Watching Mt. Lemmon Burn (The Aspen Fire) From My Backyard ~BichonFriseOwner~

Here's some information.

Tucson Citizen June 18, 2003

About two dozen fire engines and crews late this morning are protecting the Mount Lemmon community of Summerhaven as the Aspen fire burns out of control about a mile from the nearest structure.

The uncontrolled fire has grown 50 acres since daybreak to about 200 acres on winds blowing from the north-northeast.

"Right now, we're looking at a glancing blow," said Randall Smith, spokesman for the National Forest Service. "We have zero containment and crews are experiencing a lot of heavy fuels and they're doing a lot of saw work." Crews also are battling a "significant spot fire" west of the main fire, he said. Forest Service incident commander Mark South is optimistic, so far today. "Right now, I'm (feeling) pretty happy," he said. "The winds aren't picking up like they did yesterday at 4 p.m.."

He said crews have built a fire line north of the fire along Marshall Gulch Trail.

Smith said, along with 180 firefighters, a helicopter and two or three tankers are fighting the human-caused fire, which began near Marshall Peak in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.

Seven more Type I firefighting crews will be arriving throughout the day, adding about 100 more firefighters to the scene.

Besides Summerhaven, the Loma Linda neighborhood and and area known as Radar Base were evacuated. Radar Base houses various communication facilities and University of Arizona astronomy sites.

The Catalina Highway is closed at the base.

"Given the significance of this fire, it's probably going to be days before it's open," Smith said

A wind shift to more from the east could bring the fire right through Summerhaven.

At midday, winds had shifted to be from the south-southeast, said Chris Rasmussen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson. Winds this afternoon are expected to shift to be from the southwest this afternoon.

The area where the fire started had not had any fire prevention treatments, such as thinning, said the Forest Service's Smith.Tomorrow and Friday, a low-pressure trough will bring in windy conditions, Rasmussen said. Tomorrow winds are predicted at 10- to 15-miles per hour, picking up to 15- to 20-mph by Friday.

Lower-speed slope and valley winds overnight and in late morning generally do not significantly affect fires, he said.

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This is what I can see from my back yard. Last night, I looked toward the mounatin and was able to see the flames. It was really creepy.

Because Arizona has been in a drought, the mountain had been very dry. The flames are moving to fast, and the wind is helping it spread. Since the place where the fire is happing is uneaven and rought, it's hard to get close.

We have monsoon season, which is when we have a series if thunderstorms supply us with the water we need for the desert. We aren't expecting anything till July, which means we can't count on any rain to help with the fire. When we do get the monsoons, it's expected to be very wet.

I myself have been up to Mt. Lemmon several times. It's a beautiful place, and it's very heartbreaking to watch it be destroyed by fire so quickly.

Summerhaven has been hit, and mother nature isn't helping.

If you want, please pray for the monsoons to arrive, or for some way that the fire can be put out quickly. Over 200 people have lost there homes, and the fire isn't half over. If the weather dosen't change, Mt. Lemmon is in big trouble.

Thank you.

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