Wallow Fire – On The Way To First

At this point, the Wallow Fire will be the biggest recorded wildfire to ever hit Arizona. Planned back-burning will take it beyond the size of Rodeo-Chediski Fire in 2002.

This is the largest of three active wildfires in Arizona. The Murphy Fire [68,000 acres 106 miles² 275 km²] near Tubac in Southern Arizona is 90% contained, while the Horseshoe Two Fire [141,300 acres 231 miles² 572 km²] in Southeastern Arizona is 45% contained. The Arizona Republic reports that: “Budget cuts took nearly $250,000 out of the state’s fire-suppression fund this year, and about $300,000 will be cut next year, state records show.” Not to worry, they are using Federal funds to cover the costs.*

Information from the current Wallow Fire InciWeb Page

• Date Started: 5/29/2011
• Location: Apache, Navajo, Graham, and Greenlee Counties, Arizona
• Cause: Human – under investigation
• Size: 443,989 acres [694 miles² 1797 km²] based on infrared data
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 4,311 including 24 hotshot crews and 84 hand crews
• Equipment: 27 dozers, 334 engines, 66 watertenders
• Aircraft: 15 helicopters, 5 air tankers, DC-10
• Percent Contained: 6%
• Injuries to Date: 7
• Residences: 2,714 threatened; 29 destroyed; 5 damaged
• Commercial Property: 473 threatened; 4 destroyed
• Outbuildings: 1,216 threatened; 35 destroyed; 1 damaged
• Other: 1 truck destroyed
• Incident Commander: Jim Loach, Area Command Team 3

The fire is 6% contained. Last night firefighters finished burnout between Forest Road (FR) 275 and FR 220 northeast of Alpine; burnout completed near South Fork; and a 3 mile burnout operation was completed in the Turkey Creek drainage along FR 281 towards Blue Creek. Good progress continued along the southwest and west flanks of the fire. Today: Burnout operations will continue SE along FR 220 to tie in with State Hwy 180, northwest of Luna, NM. Burnout preparations will continue along FR 74 and Trail 33 through Malay Gap and along FR 116. Structure protection, burnout and mop up operations to strengthen containment lines and patrol for spot fires will continue. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today from 11 A.M. to 8 P.M., SW winds 15 to 20 mph, gusts to 40 mph; relative humidity 5-10%.

[For the latest information click on the Fire symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]

* Note: I don’t object to the Federal help, I just think the governor and legislature should submit to drug testing and the other indignities imposed on anyone who applies for low-income assistance.