Fire Burning South of Tucson Grows to 1,850 Acres

July 12, 2005
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.

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.

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