Boundary Fire (2017)

The Boundary Fire was a wildfire that burned 17,788 acres (7,199 ha) of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in Arizona. The fire was ignited on June 1 when lightning struck a spot on the northeast side of Kendrick Peak within the Coconino National Forest. The Boundary Fire immediately began producing smoke that could be seen from the Grand Canyon, which was blown by high winds that also fanned the fire itself over local communities and infrastructure. The fire burned out on July 3, 2017.

For the 2018 fire in Montana, see Boundary Fire.

Boundary Fire
A firefighter silhouetted against the red glow of the Boundary Fire as it burns in the Kaibab National Forest, June 17, 2017
Firefighter watching the Boundary Fire, June 17, 2017
LocationCoconino and Kaibab National Forests, Arizona, United States
Coordinates35.432°N 111.831°W / 35.432; -111.831
Statistics
Cost$9.4 million
Date(s)June 1 – July 3, 2017
Burned area17,788 acres (71.99 km2; 27.794 sq mi)
CauseLightning
Map
Boundary Fire (2017) is located in Arizona
Boundary Fire (2017)
Boundary Fire (2017) is located in the United States
Boundary Fire (2017)

Background

Wildfires are a natural part of the ecological cycle of the Southwestern United States.[1]: 3–6  The Boundary Fire was one of 2,321 wildfires that burned 429,564 acres (173,838 ha) in Arizona in 2017.[2] The State of Arizona expected a "normal" season but one with high fire potential in the state's southern grasslands because of high temperatures, low humidity, and an abundance of fuels.[3] By August 2017, wildfires had burned the most land since the 2011 season.[4] In May 2018, the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University published a study of the 2017 wildfire season in Arizona and New Mexico and observed that more land had burned in Arizona than the average of the previous ten years. Eleven fires were studied, of which ten were in Arizona and included the Boundary Fire.[5]: 1 

Fire

At about 02:02 pm on June 1, 2017, lightning struck and started a fire on the northeast slope of Kendrick Peak, within the Coconino National Forest.[6] That fire, the Boundary Fire, grew to 380 acres (150 ha) by June 6. Owing to the danger posed to firefighters by difficult terrain and leftover dead trees from the Pumpkin Fire in 2000, the United States Forest Service (USFS) decided to confine the Boundary Fire to a 15,000-acre (6,100 ha) area around the mountain. Firefighters began creating firebreaks along roads in the area on June 6, especially to the west of the fire.[7][8] On June 8, high winds fanned the fire over the firebreaks to its north and towards U.S. Route 180 (US 180), 2 mi (3.2 km) from the fire at that time.[9][10][11] US 180 was closed overnight on June 8 as firefighters monitored the fire's spread,[10] then was closed until further notice along with the vicinity of the fire on June 9.[12][13] Smoke from the Boundary Fire was visible from the Grand Canyon and drifted into communities such as Flagstaff, 17 mi (27 km) west of the fire.[12][14][15]

By June 9, the Boundary Fire had grown to 1,550 acres (630 ha) and was burning along US 180 and within the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests.[12] Again fanned by strong winds on June 10 and June 11, the fire swelled to 4,420 acres (1,790 ha) and was being managed by 261 firefighters.[16][17][18] After June 12, the winds abated and the USFS began to use aerial ignition to spread the fire uphill more quickly and thereby reduce soil burn severity.[19] By June 14, the fire had grown to 5,784 acres (2,341 ha) and was being managed by almost 500 firefighters and support staff.[19][20]

Aftermath

The Boundary Fire burned 17,788 acres (7,199 ha) and $9,400,000 ($11.2 million, adjusted for inflation) to suppress.[5]: 14 [6]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boundary Fire 2017.

References
  1. Pyne, Stephen J. (2016). The Southwest: A Fire Survey. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-3448-7.
  2. "National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  3. Jeong, Yihyun (April 11, 2017). "What to expect for Arizona's 2017 wildfire season". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  4. Ziegler, Zachary (August 31, 2017). "Looking Back on Fire Season in Arizona, and Places Touched by the Flames". Arizona Public Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. Lynch, Michael; Evans, Alexander (May 2018). "2017 Wildfire Season: An Overview" (PDF). Southwestern United States. Northern Arizona University. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  6. "Boundary Fire". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  7. "Type III Incident Management Team takes command of wildfire located on Kendrick Mountain northwest of Flagstaff". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  8. Cowan, Emery (June 6, 2017). "9:30 a.m. update: Type III team assigned to Kendrick Mountain fire". Arizona Daily Sun. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  9. "Boundary Fire (Kendrick Mountain): Increased Winds Cause Significant Growth on Boundary Fire; Highway 180 to Close Temporarily Due to Potential Smoke Impacts". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. June 8, 2017. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  10. "3:45 p.m. Kendrick fire jumps containment lines; Highway 180 to be closed for smoke". Arizona Daily Sun. June 8, 2017. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  11. "8 a.m. update: Kendrick fire jumps northern containment line, Highway 180 remains closed". Williams-Grand Canyon News. June 8, 2017. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  12. Cowan, Emery (June 9, 2017). "Kendrick Mountain fire triples in size, Highway 180 to remain closed". Arizona Daily Sun. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  13. "U.S. Highway 180 to Grand Canyon Closes as Boundary Fire Spreads". Arizona Public Media. Associated Press. June 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  14. McKenney, Loretta (July 11, 2017). "Northern Arizona air quality in question after smoky wildfire season". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  15. "Doney Park meeting tonight to discuss Kendrick fire, smoke". Arizona Daily Sun. June 15, 2017. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  16. Cowan, Emery (June 10, 2017). "Saturday afternoon update: Type 2 team takes over Kendrick Mountain fire, grows to 3,800 acres". Arizona Daily Sun. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  17. "Boundary Fire (Kendrick Mountain): Type II Incident Management Team Takes Command of the Boundary Fire". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. June 10, 2017. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  18. "Boundary Fire (Kendrick Mountain): Wind-Driven Fire Growth on the Boundary Fire". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  19. "Boundary Fire (Kendrick Mountain): Aerial Ignition Operations Begin on Kendrick Mountain". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. June 14, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  20. Cowan, Emery (June 14, 2017). "3 p.m. Wednesday update: Boundary fire smoke drifting toward Flagstaff". Arizona Daily Sun. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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