Arizona '05

[NJFFSA16]

Brush fires burning this evening near Wickenburg


WICKENBURG, Ariz. (AP) - A cluster of fires are burning
northwest of Wickenburg near the junction of Highway's 71 and 93.
The state lands department says the fire is burning about a mile
from four mobile homes and a ranch. So far, 150 acres have gone up
in flames leaving behind a blackened patch of desert.
Sixty firefighters are on the "Rusty Fire" along with
single-engine air tankers and heavy-helicopters.
In all 13 engines are battling the flames in dry and dead desert
brush.
Firefighters from Prescott National Forest, Tonto National
Forest, The Bureau of Land Management, the State Land Department,
Wickenburg Fire and the Congress Fire Department are on the scene.

[NJFFSA16]

Brush fire destroys two homes, continues to spread
PICACHO, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire destroyed two homes and three
other structures and was continuing to spread in brush and desert
grasses around this southern Arizona community, a fire spokeswoman
said Monday.
The Tree House fire had spread across 40 acres by early Monday
but it wasn't clear whether other structures were threatened, said
Judy Wood, a spokeswoman for the Arizona State Land Department,
which was fighting the blaze along with other agencies.
Wood said the fire began in a tree but the cause remained under
investigation.
She said the fire, which began during the weekend, serves as a
reminder to people to clear brush and grasses from around their
homes to create a buffer against fires. "We're really emphasizing
this since this is the beginning of the fire season," Wood said.
---
On the Net:
Information on protecting homes: http://www.firewise.org

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Wildfire near Wickenburg fully contained
PHOENIX (AP) - A wildfire that burned 460 acres of land south of
Wickenburg was fully contained by Monday, officials said.
The Vulture fire, which started Sunday afternoon, was still
burning 10 miles south of Wickenburg but will not spread, said
Deneen Cone, dispatch manager for the Arizona State Land
Department.
The blaze came within about half a mile of a ranch, a few other
buildings and some nearby power lines, but the fire no longer
threatened those structures Monday, Cone said.
About 10 firefighters worked to control the flames Monday. The
cause of the fire was unknown.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PHOENIX (AP) - A grass and brush fire northeast of Phoenix near
Bartlett Lake was 95 percent contained Tuesday night after burning
more than 14,500 acres, a spokesman said.
Wendell Pea****, a spokesman for the fire crews, said the Bart
fire was expected to be fully contained by Friday night "although
it probably will be earlier than that."
He said the 14,534 acres included 1,920 acres burned by the St.
Clair fire, which started Friday but was contained Sunday.
"The St. Clair fire was already out and the Bart fire burned
into the St. Clair in places," said Pea****.
Since the fire-line containment perimeter included the
burned-out area of the St. Clair, crews were counting that acreage
as part of the Bart fire, according to Pea****.
Firefighters cut a fuel-free barrier line around about
three-quarters of the Bart fire by Tuesday morning after
temperatures and winds dropped overnight.
The fire was fueled by grasses that grew lush this spring from
ample winter rains but have since dried out.
Nearly 360 firefighters and support staff, including 12 elite
Hotshot crews and two helicopters, fought the blaze which broke out
about 5 p.m. Sunday in the Tonto National Forest.
A $5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of whoever started the Bart fire, Pea****
said.
"We know it was human caused. Who did it and how they did it is
still part of the investigation," Pea**** said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

GLOBE, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire burning southwest of Globe was 95
percent contained by Tuesday night after charring 1,985 acres,
authorities said.
More than 350 firefighters were working on the fire, which is
burning in rough terrain on state land.
The fire began Sunday afternoon and was believed to be
human-caused.
No structures were threatened by the blaze, said Vinnie Picard,
a spokesman for the Tonto National Forest.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Wildfire threatening structures, hundreds may be evacuated


CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) - A five-thousand-acre wildfire is
threatening about 100 structures this evening west of the community
of Stanfield in Pinal County.
The buildings include an unknown number of homes.
State fire officials say about 300 people were expected to be
evacuated.
Arizona State Land Department spokesman Cliff Pearlberg says the
Vekol (VEEK'-uhl) fire hasn't damaged any structures.
However, Pearlberg says they feel structures at this point in
time are in danger.
Fire officials are expecting the fire to grow to eight-thousand
acres.
There's no estimated time for containment.
Another fire is also burning about 20 miles south of Casa
Grande.
The Green fire has burned 600 acres.
It's also threatening structures, but no one has been evacuated.


(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) - Three firefighters suffered minor
injuries while battling a 6,650-acre wildfire burning about 20
miles west of Casa Grande.
Two firefighters suffered dehydration and a third was burned
Friday afternoon after being scalded with hot water from a pump on
a water tender, said Wendall Pea****, a spokesman for the crew
fighting the fire.
The dehydrated firefighters were taken to Casa Grande Regional
Medical Center where they were treated and released, Pea**** said.
The other fireman remained at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix
overnight but was listed in good condition.
The Vekol fire was 90 percent contained Saturday night and no
longer threatening about 100 structures in the area, authorities
said.
Strong winds from a Friday night storm made fire suppression
more difficult, Pea**** said. Once the storm passed, crews worked
through the night to create a line around the fire.
About 255 personnel were fighting the fire, along with 16
engines, a helicopter and two air tankers.
The fire has cost $657,483 to fight so far, said U.S. Forest
Service spokeswoman Annie Hanson.
The blaze broke out Thursday afternoon and spread quickly
through dry grass and brush. Authorities were investigating how the
fire started but suspect it was human caused.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV 05-29-05 0717EDT

[NJFFSA16]

Wildfire west of Casa Grande contained
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) - Fire crews have contained a 6,116-acre
wildfire burning about 20 miles west of Casa Grande.
The Vekol fire was contained on Sunday night, although fire
crews were continuing to monitor hot spots on Monday, said Wendall
Pea****, a spokesman for the crew fighting the fire.
The fire had been estimated at 6,650-acres but was downgraded
because of better mapping.
Three firefighters were injured while battling the blaze - two
had dehydration and a third suffered burns on his torso and hand
after being scalded with hot water from a pump on a water tender.
The dehydrated firefighters were taken to a nearby hospital and
were treated and released on Friday. The third, Rincon Valley
fireman Rick Halfmann, was expected to stay in the hospital a few
more days, Pea**** said Monday.
The fire cost around $660,000 to fight, Pea**** said.
The blaze broke out Thursday afternoon and spread quickly
through dry grass and brush. Authorities were investigating how the
fire started but suspect it was human caused.
"As long people are careless with fire," Pea**** said, "we're
going to have a long season."

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

By AMANDA KEIM
Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP) - Not that they moved slow before, but Arizona
firefighters are trying to hit fast-moving brush fires quicker than
ever as they battle the dried up remnants of this year's heavy
winter rains.
With all the moisture came lots of grass and flowers in desert
areas, eventually leading to more brush fires in lower elevations
instead of the tall-tree forest fires most people are used to, said
Cliff Pearlberg, fire prevention officer for the Arizona State Land
Department.
"We had all that wonderful rain which caused all those
beautiful flowers to grow," Pearlberg said. "They're not pretty
anymore. Now they're all brown."
As predicted, brush fires have sprung up all over this year and
agencies are trying to get out to them and coordinate resources as
early as possible to keep flames contained, said Lori Faeth, the
governor's policy adviser for natural resources and the
environment.
While grass and brush fires are easier to put out than forest
fires, grass burns more quickly than forest fuel, Pearlberg said.
As a result, it's easier for grass and brush fires to spread
quickly before fire crews can contain them - a potentially
dangerous scenario for fires near desert developments.
Wildfires have already burned more than 16,450 acres across the
state in at least 331 fires this year, Pearlberg said. That acreage
is more than four times the 10-year average for May 27, which is
3,391 acres and 344 fires.
Fast responses by ground and air crews help firefighters get a
handle on flames before they have a chance to spread while making
the best use of the resources they have available, Faeth said.
There are nine single engine air tankers, four heavy air tankers
and nine helicopters in Arizona, Pearlberg said. However, those
numbers can change quickly depending on need across the country.
There are only six or seven heavy tankers available in the
entire nation, Faeth said. Most large aircraft have been grounded
since 2002, when two planes dropping fire retardant lost their
wings mid-flight in California and Colorado.
Fortunately for Arizona, there aren't many wildfires blazing in
other parts of the country. That means more federal resources,
including those large air tankers, available to the state, Faeth
said.
But while large crafts can drop more fire retardant in a single
flight, fire crews are taking advantage of the fast turnaround
times smaller planes bring, Pearlberg said.
With so many fast-moving fires, crews also have had to resort to
more indirect methods of fighting fires to assure the firefighters'
safety, said Andy Mandell, fire prevention officer for the Cave
Creek ranger district.
That means using techniques such as fire lines, which keep crews
further away from blazes, instead of positioning firefighters right
next to the blaze and dumping water directly on the flames,
Pearlberg said.
The state is also stepping up efforts to educate residents in
lower elevations to fire dangers to keep fires from starting in the
first place, Faeth said.
Most people assume wild fires are only a problem near forests
and don't take steps to protect their homes, she said. But this
year, fire crews are noticing the opposite.
"We're fighting lowland fires versus forest fires, which have
been a problem in the past few years," Faeth said. "A fire can
start in brush in the middle of the city."
The last significant desert wildfire near a populated area
burned 23,000 acres in north Scottsdale in 1995. No homes were
destroyed.
---
On the Net:
Arizona State Land Department: www.land.state.az.us
Governor's office: www.azgovernor.gov

[NJFFSA16]

Fast-moving brush fire forces evacuations near Wickenburg
WICKENBURG, Ariz. (AP) - A fast-moving brush fire charred 1,000
acres by late Wednesday afternoon and forced the evacuation of at
least 30 people from their homes near Wickenburg, authorities said.
The Bobby fire was burning dry grass and brush 20 miles south of
Wickenburg and threatening about 30 mobile homes, cabins and other
structures in the area, according to authorities.
Up to 70 more residents may have to be evacuated by nightfall if
the flames moved closer to their homes, said Ken Palmrose, a
spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management.
Palmrose said the fire was on BLM and private land, and
authorities had already determined that the blaze was human-caused.
The blaze was reported at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday and was burning
in the same area south of Wickenburg as two recent brush fires, one
of which charred three homes earlier this week.
Palmrose said more than 100 firefighters were battling the Bobby
fire along with three heavy air tankers, five single-engine
aircraft and two helicopters.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

WICKENBURG, Ariz. (AP) - A brush fire that evacuated at least 30
people from their homes near Wickenburg was 40 percent contained
Thursday, authorities said.
The 2,000-acre Bobby fire, which threatened mobile homes, cabins
and other structures Wednesday, was not imminently threatening any
structures, said Ken Palmrose, a spokesman for the Bureau of Land
Management.
"The threat is lessened in the whole area," Palmrose said
Thursday. "It's looking real good."
Full containment was expected by Friday morning.
Palmrose said evacuated residents were heading back home soon,
of they hadn't already returned. He said there were no reports of
any injuries or structures lost to the fire.
About 190 firefighters were battling the Bobby fire, enforcing
lines and putting out hot spots.
The fire, which is burning about 10 miles south of Wickenburg,
was reported at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday. It was burning in the same
area south of Wickenburg as two recent brush fires, one of which
charred three homes earlier this week.
The blaze was under investigation, but authorities suspect it
was caused by people.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Wildfire behavior alert issued for Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - State and federal officials are warning
that the next few days could be some of the most dangerous of
Arizona's wildfire season.
Moisture seeping into the region from Mexico could also spawn
dry thunderstorms along the Arizona-New Mexico border that may
pepper the terrain with lightning.
Calling the weather conditions a "rare event," the
government's Southwest Coordination Center in Albuquerque issued a
"fire behavior alert" that warns the weather "will likely result
in major spread of any existing wildland fires."
Federal officials say the fire danger will be focused in areas
below 7,000 feet elevation.
"The desert country of Arizona is the area of concern because
of the heavy fuel buildup after all the moisture this winter,"
said Ken Palmrose, fire prevention officer for the Bureau of Land
Management.
Palmrose said lower-elevation wildfires that consume grass and
other fine fuels typically die down at night as humidity levels
rebound but that may not be so in coming days.
So far this year, wildfires have charred more than 60,000 acres
of Arizona land.
The blazes were fueled by the wet winter, which allowed
wildflowers, grasses and weeds to flourish only to quickly dry out
when the heat set in.
Weather forecasts possibly through Monday call for increasing
winds and continued dry conditions.
Authorities say dry winds combined with hot temperatures and low
humidity mean wildfires will be easier to start and flames will
spread quicker.
Fire restrictions, including banning campfires and smoking
outside of vehicles, have been imposed throughout most of Arizona's
lower deserts and have been creeping northward and expanding to
public lands across the state.


---
Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire that prompted the
voluntary evacuations of 15 homes in southern Arizona had grown to
875 acres by Sunday afternoon, officials said.
The homes near Red Mountain, about four miles south of
Patagonia, were evacuated because the canyons in which they are
located have limited access to roads, which would make it difficult
for homeowners to leave if the fire worsened, said Jonetta Holt, a
spokeswoman for fire crews.
The evacuations weren't prompted by a belief that the blaze
would imminently overrun the homes, Holt said.
The Aztec fire was burning about a mile from the structures,
Holt said. None of the fire has been contained.
"It's continuing to creep along the north, but it's not
approaching a point where it's going over any of our lines out
there," Holt said. "It's burning more on interior than making a
huge run."
As a precaution, electricity was turned off at scores of homes
and a few commercial properties in the area.
Portions of the fire burned in steep, rocky terrain and in
narrow canyons, making it difficult for firefighters to attack the
blaze in the Coronado National Forest.
The fire was spotted around 1 p.m. Saturday. There were 391
people fighting the fire using 17 engines, three helicopters and
three airline planes.
Holt said investigators determined the blaze was caused by an
abandoned campfire.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV 06-19-05 2239EDT

[NJFFSA16]

PHOENIX (AP) - Scottsdale city officials will consider this week
whether to close the McDowell Sonoran Preserve as fire conditions
there continue to worsen.
Fire officials say that the dry and windy weather, coupled with
an unusually heavy growth of grass and vegetation this year,
warrants closing access to about 10,000 acres owned by the city.
"The conditions are nearly perfect for major wildland fire
activity," Scottsdale Fire Chief William McDonald said.
The City Council is scheduled to consider closing the preserve
at its Tuesday meeting.
Only once during its 10-year history - during the 2002
"Rodeo-Chediski" fire in north-central Arizona - has Scottsdale
closed the area to visitors because there were not enough resources
to give the area full fire protection.
---
Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV 06-20-05 0313EDT

