Photo Credit: Jacob Pace/Fort Grant Crew Capt. Arizona Forestry and Fire Service: This photo was taken when the fire was only 5% contained.
by John Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
Graham County – The Treadway fire, about 29 miles north of Safford, was reportedly 50 percent contained as of Wednesday evening, burning 8,400 acres.
The lightning-triggered fires began in Black Mountain on Saturday, July 29 as two separate fires that merged the next day.
Due to the rugged terrain, the fire was initially monitored, then an aerial reconnaissance was ordered on Sunday morning. Fires are consuming state trust lands, Bureau of Land Management lands, and tribal lands in the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
However, the wind and terrain caused extreme fires, and despite the efforts of six single-engine air tankers, two large air tankers, and one helicopter to fight the fire, flame retardants laid down by the aircraft caused the blaze. passed through.
The fire crossed the north and east containment lines near Slaughter Mountain, and unstable winds continued to wreak havoc on firefighting efforts.
Most of the fuel is grass and bushes, and firefighters continue to work to control hot spots along the containment line.
