STORM2K

This is BAD for the folks in Payson..one of 2 main highways leading to Payson and the White Mountains will be CLOSED starting tomorrow UNLESS the fire EXPLODES even MORE today, forecast calls for MORE wind today


http://www.azcentral.com


Arizona 87 to close for backfire efforts

Jack Kurtz/The Arizona Republic

With smoke from the "Nuttall" fire behind him Sunday, Richard Corradini, a contractor providing support for National Forest Service air operations, disconnects a hose.

2 other routes suggested for travel to, from Payson

Laura Houston
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 5, 2004 12:00 AM


The "Willow" fire near Payson grew to more than 79,500 acres Sunday as officials announced plans to close about 70 miles of Arizona 87 to set backfires along the main corridor that connects the mountain town and the Valley.

From 8 a.m. Tuesday to Sunday, the Arizona Department of Transportation will close the state route from Payson to the intersection at Bush Highway's Saguaro Lake turnoff.

ADOT will be setting backfires along a strip of land near Arizona 87 to divert Arizona's largest current fire, ADOT spokesman Doug Nintzel said Sunday.

Authorities, however, may push the Sunday deadline back.

"It's an open-ended situation, depending on how successful they are with setting the backfires," Nintzel said.

According to Marian Swinney, a fire information officer for the Willow fire information hotline, this is "the safest place to affect a burnout on the fire along 87."

Swinney suggested alternate routes for those traveling from Payson to Phoenix.

One route begins in Payson at Arizona 87, north through Pine and Strawberry to Arizona 260, then west to Camp Verde, then south on Interstate 17 to Phoenix.



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Another route takes Arizona 260 east from Payson to Show Low, then U.S. 60 south to Globe. From there, drivers should take U.S. 60 west through Mesa and into Phoenix.

The agency will be informing motorists about the alternate routes, Nintzel said.

"We'll be utilizing overhead signs and will be deploying portable message boards. They may have started putting messages on some of the overhead message signs already," he said. "We're going to need to let some campers know who are heading back after Tuesday morning that they'll have to plan on alternate routes to come back from high country."

Members of multiple national, state and local agencies are trying to calm the fire, which advanced about 10,000 acres in less than 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday, Swinney said. More than 900 people have been involved in containing the fire. Thirty-two crews, four helicopters, 11 water tenders and 32 fire engines are on the scene to combat the growing fire. It is 10 percent contained, said Mike Johnson, a fire information officer at Payson who is from the National Park Service in Omaha, Neb.



On Saturday, Gov. Janet Napolitano spokeswoman Pati Urias said there should be one of at least five Southwest-bound air tankers coming to Arizona. Urias said the governor hopes the Department of Agriculture and the National Forest Service will send more air tankers to Arizona.

The Willow fire is the largest fire in the state, but no one has been evacuated, Swinney said.

The Red Cross has set up an evacuation station for people with respiratory problems in the Deer Creek area at Rim Middle Country School. No one has volunteered to go to the station.

In eastern Arizona on Sunday, authorities fully contained a wildfire in rough mountainous terrain on the San Carlos Reservation.

The "Upshaw" fire had charred about 2,000 acres but did not threaten any structures.

The fire, which was started by lightning last Monday, burned in pinion pine, juniper trees and chaparral on range land.



Dennis

I'm sitting here in my home office looking north and the smoke from the Willow Fire is THICK and heavy, I can smell the smoke here even though the fire is now 76 miles to my West. I could see the Pyrocumulus cloud above the fire yesterday, looked to be about 45,000' high.

Dennis

Dennis - oh that's awful. I pray they can contain it quickly! Stay safe.

Mary

I am praying too Brother

I hope that the back burning helps, though I don't know how much they will be able to do that if the wind keeps blowing.

I pray that it gets under control soon!

Prayers coming from here. You two please stay safe. ((Hugs))

Ya'll need some rain WITHOUT lightning.

Fire Information

Last Update: 7/05/04 @ 9:00 a.m. MDT


Yesterday, the Southwest experienced light initial attack with 23 new fires, 18 in Arizona and 5 in New Mexico. Campfire and smoking restrictions are in effect across much of the Southwest along with increased area closures in some locations. See the RESTRICTIONS & CLOSURES link below.


LARGE FIRES

A R I Z O N A Large Fire Location Map
WILLOW has grown to 80,400 acres, burning to the South and West of the communities of Payson, Pine, and Strawberry. The lightning caused fire started 6/24 and is burning in timber, grass, and chaparral in extremely rough terrain. Jeff Whitney's Type 1 Team is managing the fire. Twenty outbuildings remain threatened. One structure has been destroyed. (Club Cabin) A major power transmission line is threatened by the southeastern expansion of the fire. Additionally, there are numerous mines in the southeastern area. The fire is estimated to be 15% contained. Containment and control dates are difficult to predict given the projected dry weather, drought -stressed fuels, and rugged isolated terrain. Yesterday, observed fire behavior included the fire backing down slope and then exhibiting short upslope runs. The most intense burning was in the flats as crews continued to "expand the black" along control lines. Long distance spotting and extreme fire behavior continue to limit control options. Today, the fire will continue to back down the steep slopes towards Barnhardt Canyon as well as towards Bear Creek and Bars Canyon. Line preparation and burnout will continue along the eastern control lines applying retardant and using aerial ignition to minimize threats in that area. Resources assigned: 13 Type1 crews, 10 Type 2 crews, 6 helicopters, 36 engines, 8 dozers, 12 water tenders, 286 overhead, 921 total personnel. 9:00 a.m. Update--The Beeline Highway, State Route 87, is scheduled to be closed due to burnout operations on July 6 at 8:00 a.m. or sooner if necessary. This closure is from the 87/188 junction to the intersection of the Bush Highway/Saguaro Lake turnoff. For more information, call Willow Fire Information at (928) 468-1230. Willow Fire Website | Progression | Additional photos | 7/05




Dennis

Thanks Dennis for the update.. keep us posted here

QuickTime video from June30:

http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/fr ... tory/15650

Highway 87 WILL remain opened, at least for NOW! A change in the winds yesterday pushed the fire back into itself, however, ADOT did warn this morning, that they could/will close 87 in a moments notice if need be!


http://www.azcentral.com

Tankers join battle against state fires

Jack Kurtz/The Arizona Republic

A P-3 Orion air tanker drops retardant on the "Nuttall Complex" fire Monday in southeastern Arizona.

Payson area wary; planes also used at Mt. Graham

Judi Villa and Susan Carroll
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 6, 2004 12:00 AM


PAYSON - Cindy Wall boxed family photographs and videotapes and packed them into her car.

She'd like to take her Victorian furniture, too, and the replica of her house her dad built.

But she can't take everything if smoke from the "Willow" fire, burning across the highway in the Mazatzal Wilderness, forces her and her husband from the Deer Creek Village home they built five years ago.

"Can you just imagine walking through your house, thinking what's important and what's not?" Wall said Monday afternoon.

Nearby, firefighters prepared to shut down 70 miles of Arizona 87 to set backfires along the main corridor connecting Payson to the Valley. Deer Creek residents may need to flee the smoke.

On Monday, two large air tankers arrived to help douse the Willow and other Arizona wildfires. The tankers are among 33 pulled from service in May because of safety concerns. Five planes were cleared to return to the skies.

The Willow fire has charred 85,000 acres southwest of Payson. More than 900 firefighters are battling the blaze. Late Monday, the Willow fire was about 2½ miles southwest of Payson at its closest point to the community. Officials say that the fire is 17 percent contained and that the communities of Payson, Pine and Strawberry are no longer in danger.

Fire officials were optimistic late Monday that they would not have to close Arizona 87, even though the fire burned within six miles of the highway and major power lines. A steady stream of cars drove out of Payson on Monday.



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Meanwhile, in southeastern Arizona near Safford, pilots flew two air tankers carrying hundreds of thousands of gallons of fire retardant over the "Nuttall Complex" wildfire, which is threatening the Mount Graham International Observatory. The two fires burning in the Pinaleño Mountains total 15,000 acres and could merge within days.

