By Bob Burns
Mail

The latest of a half dozen wildfires in Tonto National Forest just northeast of the Valley was ignited by lighting Thursday, July 25. The Sand Stone Fire had grown to about 23,500 acres by Tuesday morning, July 30, with 0% containment.

The fire is burning between the Verde River and State Route 87 (Beeline Highway), though just a few miles east of the Verde golf communities the fire is burning in a remote area where there is no current threat to those communities, according to a statement from the Rio Verde Fire District. Residents in the community of Sunflower are keeping a close eye on the fire and are being advised by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to enter the SET mode in preparation for possible evacuation.

Arizona Department of Transportation and fire officials have closed the southbound lanes of SR 87 between SR 188 south of Payson to the Bush Highway just north of Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Motorists who need to travel this route are advised to make other plans as the length of the closure is undetermined. Northbound lanes are open.

A Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) led by Incident Commander Aaron Hulburd took over management of the fire on Monday morning. The primary objectives for the firefighters are to protect private property, assist the community of Sunflower as needed and hold the fire west of SR 87. There are natural and environmental resources to protect as well as power transmission lines.

There are now more than 300 fire personnel on the scene being assisted by air support as available. There is reported active fire behavior and smoke plumes visible for miles around which may impact local air quality. Challenges for firefighters include high temperatures, wind conditions and low humidity with no monsoon activity forecast before mid-week.

Fire officials are also monitoring two small fires in the Mazatzal Wilderness farther north of the San Stone blaze. The Deer Fire has burned 235 acres and the Davenport Fire has burned 450 acres as of Tuesday morning.

The San Stone Fire is the latest of six desert wildland fires that have burned nearly 40,000 acres in the Tonto National Forest Cave Creek Ranger District since early June.

The Times Independent invites readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Bob Burns can be reached at bburns@iniusa.org.