Rim Country Gazette

Sunflower Fire Update

May 22, 2012 12:00 p.m.

[EDITOR'S COMMENT: Unless something entirely unexpected happens, this will be our last daily report on the Sunflower Fire.  Despite the Roundup's front page histrionics, this fire is in the can and has been for days.  Kudos to the firefighters for another nice job of containment.  Those of use who were here when the Willow Fire came within a couple of miles of Payson (neither the Roundup publisher, editor, photographer nor its news reporters were) have a little better perspective.  The Sunflower never came close to being a threat to the Rim Country - in large part thanks to the Willow.  But when you're desperate to sell newspapers...]

Acres:  16,115                                     

Start date:  May 12, 2012

Cause:  Under Investigation               

Location:  21 miles south of Payson

Containment: 43 percent                     

Fuels:  Grass, chaparral, pinion pine

Terrain:  Steep, rugged                        

Resources:  3 crews, 9 engines, 1 dozer, 2 water tenders

Total personnel: 259                            

Available air support:  6 helicopters, 6 air tankers

Summary:

At 6:00 p.m. today management of the Sunflower Fire will transfer from the Arizona Central West Zone Incident Management Team to an Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team.