Photo Gallery: Edge Complex Fire
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
The Roundup presents a collection of photos from the 71,635-acre Edge Complex Fire that started Friday, July 15, 2005 from a lightning strike 23 miles south of Payson, Arizona.

Edge Complex Fire backs down, contained
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
It was monsoon lightning that ignited the Edge Complex Fire 10 days ago, and it was a monsoon rain that finished it off.

Edge Fire Update: Highway 87 tentatively open
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Erratic winds and extremely dry fuels continue to hamper containment efforts on the Edge Complex Fire. As of late Friday, the fire had consumed more than 65,000 acres between Tonto Basin and Sunflower.

Edge Complex backs down; Beeline reopens
Saturday, July 23, 2005
"The news is all good today," Fire Information Officer Sandi Ault said Saturday morning. The Edge Complex Fire, which threatened Tonto Basin, Punkin Center, Sunflower and the communications center on Mt. Ord, is no longer considered a serious threat.

Fire closes Beeline, Highway 188; Tonto Basin, Sunflower evacuated
Friday, July 22, 2005
Highway 87 was closed at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning after the Edge Complex Fire jumped the road and turned west toward Sunflower.

Highway 87 closed due to Edge Complex Fire
Friday, July 22, 2005
The area of Sunflower is being evacuated and Highway 87 is closed in both directions this morning as the Edge Fire moves west toward the community and has jumped the highway in several places.

Edge Complex Fire forces Tonto Basin evacuations
Thursday, July 21, 2005
About 100 Tonto Basin residents were evacuated Thursday as the northeast corner of the Edge Complex Fire approached.

Lightning sets off multiple fires
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The onset of the monsoon season over the weekend triggered a new round of forest fires and a house fire, all ignited by lightning strikes. The Payson Ranger District experienced a total of 19 fires Friday and Saturday, according to Gary Roberts, district fire prevention officer.

Lightning strikes home, causes fire
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The Houston Mesa Fire Department was on the scene of a lightning-caused house fire in Mesa del Caballo four minutes after it was reported Friday evening, according to Houston Mesa Fire Chief Chuck Jacobs.

Fire crews holding Cave Creek fire at bay
Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Firefighters have delivered on the promise made to Pine and Strawberry residents by the area's fire commander -- that their homes would be saved from the Cave Creek Complex fire.

Cave Creek Complex Fire 'at-a-glance' update
Monday, July 4, 2005
An "at-a-glance" look at statistics for the Cave Creek Complex Fire as of Monday, July 4, 2005. Includes links to other fire information sites and Forest Service update notes.

Cave Creek Complex fire holding at Rim country's doorstep
Friday, July 1, 2005
Beleaguered residents of Pine and Strawberry received good news Wednesday night -- the progression of the Cave Creek Complex fire has stopped on its northern flank, at least for the time being.

Three Fire contained
Friday, July 1, 2005
The Three Fire is now 100 percent contained, and all recreation facilities within the Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake recreation areas will be open to the public for the 4th of July weekend.

Pine-Strawberry residents hang tough in face of fire
Friday, July 1, 2005
The communities of Pine and Strawberry were under a pre-evacuation alert, but amid the pall of smoke, many fire-hardened residents went about their business undaunted Wednesday afternoon.

Cave Creek Complex fire reaches 173,000 acres
Thursday, June 30, 2005
At 173,000 acres, the Cave Creek Complex fire has grown to the second largest in Arizona history, but Pine and Strawberry residents got some good news about the threat it poses to their homes.

Cave Creek Complex Fire grows to 167,000 acres
Thursday, June 30, 2005
As the Cave Creek Complex Fire creeps to within 12 miles of the Pine and Strawberry communities, fire crews continue to work to strengthen fire lines along the East Verde River. As of this update, fire lines are still holding west of the Verde River and there are no evacuations in place on private lands near the fire.

Three Fire Complex near full containment
Thursday, June 30, 2005
With the size holding steady and containment efforts proving successful, night operations of the Three Fire Complex have been suspended.

Cave Creek Complex fire blazes north
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
With the Zane Fire 100 percent contained, fire officials expressed new concern about the Cave Creek Complex Fire, which is moving north unchecked.

Crews mopping up Three Fire
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
With the weather cooperating, firefighters spent Monday patrolling the perimeter of the fires of the Three Fire Complex. They mopped up along the north sides of the fires, finding a few smoke and hot spots near the line.

Cave Creek Complex Fire reaches 111,000 acres
Monday, June 27, 2005
The Cave Creek Complex Fire has now grown to 111,000 acres.
The Bartlett Lake Road has been reopened, and the public can now access the lake at all of its recreational facilities. Horseshoe Lake and Horseshoe Lake Road remain closed.

Three Fire containment lines hold, highway 188 open
Monday, June 27, 2005
The established lines on the north flank of the Three Fire Complex held yesterday in spite of strong winds and high temperatures. Firefighters will continue to build control line and mop-up along that flank today to ensure the safety of communities to the north. Helicopters were used extensively to extinguish interior flare-ups and will continue today.

Update on 'Three Fire' near Tonto Basin and Punkin Center
Sunday, June 26, 2005
With the arrival of more crews and other resources, firefighters were able to make progress on the Three Fire despite the strong winds that had been predicted. Crews are continuing to prepare for possible burnout operations along El Oso Road and other key points in the complex.

Cave Creek Complex Fire moves away from populated areas
Sunday, June 26, 2005
While residents of Cave Creek, Carefree and north Scottsdale breathe a collective sigh of relief, firefighters continue their struggle against the persistent northern push of the Cave Creek Complex wildfire.

Full containment of Zane Fire
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Firefighters battling the Zane Fire burning 12 miles northeast of Payson have announced full containment of the Zane Fire, which had threatened both nearby homes and the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery.

Zane Fire 'boxed in,' cooperating
Saturday, June 25, 2005
The Zane Fire, which currently stands at 144 acres, is "boxed in" and cooperating with the efforts of firefighters to keep it under control.

Zane Fire threatens Rim country
Friday, June 24, 2005
The Zane Fire, which started at 5 p.m. yesterday from a lightning strike, has prompted evacuation of the Zane Grey Cabins, the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery, Mead's Ranch and the Baptist Camp.

Diesel truck ignites blaze south of town
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
A fire that burned 4 acres in Oxbow Estates this weekend gave firefighters all they could handle.