The Payson Roundup: Fire Update: February Fire rages on

The 2006 Fire Season

Fire Update: February Fire rages on

By Jim Keyworth, Roundup staff reporter

Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Fire crews continue to battle the February Fire, which has consumed more than 250 acres on the Tonto and Coconino national forests six miles east of Pine and Strawberry.

The fire, which is burning in juniper and ponderosa pine forest in the rugged terrain along the Mogollon Rim, is currently not posing any threats to homes or other private property.

A total of five crews with a total of 100 firefighters, nine engines and three helicopters have been ordered and will be working to contain the fire over the next several days. Firefighters are using burnout operations to box the February Fire into containment.

The Mogollon Rim Road, the Highline Trail and the burned out areas from two older fires, the Webber and Packrat, form the boundaries within which firefighters hope to contain the blaze.

"We're concerned because it's so dry, but if we get significant slop over south of the Highline then we'll be (more) concerned," Vinnie Picard, deputy public affairs officer for the Tonto National Forest, said. "As long as it's north of the Highline and boxed in by those other two fires, it's not really going to go anywhere.

"It might get big, but it's not going to threaten anything. It's not going to burn anybody's homes.

"There's a little bit of private property south of there, and of course Camp Geronimo, Washington Park over on the west, but at this point it doesn't look like there's going to be any significant threat to any of those areas."

Mike Webb, a Valley resident who owns a cabin in Rim Trail, is concerned nevertheless.

"I understand it's going south, so hopefully they'll get it under control," he said. "I just hope and pray that the wind dies down."

Road and trail closures include the Mogollon Rim Road from Forest Road 147 to Forest Road 141 on the Coconino National Forest. The Coconino also closed Forest Road 308 from Forest Road 147 to Forest Road 300. On the Tonto National Forest, the Highline Trail is closed from Washington Park to Weber Creek.

The fire, which is about 12 miles north of Payson, was first reported Monday evening and though the cause is currently unknown, a lack of lightning in the area means the fire was probably human caused. An investigation will be conducted by Forest Service law enforcement officials.