NJFFSA16
05-24-2002, 05:33 AM
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters continue to attack a wildfire
that is creeping up Mount Lemmon and posing a threat to residents
and campers.
The wildfire in the Coronado National Forest grew to 10,000
acres by Thursday night.
The blaze, first spotted Tuesday in the Redington Pass area and
believed to be human-caused, was about 2 miles east of the Catalina
Highway leading to Mount Lemmon, at elevations of about 6,000 to
7,000 feet. The mountain is 9,200 feet high.
"We're still not talking about any evacuation at this point,"
fire information officer Laura Dupee said.
The Bullock fire, which began near Bullock Springs in rough,
hilly terrain northeast of Tucson, remained at least six miles from
the mountaintop community of Summerhaven.
There are about 400 cabins in Summerhaven, about half occupied
year-round. About 250 home owners and campers on the mountain were
warned Wednesday that they potentially might have to leave.
No structures were threatened by the fire, which was 35 percent
contained Thursday night, Dupee said.
There was no immediate estimate for full containment.
About 630 total workers, including firefighters and support
staff, planned to be on the scene Friday, Dupee said.
Pima County sheriff's deputies have closed Catalina Highway,
which leads from Tucson up to the top of Mount Lemmon to all but
full-time residents of Summerhaven.
There are numerous campgrounds as well on the mountain, and
sheriff's Lt. Terry Parrish said about 600 children scheduled to
attend camps there this weekend might be turned away.
Meanwhile, firefighters made good progress on two other Arizona
fires:
-The Weimer fire, first reported Tuesday on the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, was fully contained Thursday at
320 acres in Chevelon Canyon, about 15 miles northwest of Heber.
-The Tram fire, first reported Sunday in rugged terrain about 20
miles north of Payson in northern Arizona's Coconino National
Forest, was fully contained Thursday after burning 190 acres.
---
On the Net:
Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.
that is creeping up Mount Lemmon and posing a threat to residents
and campers.
The wildfire in the Coronado National Forest grew to 10,000
acres by Thursday night.
The blaze, first spotted Tuesday in the Redington Pass area and
believed to be human-caused, was about 2 miles east of the Catalina
Highway leading to Mount Lemmon, at elevations of about 6,000 to
7,000 feet. The mountain is 9,200 feet high.
"We're still not talking about any evacuation at this point,"
fire information officer Laura Dupee said.
The Bullock fire, which began near Bullock Springs in rough,
hilly terrain northeast of Tucson, remained at least six miles from
the mountaintop community of Summerhaven.
There are about 400 cabins in Summerhaven, about half occupied
year-round. About 250 home owners and campers on the mountain were
warned Wednesday that they potentially might have to leave.
No structures were threatened by the fire, which was 35 percent
contained Thursday night, Dupee said.
There was no immediate estimate for full containment.
About 630 total workers, including firefighters and support
staff, planned to be on the scene Friday, Dupee said.
Pima County sheriff's deputies have closed Catalina Highway,
which leads from Tucson up to the top of Mount Lemmon to all but
full-time residents of Summerhaven.
There are numerous campgrounds as well on the mountain, and
sheriff's Lt. Terry Parrish said about 600 children scheduled to
attend camps there this weekend might be turned away.
Meanwhile, firefighters made good progress on two other Arizona
fires:
-The Weimer fire, first reported Tuesday on the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, was fully contained Thursday at
320 acres in Chevelon Canyon, about 15 miles northwest of Heber.
-The Tram fire, first reported Sunday in rugged terrain about 20
miles north of Payson in northern Arizona's Coconino National
Forest, was fully contained Thursday after burning 190 acres.
---
On the Net:
Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.