[NJFFSA16]

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire in southern Arizona was 40
percent contained Monday night after charring 1,300 acres,
authorities said.
The fire, which was spotted Saturday afternoon and caused by an
abandoned campfire, was expected to be fully contained by Friday
night.
Portions of the Aztec fire burned in steep, rocky terrain and in
narrow canyons, making it difficult for firefighters to attack the
blaze in the Coronado National Forest.
But fire spokeswoman Jonetta Holt said crews were able to build
containment lines around the fire near Red Mountain, about four
miles south of Patagonia.
People living in 15 houses in the fire's path were voluntarily
evacuated Sunday but allowed to return home that night.
"We have a good strong line and we're holding it. We have
engines on that piece of line" where the homes are located about
one mile from the fire, Holt said.
Holt said 460 people, three helicopters and two airplanes were
fighting the blaze.
Crews were doing more burnout operations Monday night and Holt
said "there was no movement on the west and south sides" of the
fire.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

GILA BEND, Ariz. (AP) - A huge brush fire is burning on the
Barry Goldwater Air Force Range between Ajo (AH'-ho) and Gila Bend.
The Goldwater Fire is between 15-thousand and 20-thousand acres.
The Bureau of Land Management says the fire is burning along
Highway 85. There are no structures in danger, however there are
concerns the fire could reach power lines that feed Ajo.
The B-L-M says there's been no containment on the fire.
The Goldwater fire was first reported June 17th.

[NJFFSA16]

PHOENIX (AP) - Crews fighting a 1,300-acre wildfire in southern
Arizona focused Tuesday on extending a protection line around the
blaze.
The Aztec fire near Red Mountain, about four miles south of
Patagonia, was 50 percent contained and expected to be declared
fully contained by Friday evening.
People living in 15 houses in the fire's path had been
voluntarily evacuated earlier but were allowed to return home
Sunday night.
Utilities also restored electric power service to about 100
homes. Their power had been turned off as precaution.
Portions of the Aztec fire burned in steep, rocky terrain and in
narrow canyons, making it difficult for firefighters to attack the
blaze in the Coronado National Forest.
The fire was first spotted Saturday afternoon and caused by an
abandoned campfire.
About 460 people and three helicopters were fighting the blaze.
---
GOLDWATER FIRE
AJO, Ariz. (AP) - A brush fire grew to 40,000 acres on the Barry
Goldwater Air Force Range north of here by Tuesday night, officials
said.
The fire, which was 10 percent contained, was burning in tall
grass in wide open country, said Ken Palmrose, a spokesman for the
Bureau of Land Management, and Lt. Brady Smith, a spokesman for
Luke Air Force Base.
No structures were threatened. The blaze had threatened power
lines, which were periodically shut down during the fire, Smith
said.
About 30 firefighters were conducting burnout operations. Ten
fire trucks, two heavy air tankers and one plane also were fighting
the fire.
The blaze was under investigation and began in an area where
aircraft do not drop ordnance, Smith said.
The fire was burning 3 miles west of Highway 85, which was
closed between Gila Bend and Ajo on Tuesday afternoon.
---
SUNSET POINT FIRE
CORDES JUNCTION, Ariz. (AP) - A brush fire burning south of here
grew to nearly 6,900 acres Tuesday but was 50 percent contained,
officials said.
No structures were threatened, said Rick Hartigan, a spokesman
for the team fighting the fire.
Authorities said the blaze was no longer threatening
archaeological sites and high voltage power lines that serve
Phoenix.
The Sunset Point fire burned about a mile north of Black Canyon
City, but it was moving away from the community, Hartigan said.
More than 200 firefighters were building lines and mopping up
the fire Tuesday.
A thunderstorm forecast for Tuesday night could hamper
firefighting efforts, Hartigan said. Crews were expected to fight
the fire overnight.
Northbound lanes of Interstate 17 near the fire reopened Tuesday
afternoon, said Frank Valenzuela, a spokesman for the Department of
Public Safety.
Officials urged drivers to proceed carefully as damaged guard
rails along the highway were being restored.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

CORDES JUNCTION, Ariz. (AP) - A brush fire burning south of here
was fully contained Wednesday night at 6,847 acres, officials said.
Wendell Pea****, a spokesman for the team fighting the Sunset
Point fire, said no structures were threatened and the blaze was no
longer threatening power lines.
About 25 firefighters and two engines were mopping up the fire
and putting out hot spots Wednesday night, officials said.
The Sunset Point fire came as close as a mile north of Black
Canyon City, but the blaze was no longer burning near the city,
Pea**** said.
Interstate 17 near the fire reopened Tuesday afternoon, but
drivers were advised to proceed carefully because of damaged guard
rails along the highway.
---
AZTEC FIRE
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) - Crews worked Wednesday to build more
than two miles of containment lines around a 1,300-acre wildfire in
southern Arizona, officials said.
The lines around the Aztec fire were 50 percent complete, and
full containment was expected by Friday.
While people living in 15 houses in the fire's path had been
voluntarily evacuated earlier in the week, the blaze was no longer
threatening homes and those residents were allowed to return home.
Portions of the Aztec fire burned in steep, rocky terrain and in
narrow canyons, making it difficult for firefighters to attack the
blaze in the Coronado National Forest.
The fire was first spotted Saturday afternoon and caused by an
abandoned campfire.
About 405 people and three helicopters were fighting the blaze.
---
GOLDWATER FIRE
AJO, Ariz. (AP) - A 55,000-acre brush fire on the Barry
Goldwater Air Force Range north of here was 70 percent contained,
authorities said.
Fifty-five firefighters were working on the fire, which had
spread to the Sauceda Mountains south of Gila Bend, said Lt. Brady
Smith, a spokesman for Luke Air Force Base.
The Goldwater fire was expected to be fully contained within the
next three days.
No structures or power lines were threatened.
The fire was burning in steep, rocky terrain in desert landscape
that includes cacti and mesquite, Smith said.
The blaze was under investigation and began in an area where
aircraft do not drop ordnance.
Previously, the fire had prompted officials to close Highway 85,
but it was reopened Tuesday night, Smith said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

By AMANDA KEIM
Associated Press Writer
CAREFREE, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire that destroyed at least 10
homes and forced the evacuation of others moved away Thursday from
communities that it had been threatening, fire officials said.
Residents in the Tonto Hills area, which covered a 120-home
subdivision about 20 miles northeast of Phoenix, were being allowed
to return home Thursday night.
Officials said the Cave Creek Complex fire was estimated at
46,000 acres and continuing to grow Thursday night, but wasn't
expected to endanger other populated areas.
The fire, which began Tuesday night as two separate
lightning-caused blazes and merged Wednesday, was 5 percent
contained but officials said there was no estimate for full
containment.
"We're not out of the woods. Are we feeling good about it?
Yes," said Jim Clawson, a liaison officer with the team fighting
the fire.
About 175 people originally were evacuated from 250 homes in
several scattered communities Wednesday.
There was no immediate estimate as to when the remaining
evacuated residents would be able to return to their homes,
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said at a news conference.
Arpaio said 350 sheriff's personnel were escorting the Tonto
Hills residents back to their homes after first checking their
identities and addresses at roadblocks.
Marco D'Ambrosio and his wife were checking on the status of
their Tonto Hills home Thursday night with authorities when they
got the news that they could return.
"I guess we're the lucky ones," D'Ambrosio said.
More than 620 firefighters used roads, ridges and other natural
barriers to help them make a stand against the wildfire Thursday.
They set fires in those areas and allowed them to run toward the
body of the wildfire to burn fuel from its path.
Vincent Francia, the mayor of nearby Cave Creek, said 12 homes
had been lost - 10 cabins in Camp Creek, a recreation area with
several cabins, and two homes in Tonto Hills, a neighborhood made
up of multimillion-dollar homes.
Art Morrison, a spokesman for the firefighting team, said he
didn't know how many buildings had burned but noted that none had
been lost Thursday.
"This fire is likely going to continue to grow but it's not
going to grow in directions that are going to be threatening life
and property," Morrison said.
The fire began as two lightning-sparked blazes Tuesday and
spread quickly in hot, dry and breezy weather.
Two homes in Scottsdale were ordered evacuated Thursday and the
fire jumped Bartlett Dam Lake Road late Thursday afternoon.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was conducting voluntary
evacuations in the area of Bartlett Lake northeast of Phoenix. The
evacuation included boaters on the water, campsites and the marina.
By Thursday night, about 30 people had been evacuated, according to
Arpaio, who said there were no homes in that area except a
sheriff's cabin.
Helicopters dropped water all day Thursday to drown the fire
around Camp Creek and officials said the area appeared to be out of
danger.
Around Camp Creek, all that was left of some homes were chimneys
or stoves sitting in fields of ash. Flames ran along some trees and
ruins continued to smolder.
At least five destroyed structures were visible in an area
toured by the media. Seven cabins survived, primarily those located
along a creek.
Evacuee Eric Herrman briefly returned to his $1.5 million home
in Tonto Hills on Thursday to retrieve some documents and clothing
for his wife. "It's our dream home," Herrman said. "It took us
five years to build."
Another Tonto Hills resident, Robert Kintz, said he was annoyed
by the evacuations because he didn't think there was any danger. He
said he returned to get some fresh clothes and retrieve a computer
he needed but wasn't taking any other belongings.
"If I had been out there yesterday (Wednesday) instead of
playing golf, I wouldn't have left," said Kintz.
Two 345-kilovolt lines that deliver power from Glen Canyon Dam
to the Phoenix area were de-energized Wednesday for about 90
minutes as the fire burned underneath, said LaVerne Kyriss,
spokeswoman for the Western Area Power Administration, which
controls the lines.
Kyriss said the lines weren't damaged but were turned off to
avoid a potentially dangerous situation. She said the Western Area
Power Administration worked with other utilities to reroute power
and that there were no noticeable effects for nearby residents.
---
Associated Press Writer Beth DeFalco in Phoenix contributed to
this story.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PHOENIX (AP) - Fire officials estimate the southern zone of a
nearly 244,000-acre wildfire burning in central Arizona will be
contained by Friday.
The northern zone may take a few additional days to fully
contain, said fire spokesman Dave Killebrew.
Officials said the Cave Creek Complex fire was 95 percent
contained on the south zone and 40 percent contained on the north
zone by Monday night.
They said more than 1,200 people were fighting the fire, which
had charred 212,800 acres in the south zone and 31,150 in the north
zone.
On Monday, crews along the southern zone continued mopping up
and patrolling fire lines. They also started rehabilitation work to
prevent erosion and seeded some of the lines with native grass.
In the north, fire spokesman Chris Papen said burnout operations
had wrapped up ahead of schedule thanks to increased nighttime
humidity and more scattered fuels.
"It's looking real positive," Papen said. "This fire could
have been much more serious. They really did a good job."
Crews up north were also starting rehabilitation efforts.
"We put a fire out and then put the landscape back as best we
can," Papen said.
No communities were being threatened by the fire.
The Cave Creek Complex fire began as two lightning-sparked fires
on June 21 near Cave Creek and within days had forced the
evacuations of some 250 homes northeast of Phoenix. Eleven homes
and three storage sheds were destroyed in that area.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/
Cave Creek Fire: http://fireteam-sw.com/whitney/cavecreek/

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PHOENIX (AP) - Some crews were clearing out and others worked
Tuesday to restore areas that had been torn up to make firebreaks
as firefighters fought to tame a mammoth wildfire in central
Arizona.
The Cave Creek Complex fire, the second-largest wildfire in
state history, covered 245,310 acres by Tuesday night.
Fire officials said the south zone was at 212,800 acres but 95
percent contained with the north zone at 32,510 acres and 60
percent contained.
"We're in transition, from put the fire out to recover from the
fire," said John Bearer, a spokesman for the crews battling the
blaze.
Bearer said crews were repairing the damage done to the terrain
as firefighters dug firebreaks to keep the flames from spreading.
"They're making the (bull) dozer lines and hand lines that were
dug look more natural," he said.
On the north end, firefighters began to leave.
"They're already doing demobilization out there, particularly
to engines since the threat to communities has diminished," said
Rob Deyerberg, another fire spokesman.
About 1,000 people were still fighting the fire overall.
No communities were being threatened by the blaze.
The Cave Creek Complex fire began as two lightning-sparked fires
on June 21 near Cave Creek and within days had forced the
evacuations of some 250 homes northeast of Phoenix. Eleven homes
and three storage sheds were destroyed in that area.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/
Cave Creek Fire: http://fireteam-sw.com/whitney/cavecreek/

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

AGUILA, Ariz. (AP) - A fast-moving brush fire had burned 1,000
acres by Thursday night west of this small town but was not
threatening any structures, authorities said.
Highway 60 was closed in both directions for about two hours
before being re-opened around 9 p.m., said Jon Kohn, a fire
information officer for the Arizona State Land Department.
Kohn said crews were starting to gain control of the Agro fire,
which was reported before nightfall.
Six air tankers, one helicopter and several crews battled the
fire and were trying to keep flames from reaching railroad tracks
in the area.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, Kohn said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

