Schultz Fire on the San Francisco Peaks

[Jim]

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1996/

INCIDENT UPDATED 40 MIN. AGO
Incident Overview

The Schultz Fire was reported at approximately 11:00 Sunday morning, and is located in the Schultz Pass area on the southeast side of the San Francisco Peaks. Crews are faced with hot, dry weather and high winds. As of 6:00 pm Forest officials believe the fire is approximately 5000 acres. Approximately 300 firefighters are on scene, additional fire resources are en route. Currently there are 8 air tankers and 5 helicopters assigned. The Southwest Type 1 Incident Management Team, Dugger Hughes Incident Commander, is en route and scheduled to assume management of the fire Monday, June 21 at 6:00 am.

Evacuations: Wupatki Trails subdivision; Timberline Estates subdivision, Sunset Crater National Monument; Second Chance Animal Shelter (animals safely evacuated to Fort Tuthill County Park); and there is no mandatory evacuation of Fernwood subdivision, although some residents have left.

Closures: State Highway 89 is closed from MP 433 (2.5 miles north of Sunset Crater National Monument) to Silver Saddle Road.

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Unknown
Current Situation
Size 5,000 acres
Fuels Involved

Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and pinyon-juniper
Fire Behavior

Very high rates of spread and high intensities observed. Spotting up to 1/2 mile.
Unit Information
USFS Shield
Coconino National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
1824 S. Thompson St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Incident Contact
Emergency Operations Center
Phone: 888-679-8393
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http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=11500

[joebartels]

This fire has cost nearly 2 million dollars. How much better could the forest have looked if that money had been spent on preventative forest management and not n expensive suppression cost like tankers, 900 firemen, bulldozers, etc, etc.

Even that will be a drop in the bucket compared to the long range economic hit Flag will likely endure.

[chumley]

There's now a very detailed map online. Right to the edge of Lockett Meadow.

[joebartels]

Cancel Autumn
stupid something

[The_Eagle]

A Time Lapse of the fire.... Great shots.

http://www.keijiiwai.com/Clients/SchultzFireSmall.mov

[Jim]

There's now a very detailed map online. Right to the edge of Lockett Meadow.

sf.jpg

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=5263&p=56493#p56493

A Time Lapse of the fire.... Great shots.

http://www.keijiiwai.com/Clients/SchultzFireSmall.mov

You can see it burning pretty hot on those slopes overnight in that video.

[hippiepunkpirate]

The winds picked back up today and the massive smoke plume once again towers thousands of feet over town. My heart sank when I saw it. My heart sank further when I saw the flames visible on the west flank of Schultz Peak. My heart straight dropped to my feet when I drove out by the landfill and saw the east flank of Schultz Peak now bears a striking resemblance to Kendrick. I'm scared to think of what Lockett Meadow looks like.

[Grasshopper]

There's now a very detailed map online. Right to the edge of Lockett Meadow.

Would be nice to have the link posted to this updated map.

[azbackpackr]

[hippiepunkpirate]

Arizona Daily Sun reports that the large smoke plume visible today is due to backburn operations.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Backburn smoke plume from Landfill Road this afternoon:
http://www.hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=141882
Little Elden's north flank smoldering:
http://www.hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=141882

[chumley]

Would be nice to have the link posted to this updated map.

Incident updates and maps are located here:
http://inciweb.org/incident/1996/

[hippiepunkpirate]

40% containment!

[joebartels]

Hopefully that's on the west and north sides...

[Jim]

Would be nice to have the link posted to this updated map.

Incident updates and maps are located here:
http://inciweb.org/incident/1996/

Does no one read posts? I had that link posted yesterday at 11 AM.

Jake, the smoke was from burn out operations in Weatherford Canyon. I think they could have done it overnight and probably had lower mortality, but they burned the west side of Schultz to contain the fire. It was pretty grassy, so it won't all be bad.

The map was updated and they kept the fire out of Lockett and the Inner Basin completely. Sugarloaf probably burned pretty hot.

