Prescott National Forest

Contact: Devin Wanner, dwanner@fs.fed.us

Interagency Cooperation Helps Suppression of Pine Mountain Fire

May 30, 2004

PRESCOTT Ariz--Fire departments from around Yavapai County are working in cooperation with personnel from the Prescott National Forest responding to a fire late Sunday morning, May 30, 2004. The Pine Mountain Fire, located west of Walker Road south of the Pine Mountain Road, was first reported at approximately 10:14 a.m.

Firefighters from the Jerome Fire Department, the Prescott Fire Department and the Groom Creek Fire Department joined firefighters from the Prescott, Lolo and Modoc National Forests in the suppression effort. The Vista Grande Hotshots from the San Bernadino National Forest also responded. In the initial stages of the suppression effort, the single engine air tankers dropped fire retardant ahead of the fire. With this assistance, the firefighters quickly flanked the fire. A building under construction located down slope from the fire is being protected.

The Pine Mountain Fire was estimated at 1/2 acre at noon. The fire is burning in brush and Ponderosa pine. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

The fire appears to have started behind Steve Teagarden's new cabin on the ridge directly across from my property. The Prescott National Forest release appears to have some mistakes. The fire is just below the Spruce Mountain Road, not the Pine Mountain Road. Also, there was no mention of the Walker Fire Department which responded promptly via Trail 67, the road the Prescott National Fairest has been battling to close. Thanks to the efforts of Marc Delaney, the road has remained open and clear.

The Forest service has spent thousands of dollars battling to close and obliterate this road that provides a life route off the mountain and direct route up the mountain for fire fighter. The road has been in existence for over 100 years. The Forest Service has been quoted as saying the litigation is no problem as they have lots of money for that and that those living and visiting in the forest who are at risk are so of their own choice. Your tax dollars at work!

The following are some images taken that morning. Note the last image. The Spruce Mountain Fire department water truck had engine trouble and coasted backward across the road blocking it. Thanks to Matt Alvey, retired Air Force F-16 aircraft mechanic, the problem was solved and the vehicle able to back up and clear the road. Note, the truck was in a very precarious position and close to tipping over. If it had, it would have blocked the main Spruce Mountain road and prevented any use of it. The ONLY exit off the mountain would then have been by the Trail 67 road the Forest service has been trying to close.

Late Sunday Morning.
Photo taken by Jeff Hopkins
from the Hopkins property
directly across from the fire.

An observation plane can be seen at the top

Note: In some of the images fire can be seen shooting up a dead tree. Very spectacular. There were at least two drops of fire retardant by a crop duster. These guys are real pros and very accurate in the drops.

Click on the images to see larger versions.

Walker Fire Department
on the Job

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Created 31 May 2004
Modified 1 June 2004