By AMANDA KEIM
Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP) - Standing on the patio of his home near Cave
Creek, Bill Victor used to be able to see saguaros, barrel cactus,
Palo Verde and mesquite trees covering the mountains.
Since the mammoth Cave Creek Complex fire scorched the area near
his Tonto Hills home two weeks ago, that view has changed a bit.
"All the large mountains around our house are black," Victor
said. "They've really been desolated."
Because desert plants are not accustomed to living with fire,
ecologists say native vegetation in some of the areas charred by
this year's wildfires may never completely recover.
Desert plants have grown far apart for at least 10,000 years and
there hasn't been an opportunity for fires to spread, said Mark
Dimmitt, director of natural history with the Arizona-Sonora Desert
Museum.
But since the 1970s, areas below 3,000 feet in elevation have
been invaded by nonnative grasses that are filling bare spaces in
the desert and allowing blazes to spread, Dimmitt said.
While fires have been in the desert for only a few decades, it
would take native vegetation hundreds of thousands of years to
develop resistance to flames.
That means scorched areas of the Sonoran Desert, such as where
the Cave Creek Complex fire started northeast of Phoenix last
month, won't recover, Dimmitt said.
"Most of the plants there are going to die," he said.
"Probably 80 percent of them will be killed by the fire."
The National Interagency Fire Center's Southwest Coordination
Center reports that more than 477,323 acres have burned in at least
2,077 fires across Arizona this year. The vast majority of those
fires have been in desert scrub and chaparral areas, said Arizona
State Land Department spokesman Jon Kohn.
Those figures include the Cave Creek Complex fire, which had
scorched at least 248,310 acres and was 90 percent contained by
Wednesday afternoon.
Between 10 percent and 20 percent of that area was true Sonoran
Desert, full of plants such as saguaros, Palo Verde and mesquite
trees, said Norm Ambos, a forest soil scientist who has toured some
of the scorched areas.
Many trees were completely torched in the Cave Creek Complex
fire, Ambos said.
Many saguaros in that area were only scorched around the bottom,
so they will be able to live another two or three years and produce
seeds, Ambos said.
But that doesn't mean the native vegetation will immediately
spring back to life.
"Saguaros, most of the time, need some type of nurse plant to
be established. If it's not under the shade of a Palo Verde or
mesquite trees, it usually doesn't survive," Ambos said.
Meanwhile, the faster-growing, more fire resistant nonnative
weeds that allowed fires to spread in the first place will have an
easier time taking hold of the burned areas, said Daniel R.
Patterson, a desert ecologist from the Center for Biological
Diversity.
Nonnative weeds not only grow more quickly than native plants,
they also suck the moisture out of the soil, making them a problem
even once the fire season is over, Patterson said.
"If the status quo continues, this is going to be like a
runaway train. Our children and our grandchildren aren't going to
know what a healthy desert looks like," Patterson said.
Victor said he has always enjoyed watching nature regenerate
itself after a fire. He has already seen deer and other animals
come back to the Tonto Hills area to graze on vegetation that
wasn't burned, he said.
But Victor also has little hope he will be able to enjoy views
of saguaro-covered mountains from his home again.
"It's going to take a long time for these things to come
back," he said. "Not in our lifetimes, that's for sure."
---
On the Net:
Southwest Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: http://www.desertmuseum.org/
Center for Biological Diversity: http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/
Arizona State Land Department: http://www.land.state.az.us/

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A fire burning in the Coronado National
Forest grew to 1,850 acres by Monday night but authorities said it
still wasn't threatening any structures.
Although the Florida fire was still zero percent contained,
authorities said the blaze was expected to be fully contained by
Friday night.
"We still have one mile of fire line to build," said Dan
Bastion, a spokesman for the team fighting the lightning-sparked
fire that started Thursday.
Authorities have closed the Madera Canyon Recreation Area as a
precaution, Coronado National Forest spokeswoman Heidi Schewel
said.
Homeowners and campers, however, were allowed to stay in the
canyon area, which has resort lodges, a campground and summer
homes, Schewel said.
Bastion said the possibility that the fire will threaten
structures is remote.
"The fire is behaving the way we expect it," he said.
Firefighters used natural barriers to help them build lines
around the blaze on Monday.
It would take monsoon moisture to completely extinguish the
fire, Schewel said.
Bastion said 677 firefighters were working on the blaze, which
is burning steep, rugged terrain in wilderness areas.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Residents began returning Monday to a
Dudleyville mobile home park that was evacuated a day earlier
because of a wildfire that destroyed three homes and 10 other
buildings, including sheds, a Pinal County official said.
The Indian Hills fire started Sunday in brush, grass and
vegetation east of the San Pedro River and grew Monday to at least
550 acres, said Cliff Pearlberg, a spokesman for the Arizona State
Land Department. "We have dozers working from south to north to
reinforce the lines to protect homes in the area," he said.
About 100 residents living in about 30 trailer homes at the
Valentine Trailer Park and a few other homes nearby were evacuated
on Sunday, but began returning home Monday, said Pinal County
Sheriff's Cmdr. Jeffrey Karns.
An evacuation shelter had been set up at the Hayden-Winkelman
High School, he said.
The fire continued moving both north and south Monday parallel
to the river and west of Arizona 77, with no containment
percentage, said Judy Wood, a fire information officer.
Some 135 firefighters from 11 fire departments and one
contractor battled the blaze, and equipment also was provided from
Gila County, Wood said.
The fire's cause was still under investigation.
---

FLORIDA FIRE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Fire officials reported good progress
Monday in efforts to subdue the 22,000-acre Florida fire, 11 miles
east of Green Valley.
The fire, which was 50 percent contained, remained a half-mile
from 30 homes and cabins in Madera Canyon and a mile from a major
astronomical observatory on nearby Mount Hopkins. Both areas were
evacuated last week.
Weather permitting, firefighters planned a prescribed burn in
the Madera Canyon area, carefully controlling its conditions, fire
spokesman Bob Summerfield said. The plan called for slowly backing
the fire down a hillside and burning grass and brush close to the
ground while keeping the fire from gathering intensity and climbing
into trees and their crowns.
Doing so would take away fuels that would burn otherwise with
more intensity, particularly in lower-humidity conditions, that
would be more likely to consume the trees.
"People should know that the burn that we're conducting is
under carefully controlled conditions, but it will put up a lot of
smoke," Summerfield said.
Firefighters continued building containment lines on the south
end of the fire, but much of the northern and eastern perimeter of
the fire was cool.
The canyon and the observatory both benefited from higher
humidity and weekend rainfall, especially on Saturday night, when a
quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain fell.
There was no significant rainfall Sunday over the fire area,
"just a few sprinkles," Summerfield said, "but even the increase
in the humidity is a big help."
The homes and cabins in Madera Canyon and the staff of the Fred
Lawrence Whipple Observatory remained evacuated.
"We're continuing to strengthen our structure protection
measures" in both areas, Summerfield said - activities such as
clearing brush from around structures and putting up sprinkler
systems that could be triggered if flames approach.
"We couldn't certainly call them out of the woods, so there's
still some level of concern, but it's less than there was a few
days ago."
About 150 personnel were released from the Florida fire to work
on other lightning-sparked blazes across the state. A total of 872
people remained working on the fire, which was started by lightning
on July 7. There was no estimate for full containment.
---

PRESCOTT FOREST FIRES
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - In central Arizona's Prescott National
Forest, crews and air tankers attacked two lightning-sparked fires
Monday that merged the day before and nearly doubled in size to
3,500 acres.
The Butte Complex fire was burning northward, toward Cedar Bench
Wilderness. It began as the Butte fire, located 13 miles southwest
of Camp Verde, and the Arnold fire, 10 miles south-southwest of
Camp Verde. The blaze burned grasses and juniper woodlands but was
not threatening any structures, said Debbie Maneely, a Prescott
National Forest spokeswoman.
Meanwhile, lightning also triggered five other fires in a
five-hour span Sunday on the Prescott National Forest, ranging from
a quarter-acre to 80 acres in size. All were estimated at 50
percent contained and none threatened any structures, Maneely said.
---

