Arizona Wildfires 2012: Fire Nears Crown King As Firefighters Work To Keep Flames Contained

CROWN KING, Ariz. (AP) — Firefighters were working to prevent a wildfire near the historic mining town of Crown King from spreading to an area where it could quickly grow.

Authorities are worried that flames from the Gladiator Fire will get past a fire line that's about a mile west of the mountain town, fire incident spokeswoman Loretta Benavidez said Tuesday night.

If that happens, a bowl in the terrain could help the blaze move south, a development that would threaten homes and businesses in the town, Benavidez told the Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/KlEe03).

"There could be a potential for fire behavior that would not allow (firefighters) to go in safely," she said. "With the potential for wind in the coming days, that's always a possibility."

Wednesday and Thursday will be the "tell-tale days," she said.

The fire has consumed more than 2,000 acres, destroyed two homes and a trailer and prompted an evacuation order on Sunday.

Winds estimated at 35 mph on Tuesday helped the fire grow, fire officials said. The Crown King area remained under an evacuation order Tuesday, though authorities said most of the town's 350 residents had chosen to stay.

Crown King is a community of mostly summer homes about 85 miles north of Phoenix. It's a popular destination for all-terrain vehicles because of its numerous hills and gorges.

Smoke from a larger fire that began Saturday south of Payson fire drifted into Phoenix over the weekend. Forest officials said that the blaze grew from 8,500 acres to 12,000 acres by Tuesday evening, KNXV-TV reported (http://bit.ly/KlFNuF).

The Sunflower Fire was burning in the high wilderness area of the Tonto National Forest and was 7 percent contained. No structures were threatened.

The fires follow a warning from Arizona land managers that hot temperatures and dry vegetation have created a very high fire risk in some parts of the state.

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Comments

[mes7]

11:33 AM on 05/17/2012

from 11/2010-10/2011 there were 30,457 fires, 3,988,716 acres burned, right at 3000 homes burned ( 2000 of which over Labor Day weekend ) 2700 various other structures burned, 47.3 % of all acreage burned in the US , Firefighters from all 50 states + P.R. all in TX alone.( some of those FF died but luckily few but many injured from heat,smoke and dehydration )
People were paying for food, water, clothing , providing shelter, etc out of their own pockets from every corner of the state because the charities couldn't begin to keep up on their on.
At no time during this period was anyone pointing fingers or placing blame on Rep. or Dem. There is no political affiliation when your home is burning or looks like it might be the next.Those people have more important things to do than waste their time pointing fingers like many on here. If those people on here care so damn much there is plenty they could be doing to help the cause besides sitting behind a computer belly-aching about their political beliefs !! the people whose land and homes are burning could care less right now what you think but they would be thankful for anything anybody can do to help no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. They are trying to save their homes, business or town.
Been there done that !

[blackswampchas]

09:33 AM on 05/17/2012

Would not have had a clue to where Crown King Az. was, until my brother took me there and back on motorcycles this past Feb. It was great riding and senery, and Crown King is unique, a cold beer and sandwich and a really memorable Rough road on the way out. Hope to get back up there again some time. Hope they get the fire under control.

[mamasilverhair]

08:10 AM on 05/17/2012

With the austerity measure in place in arizona...where are the fire fighters coming from? I mean does arizona even have a fire department left? Do they have enough? how sparse is those left manning the forts in other providences of that state? I mean what if something awful happens and another fire on the otherside of the state arises? do they have the man power left to actually protect that state? I am in serious worry actually since all of america seems to want to reduce our protection services here on American soil.. Every year we have disasters that call men to step up and help... Do we have enough for that? or are we expecting them to do it for free?

[Enrique Iglesias]

10:01 AM on 05/17/2012

We have about 4-5 fires going right now; the Crown King Fire is the Worst as the terrain is very difficult to work in even without a fire... Many of the "Hot Shot" crews are from prisons, as well as, other states including Arizona... Throughout the history of Arizona we have had massive fires in the Rim Country; as generally they are man made two or three of the biggest were started by the Forest Rangers themselves; and the State has plenty of resources to take care of the expense, but thanks for your 'Concern?'

[Conspiracy2Riot]

02:03 PM on 05/17/2012

AZ is using prisoners to fight fires?

[Johnoneone1999]

02:44 AM on 05/17/2012

I must pray for forgiveness, that I cannot feel sympathetic toward Arizona's fire loses.

Rather, I wonder what minds are working to prove the fires were caused by illegals, liberals, or The President. Let there be no deaths; beyond that wel-l-l-ll.................

[bojorco]

11:32 AM on 05/17/2012

You have to wait a while to see what someone says the cause is, although wishing aloud that it will be something offensive works for those who enjoy feeling righteous indignation.

[Johnoneone1999]

12:19 PM on 05/17/2012

Your have a very good point...the problem is in Arizona, who is that "someone" going to be?

[Nonlib2012]

12:49 AM on 05/17/2012

Hopefully it'll thin out some of them illegal alieans.

[IamLoveLight]

01:19 AM on 05/17/2012

oh you mean those HUMAN BEINGS that only wish to feed, clothe and support their families ... when we get away from the MINDSET of Separation ... and we are ALL CREATED of ONE Creator ~ realizing that ONLY Greed and Man ... creates DIVISION and SEPARATION ... we will TRULY BECOME UNIFIED as a Collective Humanity ~
~*~
You see Nonlib ... Man created BORDERS ... GOD created EARTH for ALL BEINGS ... not just the "USA" ... God does NOT recognize "illegal aliens" .... WE ARE ALL EARTHLINGS!!! ❤❤❤

[Yan Tan Tethera]

02:05 AM on 05/17/2012

I do not want to be unified as a collective humanity. Collectivism is for anthills.

[trucker1000]

10:30 AM on 05/17/2012

countries recognize illegal aliens look at Mexaco there you are put in jail

[bccpn]

12:12 AM on 05/17/2012

Brag on this new report . 36% of the US labor force is not working thanks to Obama and his policies with over 6.2 million losing jobs since he took office and 90% of them in the last two years were women. Obama lost more jobs than any president but you people clammor on the 600 lost in the steel mill that closed up 2 years after Mitt left Bain. By the way Mitt did save a steel mill that is still going today and saved 6000 jobs.

[IamLoveLight]

12:10 AM on 05/17/2012

....looks like the Universe is fed up with the disdain shown the Wonderful People of Arizona ~ by the incompetency of Brewer and Arpaio ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ when you continually push people down ~ robbing them of basic HUMAN RIGHTS ... there is a POWER MUCH HIGHER ... that says, ENOUGH is ENOUGH!! ❤

[mangohombre]

01:57 AM on 05/17/2012

Rage much?

[smoknjoe]

02:20 AM on 05/17/2012

God isn't into politics and obviously you shouldn't be either.

[Brian Hanrahan]

11:59 PM on 05/16/2012

The fact that any of you would politicize our tragic wildfires, the Gladiator and Sunflower, is indicative of how insanely polarized our country is. As one fellow Phoenician states below, the smoke plumes are visible from our city, as they often are in the dry season from May to October.
The Crown King area where the Gladiator incinerates hundred year-old pines, is rural, high-country and largely conservative politically. As a liberal, that's irrelevant to me. Good people are losing their homes and a pristine forest is being reduced to ashes.
A loose-cannon below asks rhetorically, 'As long as no lives are lost, who cares, its Az.' (Sic)
Oregondude's fine with injuries to smokejumpers and homeowners; he's okay with destroyed property, dead pets and livestock, and lost family heirlooms. Little wonder our country is on the decline in the eyes of the world.

[bccpn]

12:27 AM on 05/17/2012

Thanks for your concern and the showing of a liberal not a far left progressive rant like many before

[IamLoveLight]

01:41 AM on 05/17/2012

Actually I have relatives on the front lines ... and friends with equestrian ranches in this area ... we have been been sharing info ~ looking for ways to get the animals out ... even sending a "'snake handler" to help with the rattlesnakes that are affecting the firefighters ~ very aware of the situation ~ I lived in AZ for 25 years ... NEVER any wildfires ... these are all within the last 10 years ~ and YES Brian ... I am a TREE HUGGER ~ seedlings ready!!
~*~
❤

[Yan Tan Tethera]

02:31 AM on 05/17/2012

"I lived in AZ for 25 years ... NEVER any wildfires"

What? You're full of it. The Battle Flat fire in 1972 burned up half of the Bradshaw mountain range. The Dude fire in 1990 killed six firefighters and nearly burned down Payson. Then there was Castle Creek in 1979, tens of thousands of acres up in smoke. And dozens of others. The Rodeo and Wallow fires were really big, it's true, but there have been plenty of horrible wildfires for decades.

