Smoke Visible Today from Fire in Buehman Canyon
July 6, 2017, Evening Update
Acreage: 25,355 acres (estimated) Percentage of Containment: 19%
Date Reported: June 30, 2017 Cause of Fire: Under Investigation
Resources: 679 personal including 15 crews, 46 engines, 30 water tenders, 1 bulldozer, and 7 helicopters
Fuel Type: Tall grass and brush, with ponderosa pine and mixed conifer at higher elevations
Origin Location: Three miles east – southeast of the General Hitchcock Camp Ground near Burro Creek
Fire burning on: Coronado National Forest, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and Private Lands
An Equal Access Community Meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., Friday, July 7, 2017, at the Sahuaro High School, 545 N. Camino Seco, Tucson, AZ 85710. American Sign Language (ASL) and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) captioning will be provided. The meeting will be live streamed on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BurroFireInfo/
Fire activity was reported today along the west and north western perimeters of the fire. Smoke was visible from miles away as fire burned through light fuels in Buehman Canyon on the western side of the fire. On the northern most edge, the fire continued to push toward the Edgar Drainage. Aircraft was used to support firefighters on the ground and curtail the fire’s advance. Prevailing winds helped to keep the fire from growing to the east.
Preparations for a defensive firing operation east of the Mt. Lemmon Highway are nearing completion. Miles of fireline have been constructed, dead trees have been removed, and brush cleared. The debris has been chipped and distributed across the landscape where it will decompose and support new growth. In this morning’s briefing, Operations Section Chief Jay Lusher explained details of the proposed fire operation. The Incident Management Team, coordinating with the Forest Service and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, discussed and considered three different alternatives to suppress the fire where it is actively burning on the northern end. The selected alternative includes a moderately complex operation involving a mix of ground crews, aviation support and burn out operations. He said the plan will be executed if the fire reaches certain pre-established trigger points that will make a firing operation the best option for protecting the community.
Lusher wanted everyone to understand that when he talks about "burning off the Mt. Lemmon Highway," he doesn't mean that all firing would be directly off the asphalt. Firefighters have built lines that cut across sections of the road with tight switchbacks leaving large pockets of vegetation that will not be impacted, and where structures, picnic areas, and other values exist on the east side of the highway, firelines loop around them. Lusher said, “The goal is to create a barrier to protect the community and other important infrastructure from not only the Burro Fire, but to leave a firebreak that will protect values along the Mt. Lemmon Highway.
An Excessive Heat Warning will continue to be in effect through the night. A high pressure system is now established over the region and wind direction has shifted to a southeast flow which could push the fire westward toward the values at risk. The potential for thunderstorms and out flow winds as high as 40 miles per hour exists.
Evacuation Orders Remain in Effect for residents along the Mt. Lemmon Highway from Mile Marker 0, north including Summerhaven. Road Closures also Remain in Effect. Mount Lemmon Highway is closed from Mile Marker 0, north to Mt. Lemmon. The Redington Pass Road is closed between Mile Marker 2 and 24. The Control Road is closed from Oracle to Mt. Lemmon.
The Coronado National Forest has implemented a closure for the Burro Fire area from Redington Pass Road and the Arizona National Scenic Trail north including Mt. Lemmon Highway and the Control Road to the Pima/Pinal County line. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in Effect in across Southeast Arizona. Visit http://firerestrictions.us/az for details.
Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. More Info: Visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.
Burro Fire Information Phone Lines: 928-351-7537, 928-351-7265, 928-362-0998 (6 am to 10 pm)
For maps, photos, closures, evacuations and road status visit Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5301
Arizona Emergency Information: http://azein.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurroFireInfo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/burrofireinfo
Pima County Office of Emergency Management Evacuation Info: 520-724-9301 https://facebook.com/pcoem
Pima County Sheriff’s Department Road Closure Information: 520-547-7510 https://www.pimasheriff.org