Zane Fire 'boxed in,' cooperating

By Jim Keyworth, Roundup staff reporter

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.

"It's not doing much right now," Payson Ranger District Fire Prevention Officer Gary Roberts said Saturday morning.

The fire started at 5 p.m. Thursday about 13 miles northeast of Payson from a lightning strike. It escaped the grasp of firefighters Thursday night when 30-40 mile per hour winds reversed direction.

A total of 120 personnel are battling the fire, with Bob Lineback's Type 2 Incident Management Team now on the scene and in command of the suppression effort.

While pre-evacuation notifications were issued for Zane Grey Cabins, the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery, Mead's Ranch and the Tonto Rim American Baptist Camp, no evacuations took place or are currently imminent. Several media outlets, including the Roundup, reported evacuations had occurred after the Tonto National Forest posted incorrect information on its website.

Forest Road 29 is closed from Mead's Ranch to Forest Road 289, also known as the Tonto Fish Hatchery Road.

For more information, check the Forest Service website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto.