fire

Finger Rock Fire

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

5/15/2016 – See Burned and Disappearing, Upper Pontatoc Canyon Trail – 3/5/2016 and Pontatoc Canyon Trail for some pictures from the edge of the area impacted by the Finger Rock Fire.

8/8/2015 – 2pm: As noted in the InciWeb update below on Friday there was precipitation along the entire south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains including the area covered by the Finger Rock Fire. At about midnight – after the rain had passed – I drove to the Richard McKee Finger Rock Trailhead and could not see any flames/glow/hotspots from the fire – with additional weather forecast it seems likely that this is the end of the Finger Rock Fire… It will be interesting to see when the Finger Rock and Pontatoc Trails are re-opened to the public (the caution tape/sign blocking both trails was still in place at midnight on 8/7).

The fire received precipitation yesterday and overnight, and is showing no activity at this time.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for possible storm activity over the next few days, with high relative humidity and the chance for precipitation.

 

8/7 6pm: InciWeb update for the end of the day:

This morning fire managers and the hand crew on standby hiked to the lower edge of Pontatoc Canyon to scout the area and get the lay of the land.
The fire continues to make progress, although not growing significantly. It received precipitation at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. August 7 and continues to show a low level of activity.
Additional precipitation is forecast for the area.

 

8/7/2015 – 7am: InciWeb was updated just after 8pm yesterday and listed the fire at 750 acres with this summary:

Forecast for the area from the National Weather Service is for moisture to move into the area. Good humidity recovery expected overnight. Also good chance of rain on or around the fire Friday afternoon and evening with more widespread thunderstorm activity around the area during the afternoon and evening hours.

InciWeb also has an interesting set of photos of the fire posted here. News coverage: Finger Rock Fire grows to 750 acres, Finger Rock Fire in Catalina Mountains grows to 750 acre, Finger Rock wildfire now at 750 acres.

Finger Rock Fire Map posted on Facebook by the Coronado National Forest on 8/6/2015.
Finger Rock Fire Map posted on Facebook by the Coronado National Forest on 8/6/2015.

 

8/6/2015 – 2pm: New information was posted to InciWeb a few hours ago:

Fire became active August 5 when wind and topography aligned. With hot dry weather the fire grew throughout the afternoon into the evening, when relative humidity increased and fire activity decreased. A small amount of smoke was visible on the fire this morning (see photos).
According to the weather forecast for the fire area, moisture is expected to increase today for better humidity values. General wind will be lighter today with very good humidity recovery tonight. More widespread thunderstorm activity in the area Friday afternoon and evening could result in precipitation on the fire.
We may experience another active burning day today, depending on the weather, with decreased activity this afternoon and tonight, through tomorrow.

Planned actions: “Monitoring, suppression resources ready to take action if necessary.”

Recent news links: Finger Rock Fire grows to 500 acres, Finger Rock wildfire grows to 500 acres, UPDATE: Finger Rock Fire in Catalina Mountains grows to 500 acres

 

8/6/2016 – 8am: The Finger Rock Fire started on July 29th – there is now an entry for the fire on InciWeb with basic information and a concise summary from yesterday:

The Finger Rock Fire was ignited by lightning Wednesday July 29. The fire is near Pontatoc Canyon, on the Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. The fire is burning in grass and brush in a steep, arduous terrain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. There was very little fire activity until this afternoon, when the fire grew as winds and slope aligned. The fire was estimated to be 150 acres as of this evening. The Finger Rock Trail #42 has been closed to protect public safety. No structures are threatened.

 

Links:

 

Buster Mountain Fire – 7/14/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Reported at 60 acres with some expectation that it will burn out or be put out by rain I wasn’t really sure what this lightning caused fire would look like. I stopped briefly near the Linda Vista trail and watched flames peak over the ridge and highlight the smoke in the sky – interesting but not so impressive. Driving farther north the view changed quickly and soon I stood with a handful of other people just inside Catalina State Park watching the fire – from here quite a bit more impressive…

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Watching the fire – just off the road into Catalina State Park. July 2015.
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Buster Mountain Fire. July 2015.
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Buster Mountain Fire. July 2015.
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Buster Mountain Fire. July 2015.

News Links:

Fire, Rain, Rescues, Camping, Trails, Steampump, Buffelgrass, Sheep – 6/29/2015

Posted - Charles Miles

Forest Service monitoring four small fires – Tucson News Now: “The U.S. Forest Service is watching four lightning-caused fires in the Coronado National Forest” including the Romero Canyon Fire which began on Saturday near the Sutherland Trail. At the time the article was written the fire was being monitored, not actively managed. 

Mount Lemmon gets ‘heavy dose’ of rain – Carmen Duarte – Arizona Daily Star: Beautiful summer storms have started to form over the mountain and there has already been rain!

Elderly hiker awaiting rescue from Finger Rock Trail – Carmen Duarte – Arizona Daily Star: “The 72-year-old hiker began hiking the trail at 6 a.m., but by the afternoon on his way back down from the trail he became tired and ran out of water”, while far from impossible this time of year the heat certainly makes the Finger Rock Trail worthy of caution and careful planning.

The Spencer Canyon Campground was closed for several days while reports of a mountain lion in the area were investigated – after nothing conclusive was found the campground re-opened. The last article linked below mentions that “Arizona Game and Fish estimates about 600 mountain lions live in southeast Arizona”. Spencer Canyon Campground closed after possible mountain lion sighting – Cynthia Washington – Tucson News Now, Mountain lion sighting reports close Mt. Lemmon campground – Anthony Victor Reyes and Matt Fernandez – Tucson News Now, Spencer Canyon Campground re-opens after no cougar found – Curt Prendergast – Arizona Daily Star.

Blackett’s Ridge Trail, Aspen Draw Trail, Bug Spring Trail – Doug Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: Three great hikes, three great workouts – a nice bit of inspiration now that the summer heat is here.

OV budget passes after criticisms – Hillary Davis – The Explorer, Steam Pump funds OK’d – Hillary Davis – The Explorer: After budget wrangling “the Oro Valley Town Council voted June 17 to allocate $425,000 for the stabilization of the historic property”.

Camping: Roughing it made easier for families – Angela Pittenger – Arizona Daily Star: A write up about a Family Campout event at Catalina State Park – for a fee tents and equipment are provided, a great way to experience camping for the first time or just an easy way to get outside!

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY MOONLIGHT HIKE: “Join the Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department for our annual nighttime, flashlight hike, held in partnership with Catalina State Park.” – if you haven’t gotten to hike at night in the desert a hike like this is a great opportunity to see a very beautiful part of the summer.

Sabino Creek dwindles, but tranquil pools remain – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: Lovely pools remain in Sabino but with the flow almost at zero more water will depend on the summer rains…

Forest returning — ever so slowly — after Aspen Fire – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: “Twelve years after the Aspen Fire roared over the Catalina Mountains, once-blackened slopes are showing expanses of bright green new growth.”

Preserving Sabino Canyon means defending against invaders – Mark Hengesbaugh – Arizona Daily Star, Funding boosts battle against buffelgrass – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: Articles about invasive species including buffelgrass and fountain grass in Sabino Canyon – and the great news that the Department of the Interior will provide $150,750 to help with buffelgrass removal in Southern Arizona. Coronado National Forest, Saguaro National Park and the Southern Arizona Buffelgrass Coordination Center (a fantastic resource if you have questions about buffelgrass!) will all receive funds.

Mt. Lemmon a training ground for visiting military – Craig Reck – Tucson News Now: Military High Angle rescue training on Mt. Lemmon.

From the Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project – May 21 – June 3, 2015:

“From June 2-4, a research biologist recorded visual observations of 22 of the 40 collared sheep in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Three notable groups were observed in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness area. The first group included 7 ewes and 7 lambs; the second group was composed of 1 ram, 8 ewes, and 5 lambs; the third group included 5 ewes and 1 lamb. All observed lambs appeared to be between 3-5 months old, with the exception of one lamb that looked to be about 1 month old. Some of these lambs were observed nursing, while the larger lambs in the groups were seen feeding alongside adult sheep. All observed collared sheep as well as the lambs appeared to be healthy and in good body condition.”

Other Trail Incidents:

  • Stranded in the dark – Sabino Canyon Phoneline Trail and Sabino Canyon Historic Trail
  • Hikers in need of assistance due to exhaustion – Green Mountain Trail
  • Ankle injury – Butterfly Trail

Other links:

 

Fires, Disease, Bighorns Thriving, Summer, Climbing Accident – 5/31/2015

Posted - Charles Miles

No fire restrictions in place on Mt. Lemmon despite recent fire – Monica Garcia – KVOA.com – The article notes that despite multiple fires in Southern Arizona there are no current fire restrictions – and then explains that the Forest Service has a series of tests they use to determine if restrictions are warranted. Current conditions are apparently not (yet!) dry/hot enough yet for restrictions to go into effect.