About 1:30 p.m., two tankers dropped clouds of red fire retardant over the flank of the "Gibson" fire, trying to keep flames in Marijilda Canyon from making a run over a tree-lined ridge within sight of the steel frame for Mount Graham's Large Binocular Telescope.

The observatory's telescopes are still threatened, as are more than 100 cabins in Columbine and Turkey Flat near Safford.

Firefighters on Monday worked to clear brush and protect homes in the two mountain communities, while crews dug fire lines to stop the flames from encroaching closer to the observatory. More than 800 firefighters were assigned to the Nuttall Complex, the second-largest wildfire burning in Arizona based on the combined acreage of the Gibson and Nuttall fires.

"The firefighters are not going to put these fires out. The weather is going to put them out," incident commander Dan Oltrogge said. "You're going to see smoke . . . for a long, long time."

Jerry Jones and his wife, Pam, drove down from Scottsdale on Monday morning to retrieve family heirlooms from their Turkey Flat cabin, a two-story home with a loft nestled amid the spruce trees.


Nick de la Torre/The Arizona Republic

Motorists head south Monday on Arizona 87 from a hazy Payson as a sign warns that the highway to the Valley may close today so firefighters can set backfires to try to halt the "Willow" fire.

The couple, who were escorted into the cluster of summer cabins by sheriff's deputies, had two hours to pack up and cart out their prized possessions, including antique tables, bureaus and quilts that Pam's mother made.

"It would certainly be a shame to lose everything," said Jerry, 62, a Valley businessman. "It's a great place for our kids and grandkids to go. I guess that's the most important thing."

Pam said the cabin was a gift to her and her sister, Sheri Brown, from their father, who died in 1996. "For us, it's like losing our dad all over again because this is his legacy to our children and grandchildren."

Back in Deer Creek Village, Wall watched the flames dance on the mountain at night and hoped a wayward ember didn't ignite her community of about 50 homes. There's so much here that would be so hard to replace if the worst happened. Inside, she cherished the memories of her son walking through the home. He died two years ago at age 18, and losing those memories could be worst of all.

"Everything's important in your house," Wall said. "It's very hard. You have to make a decision, and it's not easy."

Wall could see the huge plumes of smoke from her home and at night the flames on the mountain create an eerie orange glow. She figured she and her husband could evacuate in an hour, but unless firefighters told them they absolutely had to leave, they wouldn't.

"I've only been here five years, and I don't want to lose it," Wall said. "It is scary.

"I'll be out there with my hose. I'm just really hoping and praying it won't come to that. It's up to God and nature now. . . . You try to think of the good things, and if I have to rebuild, I'll build it bigger."

Fire officials say Deer Creek wasn't immediately threatened by the Willow fire, but the smoke could make breathing difficult, especially today if firefighters ended up having to set backfires along the highway to ensure Willow's flames didn't jump the road.

What a nightmare for you guys...prayers for ya'll.

Fire Information

Last Update: 7/06/04 @ 9:00 a.m. MDT


Yesterday, the Southwest experienced light initial attack with 10 new fires, 7 in Arizona and 3 in New Mexico. Campfire and smoking restrictions are in effect across much of the Southwest along with increased area closures in some locations. See the RESTRICTIONS & CLOSURES link below.


LARGE FIRES

A R I Z O N A Large Fire Location Map
WILLOW has grown to 85,000 acres. The lightning caused fire started 6/24 and is burning in timber, grass, and chaparral in extremely rough terrain. Jeff Whitney's Type 1 Team is managing the fire. A major power transmission line is threatened in the southeast portion of the fire. If a burnout is necessary, the line may have to be shut down. Compounding the problem is the significant loss of electrical capacity due to a major substation fire Monday in Phoenix. Additionally, there are numerous mines in the southeastern area of the fire. The fire is estimated to be 17% contained. Containment and control dates are difficult to predict given the projected dry weather, drought -stressed fuels, and rugged isolated terrain. Yesterday, Willow was active with the fire backing and making intense upslope runs. The west winds were of help, pushing the fire back into itself. Air tankers and MAFFs, Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), and medium and heavy helicopters worked to limit fire activity in the SE corner. Today the fire is expected to continue to back down slope towards Barnhardt Canyon and to the east, as well as in Bear Creek and Bars Canyon. Large acreage increases could occur, dependent upon today's weather and fire behavior. Yesterday, observed fire behavior included the fire backing down slope and then exhibiting short upslope runs. The most intense burning was in the flats as crews continued to "expand the black" along control lines. Long distance spotting and extreme fire behavior continue to limit control options. Today, the fire is expected to continue backing down the steep slopes towards Barnhardt Canyon as well as in Bear Creek and Bars Canyon. Line preparation and burnout will continue along the eastern control lines applying retardant and using aerial ignition to minimize threats in that area. Resources assigned: 13 Type1 crews, 10 Type 2 crews, 7 helicopters, 35 engines, 7 dozers, 12 water tenders, 287 overhead, 914 total personnel. 9:00 a.m. Update--The Beeline Highway, State Route 87 is currently open, but could be closed on a moments notice. If a closure is implemented, it will be include the section from the 87/188 junction to the intersection of the Bush Highway/Saguaro Lake turnoff. For more information, call Willow Fire Information at (928) 468-1230. Willow Fire Website | Progression | Additional photos | 7/06 Updates

Portion of Arizona 87 closed for burnouts

Judi Villa
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 7, 2004 12:00 AM


PAYSON - The "Willow" fire jumped a control line on its southeast flank late Tuesday, forcing public safety officials to close a portion of Arizona 87 while firefighters conduct burnouts along the highway.

The backfires were ignited along the Barnhardt Trail south of Payson to Arizona 87 then south along the highway.

The Department of Public Safety closed the highway about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday from the community of Rye south to Arizona 188, said Officer Frank Valenzuela, a department spokesman. Restrictions could be in place for the next several days, Valenzuela said.

"It did blow out of there tonight. It blew across our containment line," said operations section chief Buck Wickham."We feel like we can catch it tonight with a burnout."



Closures could occur "spur of the moment," said law enforcement liaison Jim Clawson.



The Willow fire, started by lightning on June 24, has charred 90,500, acres and is 22 percent contained. So far, it has cost more than $6.1 million to fight the blaze. No structures were immediately threatened.

Earlier in the day, firefighters worked to protect a handful of structures between the Willow's flames and Arizona 87.

At the Sunflower Work Center, the summer home for five U.S. Forest Service firefighters, Barry Green's structural protection crew brought sprinklers and a 1,000 gallon fold-a-tank. Firefighters at the station had already cleared defensible space around the historic home and converted barn on the property.



"It's not going to burn," said Roy Hirt, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter. "It'd be awhile for the fire to get here. But if it does get close, trust me, we'll put it out."

Green, a Pinetop firefighter and the task force leader for structural protection, said his team's efforts "make the biggest difference as far as saving houses."

"It actually works," Green said of the lawn sprinklers scattered throughout the property. "It puts the moisture back in the ground and the surroundings. If a spot fire comes out, it's going to have a lesser chance of spreading."

Officials are trying to keep the fire from making a run in Deer Creek where it would be fueled by dead pine trees, Ponderosa firs and junipers.



"There's just no way to stop the fire's spread in there. There's not enough water," said fire safety officer Paul Boucher.

"If we can stop it, we'll own it. If we can hang it up there, we will have been successful."

Tuesday morning, Willow was burning hotter and was more active near Deer Creek than it had been on previous mornings, forcing firefighters to abandon plans to try to dig a fire break. Instead, firefighters focused on protecting the 345 KV power lines that parallel Arizona 87. On Tuesday, the Smokey Bear Hotshots from Ruidoso, N.M., used chain saws to cut down scrub oak, mesquite, juniper and anything else that was standing beneath the power lines.

Reducing the fuels underneath the power lines would prevent the lines from arcing, falling, or shorting when the backfires burn underneath.

"We're doing the best we can to keep it from damaging these lines," said Rich Dolphin, superintendent of the hotshot crew.

Hotshot Jeremy Cowie, resting during a lunch break under a tree, said if firefighters couldn't stop the blaze, the weather eventually would.