TONTO FOREST FIRES
PHOENIX (AP) - Firefighters fought at least three fires Monday
on the Tonto National Forest, all started over the weekend by
lightning.
The 200-to 400-acre Salome fire about 10 miles north of
Roosevelt Lake threatened some structures on private land, with
firefighters requesting air tanker retardant drops, said Emily
Garber, a Tonto spokeswoman.
In addition, a historic cabin on the forest was wrapped in
protective fire retardant material, though it was not immediately
threatened, she said.
Vinnie Picard, another Tonto spokesman, said structural
protection also was put in place for a small ranch a few miles
south of the fire.
Also on the Tonto, a firefighting team from New Mexico was
brought in to take over the battle against the 5,000-acre Edge
Complex fire north of the Four Peaks Wilderness area. The
wilderness is about 10 miles east of Roosevelt Lake.
Crews also worked to keep the 500-acre Oak fire from creeping
down into Punkin Center, about five miles to the southeast.
In all, about 40 lightning-sparked fires were reported on the
Tonto during the weekend, Garber said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A successful burnout and heavy rains helped
reduce the potential for the 22,500-acre Florida fire to threaten
Madera Canyon, officials said Tuesday.
Crews had burned fuels on the east side of Madera Canyon, where
there are about 30 homes and cabins. The area also received up to
an inch of rain Monday night.
The rain "was really helpful in terms of the fire," said
Jennifer Plyler, a spokeswoman for the team fighting the fire. "We
have gone from suppression mode to rehabilitation mode."
More than 600 firefighters on Tuesday began to restore roads
that were used during the fire, prepare fire lines so they could
avoid erosion from more rain and remove equipment from Madera
Canyon and the mountains.
Firefighters would be further reduced in the next two days as
crews were expected to transition from an elite type-1 firefighting
team to a type-3 team on Thursday.
Burnout operations were put on hold Tuesday as fire officials
assessed whether they were needed after the rain, Plyler said.
The fire was 60 percent contained Tuesday. Full containment was
expected by next week, said Bill Duemling, a spokesman for the team
fighting the fire.
Residents and employees evacuated from Madera Canyon and a major
astronomical observatory on nearby Mount Hopkins last week.
The fire was caused by lightning July 7.
---
INDIAN HILLS FIRE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A 600-acre fire burning along the San Pedro
River was 20 percent contained Tuesday, with full containment
expected by Wednesday.
"There's little projected movement expected unless you get a
thunderstorm," said Judy Wood, a spokeswoman for the State Land
Department.
Firefighters continued to mop up the fire and use bulldozers to
reinforce lines on the south end of the blaze Tuesday.
The Indian Hills fire caused the evacuation of about 100
residents living in about 30 trailer homes and other homes in
Dudleyville on Sunday. Residents were allowed to return home
Monday.
The fire, which started Sunday, had also destroyed three homes
and 10 other buildings. The cause was under investigation.
---
PEACHVILLE FIRE
SUPERIOR, Ariz. (AP) - A fire that was believed to have been
started by lightning in the Tonto National Forest had grown to
about 2,000 acres by Tuesday, a forest spokeswoman said.
The Peachville fire was about three miles north of Superior,
though forest spokeswoman Emily Garber said the winds were pushing
the fire away from the town.
"They're not out of it yet, but that is a hopeful sign,"
Garber said.
About 50 firefighters built lines and dropped retardant around
the southern part of the fire to keep it away from both the town
and a 115-kilovolt power line that serves Superior and Phoenix.
Other fires burning in the Tonto National Forest include the
11,000-acre Edge Complex fire, which is burning near the Beeline
Highway 20 miles northeast of Mesa, and the Miles fire, which has
burned 600 acres about 10 miles north of Superior.
The fires were not imminently threatening any structures.
---
PRESCOTT FOREST FIRES
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire that began as two-lightning
sparked blazes in the Prescott National Forest had grown to about
6,000 acres by Tuesday but was about 5 percent contained.
Firefighters were working to keep the fire out of the pristine
Cedar Bench Wilderness Area, said Debbie Maneely, a Prescott
National Forest spokeswoman. "There's a lot of wildlife in there
that they want to protect," she said.
Firefighters also built defensible space around the historic
Arnold Place cabin about a mile north of the blaze and a
communications site three miles northeast of the fire.
Crews also cleared debris and brush from around cabins and
ranches in the area as a precaution, though no structures were
threatened as of Tuesday, Maneely said.
About 340 firefighters conducted burnout operations and built
lines around the fire Tuesday, said Wendell Pea****, a spokesman
for the team fighting the fire.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PUNKIN CENTER, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters built a bulldozer
containment line Wednesday to protect communications towers on
Mount Ord north of the Edge Complex fire in the Tonto National
Forest.
The dozer line also was intended to halt the northward growth of
the lightning-caused fire, which was burning near the Beeline
Highway 20 miles northeast of Mesa, forest spokeswoman Tammy Pike
said.
The fire - north of the Four Peaks Wilderness area and about 10
miles east of Roosevelt Lake - burned in short grass and small
trees and grew by Wednesday to 30,000 acres. It was 15 percent
contained.
The fire, about 1½ miles from any structures, wasn't threatening
any homes. No evacuations were planned, said Jim Whittington, fire
information officer.
The fire was expected to move into areas with less natural
fuels.
Meanwhile, firefighters also battled seven other blazes on the
Tonto, including:
- The Peachville fire, about four miles north of Superior, was
at 1,800 acres, burning in chaparral and 5 percent contained, Pike
said.
Firefighters were using bulldozers to build containment lines on
its western edge, and the blaze was producing smoke, but Superior
was not threatened by the blaze, she said.
- The 1,218-acre Oak fire was 80 percent contained, with full
containment expected Thursday.
---
FLORIDA FIRE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters concentrated on cleaning up
and rehabilitating landscape as the Florida fire wound down
Wednesday south of Tucson.
The blaze started July 7 by lightning and had forced evacuation
of some 30 homes and cabins in Madera Canyon and an observatory on
Mount Hopkins. It reached 23,183 acres in size but was 75 percent
contained, with full containment expected by Thursday evening, fire
spokeswoman Donna Nemeth said.
Crews were being released, with all but 50 of 576 firefighter
crews, support personnel and equipment being demobilized by
nightfall Wednesday, Nemeth said.
"The rains have helped significantly," Nemeth said. Up to an
inch fell Monday night.
The rainfall helped enable firefighters to begin rehabilitating
and restoring roads used during the fire and to help avoid erosion
once more rains come.
Madera Canyon residents were escorted into their homes Wednesday
for short assessment visits and will be allowed to move back into
their homes Thursday, Nemeth said. The area will remain closed to
the general public indefinitely, and the observatory closure
remained in effect, she added.
---
J. CANYON FIRE
WICKENBURG, Ariz. (AP) - The J. Canyon fire 15 miles northeast
of Wickenburg reached 5,310 acres in size, pushed east to the
Hassayampa River by overnight winds and west to Round Mountain.
The closest structures remained two miles east, within Cooper
Ranch, as the fire burned in brush, pinon, juniper and grasses,
Arizona State Land Department spokesman Judy Wood said.
At one point on Tuesday, the fire was spreading at the rate of a
mile an hour, Wood said.
---
SH RANCH COMPLEX FIRE
BAGDAD, Ariz. (AP) - The SH Ranch Complex fire, including 15
separate lightning-caused blazes in chaparral and grassy fuels,
encompassed 18,203 acres and continued moving west and east, but
was stable on its north side.
It remained 10 miles east of the nearest homes or structures, in
Bagdad, said Judy Wood of the Arizona State Land Department.
Fire officials "look at this in terms of being 48 hours away if
it were to be left alone," she said, but added that it was
"absolutely not" being left unchallenged. There was no
containment on the fire but officials expected containment by 8
p.m. Saturday, she said.
---
INDIAN HILLS FIRE
DUDLEYVILLE, Ariz. (AP) - A 600-acre fire along the San Pedro
River that burned three mobile homes and 10 other structures and
threatened others for a time has been contained, and all residents
have returned to their homes, spokeswoman Judy Wood of the state
Land Department said.
---
BUTTE COMPLEX FIRE
CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) - Rains and winds were a mixed blessing
for firefighters battling the Butte Complex fire burning in canyons
and mesas 13 miles southwest of Camp Verde and east of Interstate
17.
"Rains really clobbered the north side of the fire, especially
the roads access," fire spokesman Rick Hartigan said. While the
rains dampened the blaze, strong winds made the work for
firefighters more difficult, he said.
The fire, about 7,500 acres in size, was 25 percent contained,
burning in grass, chaparral, juniper and oak.
A historic cabin was largely but not totally out of danger,
while firefighters also made good progress on the northeast and
northwest sides of the fire and added structural protection for a
communications site on Squaw Peak at the north end of the Cedar
Bench Wilderness.
Containment was expected by Thursday evening, Hartigan said.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PUNKIN CENTER, Ariz. (AP) - A 33,530-acre fire burning about 1