[joebartels]

If you've been gone for a half week it can take a full day to read all the new material ;)

[Dschur]

As of 2100 on June 24th

Fire is 14,800 ac @ 40% contained; crews completed a large burnout op today, gusty & erratic winds are expected tomorrow pedominately from the SE

SW T1 IMT (Hughes), SW BUYT (1) (Dearing), 2 air attack (AA-5LT, AA-75N), 3 T1 helos (HT-733, HT-718, HT-737), 2 T2 helos (H-554, H-GIRZ), T3 helo (H-369), 17 T1 crews, (Granite Mtn, Ironwood, Mormon Lake, Prescott, Ft. Apache, Mt. Taylor, Gila, Horseshoe, Sawtooth, Groveland, Boise, Kings River, Trinity, Cedar City, Platte Canyon, Arroyo Grande, Sierra IHC), 4 T2IA crews, T2 crew, 55 eng (36 T3, 19 T6), 2 doz, 9 tenders assigned

[Jim]

After the big plume yesterday the fire is not putting up any real smoke. I think it will wrap up this week and hopefully the hiking areas around town will be open by next weekend.

[PaleoRob]

You think so, even despite the late July closure order?

[Jim]

This Order will be in effect when signed and shall remain in effect until July 21, 2010 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

I expect non-burned areas will be opened up per a rescinding, maybe not next weekend, but hopefully. Other than being in proximity to the fire, trails like the Elden Lookout and Humphrey Summit have no reason to remain closed once the majority of fire activities cease. I expect containment with mop up activities early next week. I am not the only one who wants those trails open and I think there will be some political pressure to have them open for the holiday weekend. Most people think they went overboard closing some of the southern and western trails, anyway.

[Dschur]

As of June 28th 700

Fire Information: 888-679-8393 Website Info: http://inciweb.org
Fire Facts
Date started: June 20, 2010 Cause: Abandoned campfire, no suspects
Location: 4 miles N of Flagstaff, AZ Size: 15,075 acres
Percent Contained: 65% Estimated Containment Date: July 2, 2010
Number of Personnel: 626 Aircraft: 5 helicopters total – 2 heavy, 2 medium, 1 light
2 air attack platforms
Equipment: 31 engines, 12 water tenders Cost to Date: $ 6,976,561
Resources Threatened: residences, critical watersheds, Injuries to Date: 0
wilderness character
General Information:
The Schultz Fire is under the management of Dugger Hughes’s Southwest Interagency Incident Management Team. The Incident Command Post is located at Cromer Elementary School off of Silver Saddle Road. The fire is located approximately four miles north of Flagstaff, AZ, and is burning on lands administered by the Coconino National Forest including portions of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness.
Closures/Advisories/Evacuations:
An emergency fire closure restricting travel on lands, roads and trails within the vicinity of the San Francisco Peaks remains in effect. Recreationists are reminded to stay out of the closure area, since this closure is being strictly enforced. Although within the closure area, Bonito Campground, on the way to Sunset Crater, was reopened yesterday, and the O’Leary Group site, also near Sunset Crater, will be reopening on July 1.
Smoking and campfire restrictions are in effect on the Coconino, Kaibab and Prescott National Forests. Visit the Coconino NF for more information at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/. In addition, Coconino County has fire ban in effect. See http://www.coconino.az.gov for more information.
Yesterday’s Activity:
Crews continued to hold and improve existing line, conduct mop-up activities, and mitigate hazard trees. Crews continued to install water bars on handlines around the perimeter of the fire to control erosion. There was still quite a bit of heat in the southwest corner of the fire, especially within a few aspen patches, but the fire did not move or grow. Two portable water tanks were airlifted into remote areas on the west end of the fire and were used as the water supply for mop-up activities. Due to the successful work on the east side of the fire, APS has re-energized a line, and the structure engines have been sent home.
Today’s Activity:
Firefighters will continue improving line, holding line, patrolling line, conducting mop-up activities, mitigating hazard trees, installing water bars, and working on isolated hot spots. Crews will make repairs on a road to Locket Meadow by filling holes and soft spots with gravel, spraying water on the areas, and repacking them. Helicopters will be available to support ground crews as needed.
Cooperating Agencies: Coconino County Emergency Coordination Center, ADOT, USFS, NPS, BIA, BLM, AZGFD, DPS, APS, El Paso Gas, City of Flagstaff, State of Arizona, Coconino County Sheriff’s Department, Summit Fire Department, Red Cross, and Flagstaff School District.