Sunflower Fire News Release
May 15, 2012 6:00 a.m.
Fire Information: (602) 525-1042
Website:
www.inciweb.org
Acres: 4,600
Cause: Under Investigation Location: 21 miles south of Payson
Containment: 5 percent Fuels: Grass, chaparral, pinyon pine
Terrain: Steep, rugged Resources: 10 crews, 13 engines, 4 water tenders
Total personnel: 271 Available air support: 5 helicopters, 6 air tankers
Summary:
Monday morning, strong northeast winds lined up with east facing
drainages
resulting in active fire behavior along the western edge of the fire.
The smoke column was visible from Phoenix and Payson. Pushed by these
winds, the fire moved into the steep and rugged Mazatzal Wilderness. In
addition, winds put smoke into the Phoenix
metropolitan area.
Aided
by the same northeast winds, ground and air resources made good
progress along the eastern edge of the fire. Fire line along the 201
road was reinforced through
burning operations known as black lining. This activity burns surface
fuels along the inside of the fire line, removing those fuels and
rapidly widening the fire line. With a shift of wind direction expected
to the south in the days ahead, this action prepares
for the movement of the fire in that direction. Other efforts along
this east side kept the fire away from power lines and State Highway 87.
Active
fire behavior is expected today. Dense fuels burning in the vicinity
of Saddle Peak in the Mazatzal Wilderness, in the interior of the fire,
are expected to generate
a large plume. This will not be cause for public concern.
Additional firefighters and equipment continue to report to the fire.
No structures are threatened at this time.
Yesterday,
Tonto National Forest officials announced a temporary closure due to
the Sunflower fire which began on May 12, approximately 21 miles south
of Payson, Ariz.,
west of Hwy. 87.
The closure order is effective beginning 8 am, Tuesday, May 15. The following is a description of the closure area:
The
northern boundary of the closure area starts at the intersection of
State Route (SR) 87 and Forest Rd. (FR) 419/Barnhardt Rd, continuing
southwest along FR 419 to
Forest Trail (FT) 43 to FT 23 to FT 89 to FR 479 to the eastern shore
of the Verde River.
The
western boundary follows the eastern shore of the Verde River from its
intersection with FR 479 to the south and continues along the eastern
shore of Bartlett Lake to its intersection
with FR 393 (Powerline Rd.). The southern boundary follows FR 393 to
the west to FR 3456 to the Old State Hwy 87 to where it intersects with
SR 87. The eastern boundary follows the west side of SR 87 to the north
to its intersection with Fr. 419. All forest
roads and trails included above are also closed (with the exception of
SR 87).
Highway 87 will remain open to through traffic.
The purpose of the closure is to provide for public and firefighter health and safety during
the management of the incident.
For further information, see the forest website,
www.fs.usda.gov/tonto.
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