Fire on Mount Graham

Clark Peak Fire

Fire started: April 20, 1996

Fire contained: May 8, 1996

Closest approach to the Observatory:
May 3, 1996 -- 200 yards

Some statistics:

	~6300 acres burned
	~1100 firefighters assigned
	31 crews
	26 engines
	9 helicopters
	1 air tanker
	4 bulldozers
	11 water tenders
	Estimated fire cost to the USFS: $8.0M

From April 29 through May 2, 1996 Observatory crews under the supervision of the Forest Service removed all the dead trees and the dead wood within 100 feet of the Observatory perimeter fence. Because the last fire on the area had been many, many years ago, the fuel load on the area was extremely high. The fuel load estimates approached 200 tons of dead wood per acre. A sprinkler system was set up around the Observatory perimeter and the site was evacuated on May 2nd at the request of the Forest Service. Ground fire crews, helicopters and aerial water tankers protected the Biology camp, the Observatory site and the vacation homes at Columbine. The fire approached the Observatory site from the southwestern slope of Emerald Peak. It came within 200 yards to the west, 300 yards to the south and 400 yards to the East. Flames as high as 350 feet were observed on the southwest side only a few hundred yards away. No structures were lost to the fire, neither at the Observatory nor anywhere else in the mountain.

Check out the images below:

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Wow, it sure was hot that day in May...

Last modified: August 29, 2012