Tinder Fire in Arizona has destroyed 33 homes and is still burning
Source: CNN
By Eric Levenson and Amir Vera, CNN
Updated 10:56 AM ET, Sun May 6, 2018
(CNN)The sprawling Tinder Fire in Arizona has destroyed 33 primary homes and 54 minor structures since it was sparked by an abandoned illegal campfire two weeks ago, officials said.
Fueled by grass and understory, the wildfire in Coconino National Forest stretches over an estimated 15,841 acres. With the efforts of about 400 personnel with equipment -- including 8 crews, 4 helicopters, 20 engines, 5 dozers, 1 water tender and other support staff -- the blaze is 79 percent contained, officials said.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office had ordered evacuations last week for communities north, east and west of Highway 87. The evacuation order for communities in Blue Ridge were lifted on Friday, and residents began returning to their homes.
"We did have a house burn down in 1980 and it brings back memories, and it's very sad for the people that lost everything," Sharon Bourne told CNN affiliate KNXV.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/06/us/tinder-fire-wxc/index.html
Make7
(8,543 posts)petronius
(26,581 posts)Decoy of Fenris
(1,954 posts)briv1016
(1,570 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)There is a drought going on in the southwest still and this does not look good for the next 9 months. I am SOOOO grateful that our govt is looking out for such coming disasters caused by climate change and is doing everything in its power to fight it.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)coming together at this time creates what could be perfect storm conditions.
It's very sad that these homes were lost, but at least each of these fires means an area that won't burn too heavily to control for some years as climate problems build. No surprise that this is in mountainous terrain. My sister lives in pine forest in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, and they've had to clear all undergrowth to 15 or 20 feet above the ground, and take out particularly flammable plants, including beautiful manzanitas, some very old, for years now.
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)vegetation within a certain perimeter around homes and hopefully replace them with plants that are natural, like succulents and ice plants. It helps to a degree but when you have a fire with Santa Ana winds the flames and cinders spread far and quickly.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and in canyons who were at risk from fire and/or mud slides more years than not. We felt pretty safe then in a little urban valley between two ranges of mountains (just west of Pasadena) because fire would have to sweep down through a couple hundred homes to reach ours. We wouldn't these days. Things have changed.
Lol. When we first moved to Georgia some workmen set some debris on fire under a large tree right next to the house on that property -- and left once they got the fire going nicely. Surreal coming from California. I couldn't relax and almost had a heart attack rushing to call 911 when the wind rose and the fire flared up. But in my defense, the nonagenarians in that house couldn't have just run away and the fire was illegally close. Fires/bonfires must be 50 feet from any structure (!), routinely ignored by many whether they have 50 feet or not.
Fortunately, iceplant and succulents are pretty. My sister's bare pine-forest floor, cleared of needles, not so much, but she loves it up there anyway. Stay safe.
notdarkyet
(2,226 posts)South, but this does not portend well for the summer.
Nac Mac Feegle
(969 posts)On the East side of 89, about 30 miles South. You might get some smoke in the Winslow area, but if the winds are as usual, you might not. This is around the Starlight Pines development down there.
DemoTex
(25,371 posts)I spent 2014-2016 working for the USFS in fire detection in the Coronado NF, in south Arizona (Tucson area). Wish I could be there now, to help. But I am stuck taking care of Nick.
My fire buds know that as soon as Nick is gone, I'll be out there. I hate watching from 2000 miles away.
Fire Lookout Ranger DemoTex.
snort
(2,334 posts)of what it should be. Future conflagrations will make this look like practice. Ready?