Mountain Emergency Information

WALKER

A fire of unknown origin has grown to about 30 acres on the east side of Spruce Mountain in the Prescott National Forest.

Officials ordered the evacuation of Walker residents in the Pine Mountain, Eagle, Sheldon and New Strike areas. Residents of those areas are to head for the Yavapai College Performance Hall and report to the Red Cross there.

PNF Fire Information Officer Steve Sams said his office heard a report of the fire at about 7:18 p.m. Saturday, and that seven engine companies and 25 to 30 firefighters were battling the blaze.

Sams did not give an estimate of containment, but said firefighters were making "good progress" on the fire.

Units from the Walker Fire Department, the Prescott National Forest and the State Land Department are currently working the fire, and additional resources are to arrive Sunday, Sams said, including air support.

(Updated: Saturday, July 5, 2003; 10:31 p.m.)

	Spruce Mountain Fire News
Forest News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 14, 2003 Lightning Fire Reported Monday Morning PRESCOTT AZ -The Spruce Mountain lookout tower reported a fire Monday morning at 11:45 a.m. Two engines responded to the Friendly Fire in the Friendly Pines Subdivision, and had it contained by 1 p.m. Lower temperatures and higher humidity help the crews contain the fire to a quarter acre. The fire was lightning caused from a storm system that moved through the area yesterday afternoon. Lightning fires can smolder through the night and flare up the next day as the temperatures rise.

		FIRE IN WALKER The Daily Courier WALKER A fire of unknown origin has grown to about 30 acres on the east side of Spruce Mountain in the Prescott National Forest. Officials ordered the evacuation of Walker residents in the Pine Mountain, Eagle, Sheldon and New Strike areas. Residents of those areas are to head for the Yavapai College Performance Hall and report to the Red Cross there. PNF Fire Information Officer Steve Sams said his office heard a report of the fire at about 7:18 p.m. Saturday, and that seven engine companies and 25 to 30 firefighters were battling the blaze. Sams did not give an estimate of containment, but said firefighters were making "good progress" on the fire. Units from the Walker Fire Department, the Prescott National Forest and the State Land Department are currently working the fire, and additional resources are to arrive Sunday, Sams said, including air support. (Updated: Saturday, July 5, 2003; 10:31 p.m.)	Arizona Republic Jul 6, 11:08 AM EDT New Wildfire Erupts in Arizona Forest By STEVE ELLIOTT Associated Press Writer TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Crews battled a wildfire Sunday in a ponderosa pine forest in central Arizona where residents were urged to evacuate about 100 homes, while a 2 1/2-week-old mountaintop blaze in the southern part of the state destroyed six cabins. The latest fire erupted late Saturday about eight miles south of Prescott near Walker, a community of cabins and houses in the Prescott National Forest, said forest spokesman Steve Sams. There are several hundred homes in the area but none had burned as of early Sunday, said Mary Nunez, a Forest Service spokeswoman. The blaze had covered some 60 acres of dry, insect-damaged forest. Sams was concerned about the fire heading north toward Prescott, a city of about 34,000 people where a fire last year destroyed six homes. "That's why we are jumping on this as quick as we are," Sams said. Latest News New Wildfire Erupts in Arizona Forest ATF: Fireworks Blast Likely an Accident Three Missing in Texas Fireworks Blast Interactive Wildfires in Depth Advertisement The fire was ringed with lines Sunday but it wasn't considered contained, said Nunez. She said she didn't know how close the flames were to houses. Federal and local firefighters were expected to be joined by helicopters, she said.

		News Release USDA Forest Service Prescott National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/ Date: July 6, 2003 Contact: Fire Information (928) 777-5701 Travis Haines (928) 777-5655 Fire Crews Make Progress On Spruce Fire Walker, AZ Fire fighters made good progress overnight on the Spruce Fire. The fire started on Saturday, July 5, 2003 at approximately 7:15 p.m. north of the community of Walker. By this morning, fire managers estimated the size to be 30 acres. The specific cause of the fire remains under investigation. Some homes were threatened along Pine Mountain Road, and approximately 100 homes were evacuated. No structures have been damaged or lost. Crews will be working toward an estimated full containment by 6 p.m. tonight. "All cooperating agencies did an excellent job keeping the fire small during initial attack," said Mike Tucker, incident commander. "We will continue improving the control line and searching for any more spot fires outside the line." The fire, which is mainly burning in ponderosa pine trees, grew quickly once it reached pockets of dead beetle infested trees. Night crews performed a small burnout operation, which successfully reduced the fuel between the eastern fire edge and Pine Mountain Road. Fire crews will continue reinforcing the containment lines today. Two engines are assigned to the night crew. Resources on the fire include two hand crews, one helicopter, nine engines, and five water tenders. Because of the land ownership pattern in the area, agency officials have not determined whether the fire started on private land or Prescott National Forest. A portion of Walker remains under an evacuation order. Red Cross has set up a shelter in the Performance Hall at Yavapai Community College in Prescott. The following roads off of Walker Road leading into the fire area remain closed: Pine Mountain, Sheldon, Eagle, and New Strike. The public is reminded that Walker Road is temporarily closed between Walker Fire Station and Potato Patch. Members of the public and the media may call the Spruce Fire Information Center at 928-777-5701 for additional information.
				Fire in Walker The Daily Courier PRESCOTT-- By 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the Spruce Fire near Walker remained at about 25 acres in size. Gary Whitman, Prescott National Forest fire information officer, said crews worked throughout the night and established a line around the fire, which he said was the result of human error. "It was human-caused and it burned six to seven acres of private land before it spread onto the National Forest land," Whitman said. Steve Sams, another PNF fire information officer, said the Walker Fire Department (WFD) reported the fire at around 7:18 p.m. Saturday on the east side of Spruce Mountain. He said that initially about 30 people from WFD, the Prescott National Forest and the State Lands Department fought the blaze. He said fire officials have called in additional manpower as a precautionary measure, he said. The Hot Shots and the Carson Shots from New Mexico were among the crews that officials called in, as were about 60 people from type two crews, which are seasonal firefighters. He said they were expecting them by Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents in the Walker-vicinity areas of Pine Mountain, Sheldon, Eagle and New Strike. Officials allowed residents from Potato Patch and other neighborhoods to return to their homes, but advised them to be ready to evacuate on 30-minutes notice. After some of the evacuees reported to YCSO's mobile command site at Costco Saturday night, officials instructed them to register at the evacuation site that the local Red Cross had set up at the Yavapai College Performance Hall. By this morning, fire crews were able to create a complete line around the fire, Whittman said. "If the lines hold, I think we'll be in a really good shape," he said, adding that weather conditions will determine whether firefighters will be able to maintain the line today. Whitman stopped short of calling the fire under control. "They're not confident enough to call it contained," he said. He said about 100 homes have been evacuated.


		Forest News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2003 PM Spruce Fire Evacuees Return Home WALKER, AZ Walker residents evacuated during the Spruce Fire were allowed to return to their homes at 6:00 p.m today. Firefighters working to suppress the Spruce Fire on the Prescott National Forest and private land declared the fire contained at that time. Mop up operations will continue until the fire is extinguished. Although the immediate threat to residences has passed, Pine Mountain Road will remain closed with the exception of local residents until the evening on Monday, July 7. ÒWe are pleased that residents are able to return to their homesÓ, said Incident Commander Tony Sciacca. ÒTheir patience and understanding made fighting the fire safe for everyone.Ó Fire crews will continue reinforcing the containment lines by falling hazardous trees and extinguishing hot spots along the edge. Two engines are assigned to the night crew. Resources on the fire include four hand crews, two engines, and two water tenders. Last night, fire managers estimated that the fire, which started on private land and quickly spread to the Prescott National Forest, had grown to 30 acres. After more accurate mapping, the fire area was determined to be 24 acres.

		NEWS RELEASE USDA Forest Service Prescott National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/ Date: July 13, 2003 Contact: Devin Wanner (928) 771-8090 Travis Haines (928) 777-5655 Lightning Ignites Two Fires in Prescott National Forest PRESCOTT, AZ Lightning activity on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon resulted in two fires on the Prescott National Forest. Both fires are in the area of Big Bug Mesa, southeast of Prescott. The Breezy Fire, located 1/2 mile south of Breezy Pines Subdivision, was reported at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday by a private citizen. The fire is approximately 1/10 acre and was lined before firefighters were pulled off of the fire due to intense lightning. The four acre Palace Fire, located approximately two miles east of Palace Station, was reported at 1:23 p.m. by Union Lookout. The fire is burning in chaparral vegetation. Engines, air tankers, and hand crews are being utilized to suppress this fire. Firefighters expect to contain the fire on Monday. ÒFortunately we received some precipitation with these thunderstorms,Ó said Central West Zone Fire Coordination Center Manager, Tom Tobin. ÒWith the number of strikes we received, we could have had a lot more fires.Ó

		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 8, 2003 Chainsaw Use Restricted During Continued Dry Conditions PRESCOTT AZ The forest administration continues to assess current conditions and implement restrictions designed to protect the Prescott National Forest and the surrounding communities. With the continued dry conditions forest officials have decided to suspend the personal use of chainsaws on the forest effective Friday, July 11 at 8 a.m. People can still gather fuelwood with a valid wood permit. They can still use non-motorized handsaws. Other restrictions already in effect include no campfires, charcoal grills, or candles. Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle or building. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed. In addition to the restrictions, a Closure Order remains in place for the southern portion of the Bradshaw Ranger District. The boundary for the closed area is described as; from the Forest boundary south and west along Forest Road 259 (County Road 59) to Poland Creek, then south along the Castle Creek Wilderness boundary to Whiskey Springs, then south along Forest Road 100 to Trail 233, then southwest along Trail 233 to the Forest boundary, then east and north along the Forest boundary to Forest Road 259. This area is generally known as the Castle Creek Wilderness and Horsethief Basin area. Violation of any fire restriction orders is punishable by a maximum $5,000.00 fine or 6 months imprisonment or both. Please help keep our forests free from fires for the duration of this fire season.

		Return Created 6 July 2003 Modified 18 July 2003