[trucker1000]

10:33 AM on 05/17/2012

How can you say never any wild fires before 10 years ago, that is so NOT TRUE

[Sean Erickson]

11:50 PM on 05/16/2012

As a Firefighter for over 20 years here in the West I can feel you that back in the 70's and part of the 80's, most of these fire we were able to contain quickly because of the fire breaks, logging and fire roads, and logging companies. Now we have no fire breaks, no logging or fire roads, and pretty much no logging. People on the left blame global warming or something else but I am here to tell you that the extreme pull to the left in banning true management of our forests have led to this. Logging companies were required to plant only two saplings of different ages for every tree removed by federal law when "clear cutting" but they planted four instead! We used to be able to conduct prescribed burns but with "air quality" laws it requires permits from at lease four different agencies to get a burn permit that when issued is only good for up to four hours! Really! We have had one hand handcuffed behind our backs and still expected to be able to put fire out quickly! Ever wonder why more people especially Firemen like me are dying!

[bccpn]

12:18 AM on 05/17/2012

Thanks for your service you guys save my town in the Carefree fire THANK YOU !. And your post is right on Bill C passed laws shutting down logging and that was the beinning of the big fires in CAli and in AZ. Im your #1 fan

[Brian Hanrahan]

01:04 AM on 05/17/2012

Sean,
No argument from me. Additonally Arizona's 'ten year drought' beginning in the late 70's is now a semi-permanent condition, contributing to the rapid spread of our wildfires. I used to see fires from lightning strikes in northern Arizona get contained pretty quickly. because of lush undergrowth from the frequent rain showers beginning in late June. Moreover, heavy snowfall moisture used to hang around until May. No more. And snowfall has been lighter in recent winters Further, thinning the old-growth forests in Arizona is a political firestorm; no pun.

[Yan Tan Tethera]

05:02 AM on 05/17/2012

"snowfall has been lighter in recent winters"

No it hasn't. This past winter was dry, but the three before that had good to excellent snowfalls. 2009-10 set records in some parts of the state.

http://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2010/02/arizona-snowpack-at-232-of-30-year.html

[jenniferkizzy]

11:48 PM on 05/16/2012

ok natural disasters have no political parties there natural disasters do you not see the failed logic here

[filliperogers]

11:43 PM on 05/16/2012

Man that desert heat sure is affecting peoples ability to think clearly on some of the more snarky posts... Sounds like a civil war is erupting not a forest fire.............

[bccpn]

12:14 AM on 05/17/2012

I got on here to report to interested people the facts on the fire ,living just 15mins from there but all I seen was post from the left showing the true nature of people in that party. When confronted I break out the facts they are better than a nuc on a lib

[jenniferkizzy]

11:39 PM on 05/16/2012

i hope every one in arizona is ok my heart goes out too them bye

[jenniferkizzy]

12:35 AM on 05/17/2012

yes i do this is not a political issue this is a issue of the nation and should remain as such 

[jenniferkizzy]

12:35 AM on 05/17/2012

yes i do 

[mrhandyman3105]

11:20 PM on 05/16/2012

Jan Brewer's State...Burn baby burn.

[Sean Erickson]

11:52 PM on 05/16/2012

First lets burn baby burn all your possessions you worthless heartless wacko!!!!!!

[mangohombre]

02:06 AM on 05/17/2012

I'd say it, but it would just get removed. But, you know what you are.

[bounder234]

10:59 PM on 05/16/2012

living in arizona; phoenix in particular, i didn't know a fire could be liberal or conservative. but if they can, i would have to say both fires are conservatives because the massive plume of smoke from both fires (visible from phoenix) are going to the right.

[ssf1183]

12:05 AM on 05/17/2012

The smoke is like a liberal ... it goes which ever way the wind is blowing!

[bccpn]

09:47 PM on 05/16/2012

I see no takers on having a face to face dialog about people and the state of AZ. Libs when confronted always run. Computers make them brave . Funny how most of you talk about people living in trailers when you still with your parents and are on their insurance plan. BY 26 I was production manager of a major company and had 4 years of the Navy behinnd me. When do libs grow up at age 35?

[Ronald Malaney]

10:43 PM on 05/16/2012

sometimes never

[bounder234]

11:04 PM on 05/16/2012

no this lib was pretty much on his own at 18 and preparing to fight in viet nam

[bccpn]

12:06 AM on 05/17/2012

Most people realize that taking from others is wrong by the time they reach 21 libs never grow up that is why just 17% of the electorate is on the left and just 8% far left. Both parties sux but at least the GOP is trying to make big changes getting back to their roots thanks to the TP. The left just keeps going farther. We run best from the center alway have always will ,just a very simplle fact the present liberals do not grasp.