Lightning starts 7 fires on Tonto

Due to storms which went through a good portion of the Tonto National Forest yesterday afternoon, there are approximately 7 confirmed lightning fire starts on five of the six forest ranger districts today, ranging in size from .10 to 200 acres.

Resources were dedicated to most of the fires today including two air attack planes which were dedicated all day to monitoring and checking for new starts.  One hot shot crew and two Type 2 crews were also dedicated to the suppression efforts. 

The record-breaking temperatures are of concern for firefighter safety and are accelerating the fuel dryness despite the recent monsoon rains.    

Date reported: Aug. 8, 2012

Size range:  .10 to 200 acres

Cause: all believed to be lightning-caused

Location/wildfire names:

Globe Ranger District

• “Pickett” – .8 acres. Contained and controlled.  
• “Mesa” Fire (Salt River Canyon Wilderness) – 2 acres, no smoke, area received rain.

Mesa Ranger District: 

• “Woodbury” – 200 acres (in Superstition Wilderness), little smoke or activity today.  Inaccessible and remote terrain.
• “Granite” - .10 acre.  No activity today.

Payson Ranger District: 

• “Houston” (SW section of Hellsgate Wilderness) - 3 acres, steep and inaccessible terrain.  No smoke, no increase.

Pleasant Valley Ranger District:

• “McFadden” – 12 acres, moderate rate of spread.  Mormon Lake Hot Shot crew today and tomorrow.

Tonto Basin Ranger District: 

·        “Mistake” – 10 acres, 2 Type crews, 1 type 6 engine, local resources assigned.  Activity picked up some this afternoon.

Resources committed:

2 air attack planes today monitoring all fires and looking for new starts.

1 Hot Shot crew - Mormon Lake (McFadden fire)

2 Type 2 crews (Mistake fire)

-San Carlos

-Fort Apache Agency

Type 6 engines (Mistake fire)                  

For more information, please contact the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200, or check online at www.fs.usda.gov/tonto