Arizona Wildfires 2012: Blaze Near Historic Mining Town Nearly Triples In Size (VIDEO)

CROWN KING, Ariz. (AP) — Strong wind gusts will likely keep spreading a wildfire that has grown to nearly 10 square miles and prompted the evacuation of a historic Arizona mining town.

Fire incident spokeswoman Michelle Fidler says gusts of up to 40 mph are expected Thursday in the Prescott National Forest, near Crown King.

She says the wind could push the fire, which is only 5 percent contained, northward but crews will use the opportunity to slow the blaze from the west, where communication towers are threatened.

The fire has destroyed two homes and a trailer, and prompted an evacuation order Sunday. Crown King is a community of mostly summer homes about 85 miles north of Phoenix.

The blaze started at a home, but investigators have yet to determine the cause.

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Comments

[Roadrun]

08:05 AM on 05/18/2012

I read comments that this forest is in Arizona and is related to human politics. That's really a stretch. It is mountains, animals, air and environment. If you think a National (yeah, really) Forest is politics you might need help.

[forgetdc]

12:41 PM on 05/17/2012

wildfires should be illegal. where is the epa on this? all that natural pollution caused by lighting needs to be regulated so that this can never happen again.

[HowlingVoyager]

03:00 PM on 05/17/2012

While you're making your jokes, weak as they are, did you also spare a thought - if at all possible - for the people who are affected by these fires? The ones whose lives and homes may well be ruined? The people who are risking their lives to put the fires out?

Didn't think so...

[forgetdc]

03:40 PM on 05/17/2012

Not joking. Government is out of control just like these fires

[Roadrun]

08:07 AM on 05/18/2012

But the EPA does accurately say that lead and mercury isn't a good thing to get inside the body, as is demonstrated here.

[doctorwang]

12:30 PM on 05/17/2012

Wildfires have been occurring in these areas for thousands upon thousands of years. Long before man ever set foot there. While man can help to lessen their possibility, they are inevitable. That is unless you're willing to employ tens of thousands to do the thinning that these fires do naturally. And with the budget problems that our state and federal governments are enduring that's not going to happen anytime soon. I sincerely hope that no one loses their home. And every reasonable effort should be made to save those homes in danger. But those who choose to build in these lands need to accept the risk that comes with the land they've chosen to build upon.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

05:44 PM on 05/17/2012

If they were intelligent they would build adobe homes with tile roofs, which are what people who live in this kind of terrain have used for centuries, and in some cases, millennia. Don't put anything flammable near your house and your belongings will be safe.

[Odd Man Out]

08:02 PM on 05/17/2012

Depends on how hot the fire gets. Everything is flammable under the right conditions.

[Conspiracy2Riot]

08:42 PM on 05/17/2012

and if things go awry, you can rebuild one of those quite inexpensively.
great idea.

[uriahheep2007]

11:19 AM on 05/17/2012

Spontaneous combustion of a bigoted state. Texas wildfires were last years retribution on lunatic states.

[ghost geezer]

12:15 PM on 05/17/2012

Vicious post. Do not imitate your enemies.

[uriahheep2007]

05:30 PM on 05/18/2012

Thanks

[Judy Gorenc]

11:41 AM on 05/18/2012

I live within 25 miles of the Gladiator fire and have been to Crown King which is beautiful. I also am a liberal in a state that embarrasses me on a regular basis. Interestingly, there are a lot of people like me, but there are also many millionaires that control the political climate here. We fight the good fight, but we are outnumbered. The only things that keep me here are my friends and family members, and the plethora of natural wonders that exist in spite of budget cuts that put them at risk. Please don't paint us all with the same brush. And remember that we had a wonderful governor for years who was a Democrat, but elected by overwhelming majorities. That would be Janet Napolitano.

[Rothay]

03:19 PM on 05/19/2012

WSell, now, Judy, I live in Arizona also and closer to the Gladiator fire than you do. As I write the fixed wing planes are flying overhead with slurry. It is a beautiful state. And you are in state if you feel embarrassed about a state. Liberalism is runing rampant everywhere, with all that follows. You are outnumbered you say? Thank heaven for that. Believe me, only people going in for stereotypes paint anyone with the same brush. I am most definitely not a liberal and I live here after having lived just about everywhee - London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, and now this beautiful state, the Grand Canyon State, whose natural wonders know nothing of politics,etc. The Grand Canyon, a natural wonder indeed, will never be at risk and will be here long after the politicians and the rabid liberals and the rest are long gone - like Janet Napolitano, as much a mess as governor of this state as she is in national security. Just an opinion. We all have them.

[5041360]

11:19 AM on 05/17/2012

It's arizona - don't care

[ghost geezer]

12:16 PM on 05/17/2012

It's your planet. I am amazed at the viciousness of this and the comment above. What makes you different from the part of Arizona that you hate?