1/2 mile west of here was 40 percent contained by Thursday,
officials said.
Fire officials were concerned about 40 homes and 20 other
structures near Punkin Center, where firefighters built defensible
space around these sites. However, there were no evacuations or
road closures, and the Edge Complex fire was not imminently
threatening any structures, said Tom Mott, a spokesman for the team
fighting the fire.
About 600 firefighters built lines with bulldozers and by hand
on the east side of the fire Thursday to protect Punkin Center and
the Tonto Basin area. Aircraft also dropped retardant over the
blaze.
Burnout operations were also conducted Wednesday to keep the
blaze from Highway 87, said Tammy Pike, a spokeswoman for the Tonto
National Forest.
The fire was burning chaparral, grass and ponderosa pines in
steep, rocky terrain, Mott said.
Full containment was expected by Monday.
---
FLORIDA FIRE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Madera Canyon residents were allowed to
return Thursday to the homes they fled because of a wildfire.
The 23,183-acre Florida fire was 85 percent contained, with full
containment expected Thursday night.
Though residents were allowed to return to Madera Canyon, which
has about 30 homes and lodges, the area remained closed to the
public, said Donna Nemeth, a spokeswoman for the team fighting the
fire. The Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple
Observatory on Mount Hopkins was also closed.
About 400 firefighters monitored fire lines and did
rehabilitation work Thursday.
"There's very little activity," Nemeth said.
The fire was started by lightning July 7.
---
J. CANYON FIRE
WICKENBURG, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters built lines around a
10,450-acre fire burning 15 miles northeast of here in the Bradshaw
Mountains.
The J. Canyon fire was 5 percent contained Thursday, said George
Taylor, a spokesman for the team fighting the fire.
The fire wasn't threatening any structures. The closest
structures remained two miles east in Cooper Ranch, where there are
several cattle ranches.
The blaze had spread up to a rate of a mile per hour earlier in
the week, but the fire has calmed down because of increased
humidity, Taylor said.
It was burning grass and brush on rugged terrain.
---
SH RANCH COMPLEX FIRE
BAGDAD, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire burning 10 miles east of here
grew to 22,000 acres Thursday and was 20 percent contained.
Seventy-six firefighters built containment lines and put out hot
spots on the SH Ranch Complex fire Thursday, said Stuart Bishop, a
spokesman for the Arizona State Land Department.
Firefighters have a "good handle on it," he said.
Full containment was expected by Saturday.
---
BUTTE COMPLEX FIRE
CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters worked to rehabilitate the
area where a 7,700-acre wildfire has burned 13 miles southwest of
here.
The Butte Complex fire, which was 95 percent contained, was
expected to be fully contained by Thursday night, said Wendell
Pea****, a spokesman for the team fighting the fire.
Firefighters patrolled fire lines and mopped up remaining hot
spots Thursday.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PUNKIN CENTER, Ariz. (AP) - About 150 homes have been evacuated
in Sycamore Creek and near Punkin Center to facilitate burnout
activities as firefighters continue to battle a 38,000-acre
wildfire.
Some homes in Sycamore Creek also were evacuated Thursday night
due to a shift in winds, said Tonto National Forest spokeswoman
Tammy Pike.
The Edge Complex fire was still 40 percent contained but was
burning as close as 2 miles southwest of Punkin Center.
Pike did not immediately know how many Sycamore Creek homes were
evacuated or how many people that involved.
The fire crested Wednesday night on Edwards Peak and backed
partially down the mountain Thursday, said Emily Garber, another
fire spokeswoman.
Firefighters resorted to asking for a voluntary evacuation from
homes in the Walnut Springs subdivision south and west of Arizona
188, when work on a containment line along the edge of the fire
proved only partly successful.
The fire was flanking the residential area. Residents were asked
to depart to give firefighters more flexibility and ease of
movement, Garber said.
"They didn't particularly feel that the homes were threatened,
but they wanted to make sure that they could get in there and get
fire line burned out."
The subdivision is about 25 miles south of Payson, where a
shelter was opened at the Julie Randall Elementary School.
About 500 firefighters built lines with bulldozers and by hand
on the east side of the fire Thursday to protect Punkin Center and
the Tonto Basin area. Aircraft also dropped retardant over the
blaze.
The fire was burning chaparral, grass and ponderosa pines in
steep, rocky terrain, and full containment was expected by Monday.
---
FLORIDA FIRE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Madera Canyon residents have finally been
allowed to return to the homes they fled because of a wildfire.
The 23,183-acre Florida fire was declared fully contained
Thursday.
Though residents were allowed to return to Madera Canyon, which
has about 30 homes and lodges, the area remained closed to the
public, said Donna Nemeth, a spokeswoman for the team fighting the
fire. The Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple
Observatory on Mount Hopkins was also closed.
About 400 firefighters monitored fire lines and did
rehabilitation work Thursday.
The fire was started by lightning July 7.
---
J. CANYON FIRE
WICKENBURG, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters built lines around a
10,450-acre fire burning 15 miles northeast of here in the Bradshaw
Mountains.
The J. Canyon fire was 5 percent contained Thursday, said George
Taylor, a spokesman for the team fighting the fire.
The fire wasn't threatening any structures. The closest
structures remained two miles east in Cooper Ranch, where there are
several cattle ranches.
The blaze had spread up to a rate of a mile per hour earlier in
the week, but the fire has calmed down because of increased
humidity, Taylor said.
It was burning grass and brush on rugged terrain.
---
SH RANCH COMPLEX FIRE
BAGDAD, Ariz. (AP) - A wildfire burning 10 miles east of here
grew to 22,000 acres Thursday and was 20 percent contained.
Seventy-six firefighters built containment lines and put out hot
spots on the SH Ranch Complex fire Thursday, said Stuart Bishop, a
spokesman for the Arizona State Land Department.
Firefighters have a "good handle on it," he said.
Full containment was expected by Saturday.
---
BUTTE COMPLEX FIRE
CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) - Firefighters worked to rehabilitate the
area where a 7,700-acre wildfire has burned 13 miles southwest of
here.
The Butte Complex fire, which was 95 percent contained, was
expected to be fully contained by Thursday night, said Wendell
Pea****, a spokesman for the team fighting the fire.
Firefighters patrolled fire lines and mopped up remaining hot
spots Thursday.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) - An 13,000-acre wildfire 30 miles northwest
of Kingman has received considerable rain, but officials were
concerned that steady winds and high temperatures in the coming
days could make it harder to fight the blaze, officials said.
Even though the Twin Mills fire was considered to be threatening
50 homes in Golden Valley, the blaze was three miles away from the
houses and wasn't burning toward the community, said Wendell
Pea****, a spokesman for the team fighting the fire.
The fire was 50 percent contained and the acreage was reduced
Sunday night from 15,600 acres because of better mapping, he said.
People living in homes scattered outside of the fire's perimeter
had voluntarily evacuated the area Saturday while crews conducted
burnout operations to destroy natural fuels around the structures.
The residents returned home shortly after the burnout operations.
It's not known how many homes were evacuated or how close the
fire was from the structures.
Rain fell on the fire Saturday and Sunday. "We are catching a
break thanks to some precipitation (Sunday) and lower temperatures
and higher humidity," Pea**** said.
Helicopters and airplanes dropped water and retardant on the
fire in an effort to keep it from moving toward the south, east and
west. Crews on the ground battled the fire from a safe distance.
An estimated 200 firefighters were battling the lightning-caused
blaze, which began Friday night. Pea**** said several crews were
expected to be sent home Monday.
---
EDGE COMPLEX FIRE
PUNKIN CENTER, Ariz. (AP) - A 71,600-acre wildfire near this
central Arizona community is winding down, officials said Sunday.
Humidity, rain and calm winds were credited with helping to slow
the Edge Complex fire's progress, said fire information officer
Jennifer Byington.
The fire was no longer threatening any homes.
Earlier in the fire, people who were asked to evacuate about 350
houses in the Sleepy Hollow, Sycamore Creek, Mazatzal and Walnut
Springs subdivisions were allowed to return.
Residents had also been allowed back into about 15 homes
evacuated in the rural community of Sunflower, west of the fire.
The fire came within an estimated half-mile of the homes.
The fire was 60 percent contained. Full containment was expected
Monday morning.
Crews focused Sunday on protecting fire containment lines and
monitoring hotspots within the blaze's boundaries.
Nine hundred firefighters were working on the fire. That number
was expected to drop soon.
---
SH RANCH COMPLEX FIRE
BAGDAD, Ariz. (AP) - A 23,700-acre wildfire 10 miles east of
here was contained Sunday night.
No homes were threatened, said fire information officer Judy
Wood.
Forest officials were keeping an eye for hot spots but crew were
released.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV 07-25-05 0025EDT