Delayed Tucson fire season arrives for holiday weekend – Tom Beal – Arizona Daily Star: Today (5/31/2015) Inciweb has 3 fires listed in the Coronado National Forest (Aliso, Oak Tree, Research) – fire season is certainly here…

State trying to protect bighorn sheep from diseases – Cam Chery – Yuma Sun: Domesticated Sheep and Pack Goats can transmit potentially fatal diseases to Bighorn Sheep – deaths in the Silverbell herd of Bighorn are specifically mentioned as being attributed to domestic goats. Spatial separation of the Bighorns and domestic Sheep and Goats is mentioned as the most important management technique for keeping the Bighorn Sheep disease free.

Reintroduced Bighorns Thriving in Santa Catalina Mountains – AZPM, Positive signs for bighorns: breeding and lamb survival – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: 40 of the released Sheep are known to be alive, no deaths in 5 months, lambs being born/surviving and evidence of breeding in the Santa Catalina Mountains – very positive news for the Santa Catalina Bighorn!

100 days of summer June 25-July 1 – Arizona Daily Star: A 9PM Tram Ride up Sabino Canyon and a trip up to Summerhaven are both mentioned – probably nothing new to anyone reading this but both such good ideas!

Rock climber injured in accident on Mt. Lemmon – Arizona Daily Star, Injured man rescued near Windy Point – Brent Corrado – KGUN9: A rappelling accident in the Windy Point area – 45ft fall, non-life threatening injuries.

The June SARCI SARNews Newsletter reports incidents on the Phoneline, Bear, Ventana Canyon and Green Mountain Trails and at Seven Falls and Tanque Verde Canyon.

Fees, Fires, Border Security, Camping, Pie, Quakes – 5/17/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

If you have not visited the Summit Trailhead recently be aware that there is now a $5 fee to park in the lot (the fee is covered by  a number of Interagency Annual Passes – see the signs below for more details) – along with the new fee tube the parking area has new gravel, the start of the trails has been cleared and I believe there is one more picnic bench. Note that the large open parking area just down the road from the Summit Trailhead does not have any fee signs and the trail to/from this area from the Summit Trailhead has been widened and signed.

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New fee signs at the Summit Trailhead. May 2015
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Newly widened, cleared and signed trail to the Summit Trailhead from the lower parking area. May 2015.

Bill Would Roll Back Public Lands Protections In The Name Of National Security – ThinkProgress.org – Claire Moser: There have been a number of articles about the Arizona Borderland Protection and Preservation Act and the impacts that it could have on federal land in Arizona. While security is important it is disappointing to see a bill that has such a complete override of other concerns in favor of security rather than encouraging/facilitating cooperation between Federal Agencies. Sierra Club Condemns Border Security Bill That Seeks To Gut Protected Lands – ThinkProgress.org, John McCain Says Laws Protecting National Parks and Monuments Threaten National Security – AllGov.com.

Repaving work in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area May 19 and 20 – Sierra Vista Herald: “Recreation area and parking lot remain open, access reduced to one lane during paving”

Dogs welcomed on some — but not all — trails – Arizona Daily Star: A nice recap of a number of the local rules regarding dogs, including the trails in Sabino Canyon and in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area where dogs are prohibited.

It is fire season again… Links to articles on a small brush fire on the west side and a prescribed burn in the Redington Pass area. Catalina State Park brush fire under control after multi-agency response – Tucson Local Media, Brush fire contained at 20-acres north of Tucson – Arizona Daily Star, Forest Managers Light Fires Now to Prevent Big Blazes Later – Arizona Public Media, UPDATE: Prescribed Redington Pass burn – Tucson News Now, Prescribed burn planned for next week – Tucson News Now.

Some campers head to Mount Lemmon despite forecast – KVOA.com: A fun article on people who are braving the weather to camp on the mountain – great to see people getting out. Clouds, rain and snow can be so beautiful!

Mt. Lemmon Ride Promises Physical Reward – and Pie – Arizona Public Media: An article about the GABA Hill Climb that took place on May 15th – this is a yearly event by the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association that provides SAG stops, mechanical assistance, pie in Summerhaven and transport down if needed!

Mary Reynolds: 1887 quake taught hydrologic lessons – Arizona Daily Star: An interesting article about an earthquake in 1887 that was centered in Mexico and felt in Tucson – “When the quake struck the old Santa Catalina Mountains, great slices of the mountain gave way, and went tumbling down into the canyons, huge clouds of dust or smoke ascended into the blue sky, high above the crest of the queenly mountain”.

A Shudder Through the Earth: Learning From Nepal – UANews: Mentions that the recent earthquake in Nepal was large enough to register at the seismic station in Tucson on an instrument “locked in a vault deep in the granite of the Santa Catalina Mountains”.