[5041360]

12:39 PM on 05/17/2012

ask your governor and your legislature

[MichaelAKD]

12:50 PM on 05/17/2012

treat others as you would like to be treated. the way you feel about arizona and the stereotype you have applied to ALL its residents is just wrong. no state, not arizona, not texas, not any is a monolithic block of clones. there are a lot of people in all of those states mentioned who feel exactly as you do on many or all issues yet by throwing out a stereotype you blame the "innocent" along with the guilty so to speak. that is precisely how radical right wingers and tea party types behave, seriously if you act like them, how then are you any better? for that matter how can you even criticize them? everyone deserves to be treated as an individual and with respect. gabby giffords, remember her, from arizona,...lyndon johnson aka lbj, remember him, the guy who as president ushered in the civil rights movement in this nation, a texan. stereotypes are wrong on so many levels.

[5041360]

01:49 PM on 05/17/2012

you and others elected your governor/legislature- -what else can I say= if you want to change the reputation of your state- stop being a victim and do something-  don't hold out a whole lot of hope for that

[darksigns84]

10:28 AM on 05/17/2012

Wildfires over the last decade have been burning hotter and longer.

Why people may ask. This has nothing to do with global warming or climate change.

Look at all the chemtrailing. All the chemicals that are being pumped into the atmosphere slowly return to earth. All the Aluminum and Baruim which are over government saftey levels are coating everything.

Go check out "What in the world are they spraying?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARt9ccu8no&feature=fvst

This great documentary takes you through science and the politics of geoengineering that is going on in front of our eyes with no government control, and the poisions that are being put on us.

It is worse in the west/mid-west areas. But this helps fuel these fires more than what they used to be.

[plzgetreal]

11:11 AM on 05/17/2012

While I'll agree that these fires are not directly related to climate change, although it does seem to get hotter quicker in the season lately, everything you cited contributes to degradation of the environment leading to climate change.

[darksigns84]

03:27 PM on 05/17/2012

Very true, the chemtrails do lead to that, our Earth goes through cycles of climate change. We need to stop the geo-engineering that is not being controlled. Unfortunately the politicians are to afraid to even listen or do anything.

[MsSKWESQ]

10:19 AM on 05/17/2012

Gee, I wonder if this is God's message to Az about bigotry? Isn't that how the Right looks at natural disasters? Didn't they claim Katrina was a punishment on New Orleans?

[plzgetreal]

11:08 AM on 05/17/2012

You beat me to it.

[ghost geezer]

12:18 PM on 05/17/2012

And another thoughtful post from a liberal who mirrors the mind of Pat Robertson. My tribe is lousy company in many ways, but it's what's available.

[RSGmusic]

02:48 PM on 05/17/2012

you seemed to have missed the joke?

[Y Woodman Brown]

10:18 AM on 05/17/2012

"The U.S. Forest Service says the fire was caused by humans."

Man, these fire just kill me. I've lived all over Arizona and Colorado. I know these forests.

I've lived in them. Run in them, camped, cycled and simply marveled at the fact that they exist. Next to music, they're the nicest thing about having been shackled with a life.

I've seen them after the fires. You ever seen a charred forest, black and smoke-stinking for years. It's pitiful, it's one of the saddest things.

They've been burning like mad the past half-dozen years.

If you'd ever been in those woods, you'd be ready to strangle whoever threw-down that match.

[Conspiracy2Riot]

08:46 PM on 05/17/2012

i've never visited these forests but i'm with you.

[Roadrun]

07:56 AM on 05/18/2012

And the bears, cougars, deer, elk and on down to the little ones like porcupines who can't even run. There are a lot of critters greatly affected.

Outside of Espanola (north of Santa Fe) there is a bear rescue and rehabilitation facility that got pretty full last year due to fires and drought.

[satyrday]

10:10 AM on 05/17/2012

Brewer started this fire with the Constitution.

[lloydc123]

10:02 AM on 05/17/2012

test 1234

[traceymarie]

09:40 AM on 05/17/2012

anyone who refuses to leave and is more worried about "things" then life should NOT receive any help or rescue. Putting others lives in danger because of your greed is wrong, if you choose to stay you may be choosing to die, alone.

[Kelly Cloud]

09:27 AM on 05/17/2012

No sympathy from me.

[Roadrun]

07:58 AM on 05/18/2012

Sadly you confuse mountains and forests with politics.

[Nukualofa]

09:14 AM on 05/17/2012

Can't the good people of Arizona pray away this fire? Or is God not listening?

[P Ross]

09:43 AM on 05/17/2012

I'm in Texas and since I received my Obama 2012 bumper sticker we have had plenty of rain. Just saying.

[5041360]

11:21 AM on 05/17/2012

texas is not known for its citizens having the brightest IQ- case in point!

[lloydc123]

10:02 AM on 05/17/2012

You are one nut case!

[srheard]

08:46 AM on 05/17/2012

If only we had cut taxes more and laid-off those good-for-nothing public sector firefighters - that fire would be out by now! Vote Tea Party!

[Susan Spacek Thompson]

08:45 AM on 05/17/2012

I wonder if Brewer will ask for federal aid?

[RSGmusic]

02:51 PM on 05/17/2012

If she did it would go to balancing their budget, not the fire fighters!

Peace!