Fire in the sky! Don’t worry, it’s just a test
by B. William Poole on May. 08, 2008, under Local, SpecialThe Coronado National Forest plans to torch 11,000 acres of mostly grass and scrub brush just east of Tucson on Monday to make it better for wildlife.
The two-day prescribed fire – which will be three miles into the Forest – will send a plume of smoke over the Rincon Mountains, said Heide Schewel, a Coronado spokeswoman.
“People will see smoke. There may be some smoke in Tucson on the East Side,” Schewel said.
Firefighters will light a test burn at 10 a.m. Monday. If that fire goes as expected, a helicopter will drop pingpong balls filled with chemicals to ignite the main fire, which is scheduled to burn through Tuesday.
The smoke is expected to blow east during the day, but might waft toward Tucson at night, when winds head down slope, Schewel said.
The main goal is to improve forage for wildlife by burning grass and brush that crowds out plants animals eat. The blaze will also remove fuel that could lead to catastrophic fires, Schewel said.
Two consecutive years of plentiful rain followed by few summer grass fires left much of the Sonoran Desert primed for major grass fires. The rain left the mountains wet enough to avoid an early fire season as we have had in years past.
Since Jan. 1, wildfires have burned 19,546 acres in Arizona. All 267 fires were started by people, according to the Southwest Coordination Center, which manages fire response across the West.
Traffic through Redington Pass will be limited during the Rincon burn. A pilot vehicle will lead traffic from the end of the pavement on Redington Road to Milepost 11 on Monday, Tuesday and maybe Wednesday, according to a Coronado news release.
The Bellota Trail will be closed from Catalina Highway to Redington Road, and the Agua Caliente Trail will be closed Monday through May 18.
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Keeping your home safe
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension suggests these ways to safeguard your home against wildfire:
• Clear brush and grass from within 30 feet of your home.
• Store combustible materials, such as fire wood, at least 30 feet from your home.
• Remove dead or dying trees.
• Clean debris from gutters and downspouts.
• Have a hose or hoses (in good condition) that can reach the entire exterior of your home.
• Make sure your road signs and home address are visible and clearly marked for firefighters, should they have to come into your neighborhood.
• Keep tools, such as hoes, rakes and shovels, ready for quick access in case of a fire.
Have a plan for family evacuation – and practice it.
