NJFFSA16
05-22-2002, 03:00 AM
PHOENIX (AP) - A wildfire spotted by an airliner early Tuesday
grew to nearly 3,000 acres as high winds whipped across southern
Arizona's Coronado National Forest.
Fires also burned in parts of Colorado and New Mexico, where a
small blaze burned part of a maintenance building before it was
contained.
High winds fanned the flames of Arizona's Bullock wildfire and
grounded air tankers working the fire, forest dispatcher Peter
Taylor said.
"It's a very active fire," Taylor said. "You can see smoke
from Tucson (15 miles away)."
About 100 firefighters planned to battle the blaze through the
night with 40 more joining them Wednesday morning, forest
spokeswoman Gail Aschenbrenner said.
It was not threatening any buildings.
There was no estimate on containment.
Another wildfire burning in a remote canyon in northern
Arizona's Coconino National Forest had charred about 200 acres and
was 65 percent contained Tuesday night, said forest spokeswoman
Karen Malis-Clark.
The Tram fire, which was first reported Sunday, was burning in
rugged terrain about 20 miles north of Payson. All roads and trails
in a large section of the forest near the fire were closed.
No buildings were threatened.
About 377 firefighters, including crews from the Hualapai, Hopi
and Navajo tribes, battled the blaze Tuesday.
Officials are expecting containment by Thursday night.
A third wildfire reported Tuesday morning consumed about 50
acres in Chevelon Canyon, about 15 miles northwest of Heber in the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
The Weimer fire was burning in rugged terrain that was
inaccessible by ground, said forest spokesman Bob Dyson. Crews were
watching the fire from the top of the canyon to try to determine
which direction it would burn.
Air tankers were grounded Tuesday morning because of high winds
but were making water drops again by the afternoon, Dyson said.
All three fires were believed to have been caused by humans and
were under investigation.
Two other wildfires, each under one acre, began in the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest after high winds blew trees into
electrical lines, Dyson said. Both were contained.
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On the Net:
Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us
grew to nearly 3,000 acres as high winds whipped across southern
Arizona's Coronado National Forest.
Fires also burned in parts of Colorado and New Mexico, where a
small blaze burned part of a maintenance building before it was
contained.
High winds fanned the flames of Arizona's Bullock wildfire and
grounded air tankers working the fire, forest dispatcher Peter
Taylor said.
"It's a very active fire," Taylor said. "You can see smoke
from Tucson (15 miles away)."
About 100 firefighters planned to battle the blaze through the
night with 40 more joining them Wednesday morning, forest
spokeswoman Gail Aschenbrenner said.
It was not threatening any buildings.
There was no estimate on containment.
Another wildfire burning in a remote canyon in northern
Arizona's Coconino National Forest had charred about 200 acres and
was 65 percent contained Tuesday night, said forest spokeswoman
Karen Malis-Clark.
The Tram fire, which was first reported Sunday, was burning in
rugged terrain about 20 miles north of Payson. All roads and trails
in a large section of the forest near the fire were closed.
No buildings were threatened.
About 377 firefighters, including crews from the Hualapai, Hopi
and Navajo tribes, battled the blaze Tuesday.
Officials are expecting containment by Thursday night.
A third wildfire reported Tuesday morning consumed about 50
acres in Chevelon Canyon, about 15 miles northwest of Heber in the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
The Weimer fire was burning in rugged terrain that was
inaccessible by ground, said forest spokesman Bob Dyson. Crews were
watching the fire from the top of the canyon to try to determine
which direction it would burn.
Air tankers were grounded Tuesday morning because of high winds
but were making water drops again by the afternoon, Dyson said.
All three fires were believed to have been caused by humans and
were under investigation.
Two other wildfires, each under one acre, began in the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest after high winds blew trees into
electrical lines, Dyson said. Both were contained.
---
On the Net:
Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us