15 Structures Lost Due To The Rose Fire In Arizona. 7 Primary Homes.
Cause is under investigation.
The Rose Fire started off U.S. 60 and quickly burned 166 acres before wildfire resources were able to check it up. In the time it was burning, it jumped the highway and destroyed 15 structures.
The Rose Fire started Wednesday afternoon, within the Hassayampa Riverbed, along the east side of the US 60, five miles southeast of the town of Wickenburg. Hot, windy and dry conditions fueled the fire as it burned through salt cedar, grass and brush. The fire stayed active throughout the late afternoon, jumped the highway, and started burning along both sides of the 60. The fire spotted along the north flank of the fire, but firefighters were able to catch and contain those spot fires. Numerous firefighting aircraft supported firefighting efforts on the ground yesterday, including Single Engine Air Tankers, Very Large Air Tankers, and Scoopers.
Rose Fire Management
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. This fire started in Maricopa County, which is one of the counties of concern, along with Pinal, that State Fire Managers expressed were seeing increased human-caused starts.
Here is a flyover of the damage caused and acreage burned:
A Bureau of Land Management helicopter has been helping ground crews with bucket work to extinguish remaining hotspots. They were able to push a dozer yesterday, and containment lines were established on the northeast and southeast flanks.
A fire investigator was ordered and arrived at the fire yesterday. A damage assessment found that 15 structures, twelve vehicles, a horse trailer and a recreational vehicle were destroyed, and the fire was 20% contained as of this morning.
The Simmons Fire in Arizona destroyed 5 structures last month in Pinal County. FEMA came in to help with those loses, I’m curious if they will provide assistance for The Rose Fire as well. Also, earlier this season, a man died trying to extinguish The Bowers Fire that had started in tall grass after a grinder kicked off sparks. Arizona residents have had a rough go this spring season.
Maricopa and Pinal counties in Arizona have had a lot of fast-moving IAs this year in the tall grass crop they have in that area.
And it’s still drying out…
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