be keeping her word. I hope she has had an epiphany, lol. I was surprised to see her invited to Medford. I hope her frightening experience knocked the word "sustainable" out of her vocabulary. :=)

[Carry_Okie]

I am deeply suspicious of both the Grand Canyon Trust and the TNC. They have taken over many lands in the Southwest supposedly to "protect" watercourses, while lettting them be over-run with an exotic weed: salt cedar (also called tamarisk). Tamarisk is a major problem all over the Southwest.

I try not to comment on specific projects, madfly, because I would need more data than I have time to acquire and analyze. My biggest concerns are the systemic and structural motives of the players involved that usually lead to unintended ecological consequences on a grand scale. I made my best pitch about that in my book: Natural Process: That Environmental Laws May Serve the Laws of Nature.

[cake_crumb]

LOL...there is nothing more dedicated than a converted radical.

[anymouse]

More AZ fires. Take care.

[isom35]

how come i've never heard the phrase "trick fire" ever in my life, and suddenly its commonplace, like, oh yeah, did ya hear about the trick fire? So I'l ask, what the hell is a trick fire?

[madfly]

I really don't know. I always thought fires were named after some ridge or canyon local to the fire. I've never heard trick fire before.

Hmm

[WaterDragon]

Pray for the homeowners.

[madfly]

Some good news for the homeowners. Hoping things keep improving.

AZFamily.com

Crews Getting Grip on Pack Rat Fire

Pending wind shift, evacuation unlikely

08/27/2002

By azfamily.com Staff

Mike Watkiss Reports

Aerial assaults are allowing firefighters battling the Pack Rat fire burning outside of Payson, to gain the upper hand.

As of Tuesday night, the wildfire burning in the Tonto and Coconino national forests is about 30 percent contained. Winds blowing against the fire seemed to aid firefighters' efforts.

Fire spokesman Jim Payne said pending a shift in winds, residents in five small communities in the area should not have to leave their homes.

However, firefighters are still warning residents who live in the communities of Washington Park, Rim Trail Estates, Verde Glen, Whispering Pines and Cowan Ranch to prepare for evacuation.

The more than 1,200-acre wildfire is about 1-1/2 miles away from these communities.

In all, residents who occupy about 200 lots east of the Pine-Strawberry area are affected.

Also Online

	USDA Forest Service
	Latest Fire Information
	Preventing Forest Fires

According to Payne, the fire is moving north and slightly to the east, while the communities are located southeast of the fire.

The Pack Rat fire was started by lightning on Aug. 16. Firefighters thought they had it contained, but the blaze jumped fire lines before they could contain it.

Crews are now building a dozer line west of Washington Park.

Another wildfire -- the Trick Fire -- is burning in the Kaibab Naional Forest about 20 miles soutest of Williams in Tule Canyon.

The fire, which has charred 3,800 acres thus far, is about 30 percent contained.

The Trick fire was started by lightning a week ago and no structures or homes are threatened.

[madfly]

ping to #48

[madfly]

Is Sycamore Canyon the one with a long twisty road where you need a truck to get to, with beautiful falls and pools at the bottom? I have always wanted to drive down there. Can you give a first hand description? Is it on fire now or in danger?? Damn

[madfly]

ping to #48

[Lil'freeper]

Is Sycamore Canyon the one with a long twisty road where you need a truck to get to, with beautiful falls and pools at the bottom? I have always wanted to drive down there. Can you give a first hand description? Is it on fire now or in danger?? Damn

Well, its been a few years since I've been out there- went to college in Flag- but your long-twisty-road description describes almost all the cool places in northern AZ. *chuckle*

Most of the jeep trails that I know of are along the rim of the canyon and then you hike in. There's a great creek that runs along the bottom and a trail trail sorta follows it. But, between the topography of the area and the nature of wildland fires, there's no way a fire team will go into that canyon. I don't know if it's actually burning, the posted article suggested that it might be in danger. Portions of it have burned before.

Here's a topozone link of the area. Lots of "Sycamore Canyons" in AZ, but this is the wilderness area ESE of Williams.

[WaterDragon]

Yes. Interesting there's no outcry for his state. Could it possibly be that McCain could care less if his state burns? The Democrats of Oregon don't care.

[madfly]

Thanks. I went to college at NAU also and spent lots of time finding secret spots near Slide Rock, in Oak Creek Canyon. My best friend's family were Spanish Basque and we spent summers at their old Cabin in the forest, with a corral and slaughter ramp. It was there for ions, for the sheepherders when they came from the Verde River each year, waggin' their tails behind them :=). I haven't wanted to know if it was burnt in any fires. :(

[madfly]

--A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN POSTED IN SOUTHWESTERN AND SOUTH-CENTRAL OREGON FOR GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND POOR OVERNIGHT RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERY—

--A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN POSTED IN THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS, AND THE TAHOE AND ELDORADO NATIONAL FORESTS  FOR GUSTY NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND POOR OVERNIGHT HUMIDITY RECOVERY--

High pressure over Oregon and Washington will bring sunny skies with scattered showers and isolated wet thunderstorms along the Idaho-Washington border.  High temperatures will be in the 70’s to 80’s.  Winds are expected out of the northwest at 5-15 mph, gusting to 35 mph in southwestern Oregon.

Arizona and New Mexico can expect mostly sunny skies.  High temperatures will be in the 90’s to 110 at the lower elevations and 70’s to 80’s in the mountains.  Winds will be south to west from 10-20 mph and gusty.

[madfly]

Southern California   http://www.fire.r5.fs.fed.us/sops.htm 

The McNally Fire, 9 miles north of Kernville, is in the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests.  Crews are constructing direct attack firelines on the northeast and west flanks.  Jordan Hot Springs Resort and residents of Monache Meadows have been evacuated.  Twenty-three residences and seven commercial structures remain threatened.

The Bobcat Fire has been contained.

Incident Name	State	*Lead Agency	Size (acres)	Percent Contained	Estimate of Containment	Personnel	Structures Lost
McNally	CA	FS	150,420	93	8/29	1,400	14
Bobcat	CA	FS	765	100	---	121	0

[madfly]

Northwest Area – Oregon,  Washington    http://www.or.blm.gov/nwcc

Oregon:  The Biscuit Fire, 26 miles southwest of Grants Pass in the Siskiyou and Six Rivers National Forests.  Fireline rehabilitation and mop-up are underway on the east and south perimeters.  Fire behavior has moderated.  Wilderness Retreat, Gardner Ranch, the Chetco Inn, and structures in the Pistol River drainage are being protected. Firefighters are experiencing moderate fire behavior and short range spotting in heavy timber from the Apple Fire, 21 miles east of Glide.  Twenty homes and several outbuildings are threatened. The Tiller Complex Fire, 25 miles east of Canyonville, is exhibiting moderate fire behavior.  Mop-up is underway in several divisions. Structure protection is in place for sixty-seven homes. 

The Lava Fire, 15 miles northwest of Christmas Valley, Oregon is in a Wilderness Study Area. (STUDY AREA? MAYBE THEY NEED TO STUDY CARRY_OKIE'S BOOK AND BURN THAT UNEP MATERIAL!!!!!  Fire is burning in mountain mahogany, juniper, and sagebrush.  This will be the last report on this fire unless significant activity occurs

[B4Ranch]

Well, they found out that if a "study area" is left to it's own decisions there isn't much to study because fire destroys everything.

[OldFriend]

McCain is busy prepping his buddy Chuck Hagel for his media events bashing the President.

Since McCain was joined at the hip for clinton's forays into bombing Serbia without congressional approval he's staying in the background.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the weather warning post.

Which weather service is sending out this Red Flag Warning for SW Oregon?

Do you have the link?

Thanks!