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Coronado Forest just reported on TV that Marshall Gulch was overtaken by the fire

I wanted to go back every autumn

http://hikearizona.com/photocodeZOOM.php?ID=442

Depressing to day as I have a good view of Mt Lemmon from work and watch the smoke billowing out- I was planning to do a loop up Carter Canyon, radio ridge and back Mint Spring trail- it looks like its all gone including a lot of Summerhaven. Glad I got a chance to do some hikes up there prior to this fire- no more cooling off for Tucsonans probably for several years.

I live in Gold Canyon and late this afternoon I was watching the smoke column and noted it blew up shortly before 4pm the fire appeared to blow up. Reviewing the fire line maps at noon and my observations in the late afternoon I believed Summerhaven was lost. Tomorrow will be a critical day, including the Picture Fire North of Roosevelt Lake.

This is sad news.... I was up there last fall & it was a great place -- wonderful colors. Wonder how much longer will we have to wait to see color in the area.

I thought SummerHaven was quaint--

This is so sad and frightening! It's not even the worst of summer yet and it's aready starting! Between the pine beetle damage and fires, our beautiful wild places are under siege.

Is there any word on how the fire on Mt Lemon started? Last I heard it was under investigation.

Better get your hikes in this weekend, with all the publicity this fire is getting the Forest Service will start closing everything soon.

My thoughts and sympathy go out to all that have lost anything or everything from this fire.

Pray for rain...

Daryl wrote:Is there any word on how the fire on Mt Lemon started? Last I heard it was under investigation.

Better get your hikes in this weekend, with all the publicity this fire is getting the Forest Service will start closing everything soon.

My thoughts and sympathy go out to all that have lost anything or everything from this fire.

Pray for rain...

I'm watching ABC news now and they can't get in to investigate yet. They are asking anyone with any knowledge on what may have caused it to call in and they will investigate the phone calls asap.

This will be a bummer for me since I just moved here and am so eager to hike. *sigh* But it's not about "me", so please don't miss read that, I do realize the importance of closing things down to preserve the rest of the land.

I sure hope no one started this fire and I will pray for rain and a speedy end to the fire.

Sherileeaz

I live near Williams Gateway Airport. The big slurry bombers are flying back and forth over my house every 15-20 minutes. I hope they are doing some damage to that fire...

Are the slurry bombers flying to the North-East ? They are also flying out of Williams Gateway enroute to the Picture Fire. I have observed old DC-4's and P-3 Orions, I also thought I observed a PB4Y. When I first entered the fire service in the late 70's they were flying B-17's and B-24's. They would fly so low that dogs would chase them.

Just back from hiking upto the Lookout tower on Escudilla. You can see the smoke from the Aspen fire from the lookout -- The whole are was hazy. The fire watch guy in the tower had his radio on & Aspen fire was all over it. Looks like the fire is going keep going on

I hiked in through Marshall Gulch three weeks ago and did a loop of Lemmon Rock and Wilderness trails. At the top of Lemmon Rock there is a fire watch tower with warning signs about approaching if lightning present. There were some clouds but mostly the sky was clear. I greeted the ranger on duty but then overheard radio traffic about lightning from other stations. I went back by way of Mount Lemmon trail through some previously scorched area. Late afternoon it started to shower but I did not see any lightning - anyway the area seems susceptible to strikes and this would be my guess for source of fire.

The Arizona Republic is reporting that the fire was human caused

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... en-ON.html

Investigators have not said what evidence they have. This is another link from
the Republic last week which mentions a summer squall over the ignition area

http://www.azcentral.com/specials/speci ... cause.html

Could the two satellite-based detectors already in orbit have somehow missed
the lightning flashes? Anyway -maybe investigators have some evidence which
will show definitivly how the fire started.

I'm in the communications business and my boss went up there yesterday to tour radio ridge and brought back pictures of complete destruction. The fire was so hot that it literally melted some of the towers. I'm really sorry it didn't get a chance to hike up here before this.