[NJFFSA16]

PUNKIN CENTER, Ariz. (AP) - A 71,665-acre wildfire near Punkin
Center in central Arizona was fully contained.
High humidity over the weekend helped firefighters contain the
Edge Complex fire Sunday night, said Jim Whittington, a spokesman
for the team fighting the fire.
"When you get a little bit of humidity on it, it greatly
diminishes the intensity of the fire," Whittington said. "When
the humidity set in Friday and Saturday, we were able to make fast
progress on the perimeter."
Earlier in the fire, people were asked to evacuate about 350
houses in the Sleepy Hollow, Sycamore Creek, Mazatzal and Walnut
Springs subdivisions. About 15 homes in the rural community of
Sunflower, west of the fire, also were evacuated. All residents
were allowed to return Friday.
Firefighters rehabilitated the area Monday by rebuilding roads
and recreational trails.
---
TWIN MILLS FIRE
KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) - A nearly 12,000-acre wildfire was 95
percent contained Monday night after rains helped firefighting
efforts over the weekend.
Full containment for the fire was expected by Tuesday night,
said Wendell Pea****, a spokesman for the team fighting the blaze.
The fire, started by lightning on Friday, was listed at 13,000
acres earlier Monday but Pea**** said more accurate mapping lowered
the acreage to 11,927.
While the rains brought higher humidity and lower temperatures,
some areas became so muddy that firefighters had a hard time
working around the fire, according to Pea****.
"The weather has been a boon and a pain for us," Pea**** said.
He said 300 firefighters were reinforcing lines, working on hot
spots and dropping water over the Twin Mills fire Monday. The
number of firefighters was expected to be reduced by half.
People living in homes scattered outside of the fire's perimeter
had voluntarily evacuated the area Saturday while crews conducted
burnout operations to destroy natural fuels around the structures.
The residents returned home shortly after the burnout operations.
About 50 homes in Golden Valley three miles from the fire also
had been threatened over the weekend, but they were not in danger
Monday.
"Right now we don't have anything near the fire we consider
threatened," Pea**** said.
----
BARFOOT FIRE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A 1,581-acre fire in the Chiricahua
Mountains was 50 percent contained Monday, with full containment
expected by Saturday.
More than 130 firefighters rehabilitated the area Monday and
monitored the fire, said Marylee Peterson, a Coronado National
Forest spokeswoman.
After receiving more than an inch of rain Sunday, the fire
wasn't expected to grow, Peterson said.
The fire forced the evacuation of Pine Canyon United Methodist
Camp, but the camp's structures were not threatened.
The blaze started by lightning July 17.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

PHOENIX (AP) - This year's fire season has been the worst in
state history -- and fire agencies warn that while blazes are
slowing down, the season isn't over yet.
Wildfires have scorched at least 696,921 acres so far this year,
surpassing the 629,876 acres that burned in 2002, the year of the
largest wildland blaze in state history, the Rodeo-Chediski fire.
The 2005 figure is also more than three times the 219,403 acres
that burned in 2004, according to figures from the Southwest
Coordination Center. But this year's acreage could still grow.
Since the start of the monsoon season last month means increased
moisture in the air, the few fires that do start probably won't
grow very large, said Jim Payne, spokesman for the U.S. Forest
Service.
However, the monsoons don't mean an abrupt end to the fire
season, said meteorologist Chuck Maxwell.
"It definitely winds down, but it may be days, weeks,
whatever," Maxwell said.
Arizona has seen a wet past couple of weeks, but forecasts
indicate hot, dry stretches ahead, Maxwell said. As soon as the
relative humidity drops, the fire danger will increase again.
While acreage figures have been high this year, relatively few
homes have been lost. Exact figures haven't been compiled yet, but
"well under 50" structures have burned, said Judy Wood, a fire
information officer for the state forest service.
The 248,310-acre Cave Creek complex fire destroyed the most
structures this year, burning 11 homes and three storage sheds. By
comparison, the Rodeo-Chediski fire burned about 465 homes, and
2003's Aspen fire destroyed about 320 homes and cabins.
Most fires have stayed away from residential areas, said Don Van
Driel, the Tonto National Forest's group leader for fire
engineering and safety
As the fire season winds down, some rehabilitation has already
started, said Penny Luehring, who is coordinating rehabilitation
efforts in Arizona and New Mexico's national forests.
However, Luehring said rehabilitation efforts have been "kind
of a bare bones, keep the patient alive type of thing." This year,
$1 million has been allocated for emergency rehabilitation,
compared to $3 million spent on rehabilitation last year and $13
million in 2002.
With most of this year's fires burning in the desert, reseeding
efforts and other rehabilitation techniques that work in forests
wouldn't be effective, Wood said.
"There's absolutely no way to rehabilitate the desert," Wood
said.
Federal agencies have spread some fast-growing native grasses
and cereal grains that won't reproduce to hold soil in place and
prevent erosion, Luehring said.
Fences have also been set up to prevent off-road vehicles from
damaging fragile burned areas, Luehring said.
People will have to be patient as they wait for the desert to
rehabilitate itself, she said. It will take two years for most
native brush to grow back at all.
Some nurseries are also experimenting with raising saguaros and
transplanting them in the desert to speed up natural growth,
Luehring said.
"Granted, we're not getting much of a head start on something
that takes 100 years to grow," Luehring said.
---
On the Net:
U.S. Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us/
Southwest Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/
Tonto National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)