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Edge Complex Fire backs down, contained

By Jim Keyworth, Roundup staff reporter

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.

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Precipitation came Saturday evening, providing much-needed moisture to the fire area. Firefighters utilized the higher relative humidity and rainfall to help them secure the line across the northern flank of the fire, and to improve lines around the rest of the perimeter.

Full containment was reached Monday, with the fire topping out at 71,661 acres. The fire continues to smolder in isolated patches as crews and engines clean up and patrol for hot spots along Highways 188 and 87, and the Mt. Ord area.

The fire began to succumb Friday evening, after threatening the communication center on Mt. Ord and forcing the evacuation of Sunflower and several communities around Tonto Basin.

"The news is all good today," Fire Information Officer Sandi Ault said Saturday morning. "The fire is really backing down and the weather is cooperating."

Highway 87 reopened Friday evening after being closed earlier that day.

"We have crews working along Highway 87, but we're not even slowing traffic down," Ault said.

The weekend developments were a stark contrast to Friday and earlier in the week when passing thunderstorm cells caused the fire to behave erratically on steep, rough terrain with limited access. As the threat grew, evacuees fled to an emergency shelter in Payson, and firefighters were forced to abandon positions on Mt. Ord when the fire reached a trigger point.

Jeff Whitney's Type 1 Incident Management Team, called in to take on the growing menace, was never actually deployed.

"We really feel this fire is going to back down and it'll be over real soon," Ault said.

The Edge Complex Fire was ignited July 16 by a lightning strike 14 miles north of Apache Junction. By Wednesday afternoon, winds had pushed the fire within 3 miles of Punkin Center and Tonto Basin.

Edge Complex Fire statistics

Total Acres: 71,635

Start Date: July 15, 2005; 7 p.m.

Cause: Lightning

Location: 23 miles south of Payson

Containment: 100 percent

Full Containment: July 25, 2005

Threatened Resources: Sonoran Desert habitat, Four Peaks Wilderness, several residences, Mt. Ord communications complex.  

Terrain: Steep and rough

Total Personnel: 908

Crews: 10 hotshot crews, 12 Type 2 crews

Equipment: 31 engines, 4 dozers, 18 water tenders

Air Support: 8 helicopters, 1 slurry bomber

Structures Lost: None