Tanner Fire grows to 2,000 acres, closes Hwy. 288

Pleasant Valley, Ariz. (September 25, 2011 – 0930 hrs.) – Pleasant Valley Ranger District fire specialists are managing the lightning-caused Tanner wildfire, now about 2,000 acres, which began on August 20 near the peak of Armer Mountain in the Sierra Anchas.

Fire activity may be visible to visitors and residents in the Tonto Basin, Globe, and Young areas and also when looking south from SR 260.

Downdraft winds from a thunderstorm off Armer Mountain pushed the fire across Hwy. 288 yesterday evening around 7 pm and the fire burned through the dispersed camping area. No campers were present and no structures were lost.

Hwy. 288 is closed from Rose Creek south to the intersection with Hwy. 188.

“Yesterday, crews were focused on successful burning operations around the private properties of Dream Catcher and Rose Creek” stated John Thornburg, Fire Management Officer.

Due to the increased size of the fire, a Type 3 team will assume mangement of the fire today.

For further information, call the Pleasant Valley Ranger District offices at 928-462-4300, or stay updated at www.fs.usda.gov/Tonto. To report a wildland fire, the fire emergency number is 866-746-6516, or dial 9-1-1. 

Frio Fire 90 percent contained at 3,400 acres

Globe, Ariz. (September 25, 2011 – 1000 hrs.) – Globe Ranger District fire specialists continue to manage the lightning-caused Frio wildfire in the Pinal Mountain range. 

The Frio fire, which began August 17, is approximately 3,400 acres and grew very slowly yesterday due to the increased humidity.

The fire is 90 percent contained, but due to lower humidity and the fuel type where it is now burning, it has been active over the last 36 hours and is putting up smoke which is visible in the area.  Burning operations continue today to secure the eastern flank of the fire, using existing boundaries, such as Forest Road 651, to tie off the fire.

"Resources are assigned again today to ensure that we keep the fire where we want it to be, doing what we want it to do." Brad Johnson, Globe Ranger District spokesperson. 

“We predict that smoke will continue to be visible for the next several days.  As fire activity and spread are reduced, smoke impacts will be lessened considerably.  We thank the public for their patience and support as we finish this project which will considerably lessen the danger of catastrophic wildfire in the future.”