Arizona wildfires: Firefighters continue to battle 4 blazes
Firefighters are working Tuesday night to prevent the Gladiator Fire near Crown King from spreading to an area where it could rapidly grow and force crews to cease their suppression operations.
If flames move past the western fire line, about a mile west of Crown King, a bulge in the terrain could cause the blaze to rapidly spread in several directions, according to Loretta Benavidez, a fire incident spokeswoman.
Fires around Arizona - May 2012
"There could be a potential for fire behavior that would not allow (firefighters) to go in safely," Benavidez said. "With the potential for wind in the coming days, that's always a possibility," she said.
According to Benavidez, Wednesday and Thursday will be the "tell-tale days" for that situation to occur.
"They're monitoring it closely," she said. "We're letting folks know what to expect if that happens."
The Gladiator Fire has consumed more than 1,700 acres and forced the evacuation of Crown King, a historic mining town in the Prescott National Forest.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous-weather outlook extending into next week for the regions surrounding the Gladiator, Sunflower, Elwood and Bull Flat fires. Strong winds and low humidity are expected during the afternoon hours, making it more difficult to fight the flames.
Winds are expected to stay from 10 and 20 mph - with gusts topping out at 40 mph from the southeast - pushing the fire away from Crown King toward abandoned mine shafts.
Firefighters and staff have come in from California, New Mexico and Indiana to help fight the flames.
The area around the abandoned mine shafts have holes, abandoned equipment, and explosives that could create more danger to crews fighting the flames on the ground if the fire.
The Gladiator Fire was caused by a house fire that ignited a propane tank. None of the fire is contained.
The Sunflower Fire is the state's largest fire. It is burning 21 miles south of Payson in Tonto National Forest. It grew to 8,500 acres Tuesday from 3,100 acres Monday, according to fire officials.
Smoke from the fire blew into Phoenix on Monday by strong winds.
Winds are expected to push the smoke away from the Valley on Wednesday and Thursday. Officials say the smoke is not a public health concern.
The Sunflower Fire is 5 percent contained and not currently threatening any structures.
The Elwood Fire burning on the San Carlos Indian Reservation has consumed more than 1,500 acres, as of Monday night.
The Elwood Fire is 5 percent contained. It is not known how the fire started.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for that part of the state.
Firefighters could be fighting flames fueled by 40 mph gusts with very low humidity. The warning lasts from Wednesday to Monday.
The Bull Flat Fire is burning near the Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The fire has grown to 1,329 acres from 700 acres overnight and is 45 percent contained.
Wind gusts for the area around the Bull Flat Fire are expected to reach 28 mph Tuesday and Wednesday, heading north.
The Bull Flat fire started from a lightning strike Thursday night.
If flames move past the western fire line, about a mile west of Crown King, a bulge in the terrain could cause the blaze to rapidly spread in several directions, according to Loretta Benavidez, a fire incident spokeswoman.
Fires around Arizona - May 2012"There could be a potential for fire behavior that would not allow (firefighters) to go in safely," Benavidez said. "With the potential for wind in the coming days, that's always a possibility," she said.
According to Benavidez, Wednesday and Thursday will be the "tell-tale days" for that situation to occur.
"They're monitoring it closely," she said. "We're letting folks know what to expect if that happens."
The Gladiator Fire has consumed more than 1,700 acres and forced the evacuation of Crown King, a historic mining town in the Prescott National Forest.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous-weather outlook extending into next week for the regions surrounding the Gladiator, Sunflower, Elwood and Bull Flat fires. Strong winds and low humidity are expected during the afternoon hours, making it more difficult to fight the flames.
Winds are expected to stay from 10 and 20 mph - with gusts topping out at 40 mph from the southeast - pushing the fire away from Crown King toward abandoned mine shafts.
Firefighters and staff have come in from California, New Mexico and Indiana to help fight the flames.
The area around the abandoned mine shafts have holes, abandoned equipment, and explosives that could create more danger to crews fighting the flames on the ground if the fire.
The Gladiator Fire was caused by a house fire that ignited a propane tank. None of the fire is contained.
The Sunflower Fire is the state's largest fire. It is burning 21 miles south of Payson in Tonto National Forest. It grew to 8,500 acres Tuesday from 3,100 acres Monday, according to fire officials.
Smoke from the fire blew into Phoenix on Monday by strong winds.
Winds are expected to push the smoke away from the Valley on Wednesday and Thursday. Officials say the smoke is not a public health concern.
The Sunflower Fire is 5 percent contained and not currently threatening any structures.
The Elwood Fire burning on the San Carlos Indian Reservation has consumed more than 1,500 acres, as of Monday night.
The Elwood Fire is 5 percent contained. It is not known how the fire started.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for that part of the state.
Firefighters could be fighting flames fueled by 40 mph gusts with very low humidity. The warning lasts from Wednesday to Monday.
The Bull Flat Fire is burning near the Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The fire has grown to 1,329 acres from 700 acres overnight and is 45 percent contained.
Wind gusts for the area around the Bull Flat Fire are expected to reach 28 mph Tuesday and Wednesday, heading north.
The Bull Flat fire started from a lightning strike Thursday night.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/05/15/20120515arizona-wildfires-firefighters-continue-battle-blazes-abrk.html#ixzz1v0Lb3QaO end quote from above word button.
Fires are a concern throughout at least 25 of the 50 States from now through the summer and fall. Arizona is only one of many states concerned about fires at this point.
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