Fire activity expected to decrease as Sunflower Fire reaches old burn area
Fire restrictions now in place in Tonto National Forest
Acres: 12,500 Start
date: May 12, 2012
Cause: Under
Investigation Location: 21 miles south of Payson
Containment: 10 percent Fuels: Grass, chaparral, pinyon pine
Terrain: Steep,
rugged Resources: 15 crews, 13 engines, 7 water tenders
Total personnel: 528 Available
air support: 7 helicopters, 6 air
tankers
Summary: Firefighters worked into the night doing
burnout operations on the southeast flank of the Sunflower Fire near Forest
Road 627 and the high voltage transmission line that parallels State Route
87. The fire continues to be fuel driven
with flames actively backing downhill against the wind. In some areas, the flame activity is
following drainages toward lands that were burned in 2004 by the Willow
Fire. Fire activity is expected to
decrease when it reaches the old burn area due to lighter fuel loading. On the west side, old fire scars from the
Basin Fire of 1995 has slowed the fire activity in that area.
Fire restrictions were implemented yesterday by the Tonto
National Forest: Building, maintaining,
attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal-burning device is now
prohibited on the forest.
Smoking is only allowed only in a developed campground,
vehicle, or building.
Restrictions also apply to operating internal combustion
power tools, using welding equipment or torches with open flames, operating
combustion engines without spark-arresting devices in effective working order,
or discharging firearms except in taking game in accordance with Arizona
hunting laws.
Use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, and heating
devices are allowed, and some developed campgrounds are also exempted from
these restrictions.
Violation of these
restrictions is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to
six months.
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