"It should run out of fuels before it hits Phoenix anyway," Cowie said, smiling. "Right?"

http://www.azcentral.com

'Willow' threatens power line, Ord towers
Judi Villa
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 9, 2004 12:00 AM


PAYSON - Chandler Fire Capt. Mark Boulanger bumped along a 2-mile stretch of rugged dirt road, looking for curls of smoke that might indicate the "Willow" fire was still hot.

Back and forth, he and his crew went for hours, patrolling a section of the Mazatzal Wilderness where the fire already had hopscotched.



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This was one of the first areas to be contained, but the Willow fire still is raging through the wild lands southwest of Payson.

But from all appearances, the fire in this area was out. Still, that didn't mean it couldn't flare up again if a hot ember hidden amongst the ash was picked up by the wind and carried into unburned desert.

"We still have some green islands that keep flaring up," Boulanger said. "You may have some hot spots within the black here that may flare up. Once they get into the trees, they'll throw embers over the line and then you have a whole new fire."

The Willow fire, started by lightning on June 24, has charred 118,300 acres and is 40 percent contained. On Wednesday alone, 15,600 new acres burned, and firefighters say they still are dealing with hot spots in areas that are no longer in flames.

Much of the effort in past days has been on stopping the fire's spread on its southeastern flank, where it is threatening two 345-kilovolt power lines and, if it crosses Arizona 87, a bank of communications towers atop Mount Ord.


Power lines shut down
The power lines were shut down for four hours Thursday as firefighters burned out vegetation alongside Arizona 87 and underneath the lines to try to stop Willow's advance. The highway, the main corridor from Payson to the Valley, was closed from Arizona 188 to the Bush Highway.

"We think we might actually be able to stop the fire," said Operations Section Chief Buck Wickham. "It was a good day. It's kind of what firefighters live for."

APS rerouted power, and there were no rolling blackouts.

"We're doing well so far," said APS spokesman Mark Fallon. "Obviously, we'd like to keep our customers' lights and air conditioners on."


'Critical point'
Willow's flames raced toward the highway Wednesday and jumped it in three spots, but those smaller fires were quickly extinguished. Incident Commander Jeff Whitney said Thursday was a "critical point."

"The fire dealt us a hand we just have to play out at this point," Whitney said. "We're committed, and we're going to stick with it.

"We're hopeful in the next few days that we're going to be able to turn the corner . . . and bring it to its knees."

Burnouts along Arizona 87 brought the fire within 44 feet of the base of Mount Ord, which holds communication towers for agencies including the state Department of Public Safety, the FBI, APS, Salt River Project and Qwest. A fire lookout tower on the mountain has been evacuated.

About 12 years ago, another wildfire burned on Mount Ord, but Whitney said the area has "re-established itself quite nicely, and it's ready to burn again."


'Worst-case scenario'
"The worst-case scenario would be if the fire jumped (Arizona) 87 and got seated on Mount Ord," he said. "At this point, we cannot afford to let that fire breach 87."

Meanwhile, firefighters like Myron Chavez, from Zuni, N.M., overturn blackened ash to make sure the fire does not ignite somewhere else.

"You may think it may be out, but you have to really get down to the ground to see," Chavez said.

"It takes a couple days to make sure it's really out."


Checking embers
Firefighter Dennis Lesarlley, also from Zuni, pulls his shovel through dirt and ash beneath a tree, mixing the two. When the embers are still hot, he can feel it through his boots.

Firefighters also use their hands to feel for hot spots. They dump water on them or cool them with dirt. Every stump has to be checked. Every rock, too.

No patch of ash can be ignored or forgotten.

"The grass is so dry," Lesarlley said. "We don't want this green area to ignite again."


Lunar landscape
Down the road, Boulanger and two other Chandler firefighters carry 300 gallons of water in their brush truck and watch for smoke in unburned areas.

The land outside their windows looks like a lunar landscape with blackened soil and sticks of charred trees.

"You look out there and you're used to seeing green and a beautiful landscape, and obviously it's not anymore," Boulanger said.

"But it's going to come back. It always comes back."

WELL....things are looking MUCH brighter this morning for the Willow Fire, it stands at 40% containment as of 0730 MST, with FULL containment expected by tomorrow (that is IF something doesn't happen today, ie, winds, lightning strikes etc.)

Dennis