Tinder Fire

The Tinder Fire was a wildfire that burned 16,309 acres (6,600 ha) of the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona during April and May 2018. The fire was detected by a United States Forest Service (USFS) lookout tower on April 27, 2018, and firefighters began working to contain its spread within the day. Benefiting from strong winds, low humidity, and high temperatures, the fire grew rapidly over late April, prompting the closure of Arizona State Route 87 and evacuation orders for 1,000 houses in Coconino County. These orders remained until May 4. Almost 700 firefighters were involved in combating the fire, which was fully contained on May 24. The investigation into the fire determined that the Tinder Fire was caused by a prohibited campfire.

Tinder Fire
Smoke rising from the Tinder Fire, burning in the Coconino National Forest
Tinder Fire on April 30, 2018
LocationCoconino National Forest, Arizona, United States
Coordinates34.558°N 111.161°W / 34.558; -111.161
Statistics
Cost$7.5 million (equivalent to $8.7 million in 2022)
Date(s)April 27 – May 24, 2018
Burned area16,309 acres (6,600 ha; 25.483 sq mi)
CauseIllegal campfire
Buildings destroyed96
Map
Tinder Fire is located in Arizona
Tinder Fire
Tinder Fire is located in the United States
Tinder Fire

Background

Wildfires are a natural part of the ecological cycle of the Southwestern United States.[1]: 3–6  The Tinder Fire was one of 2,000 wildfires that burned 165,356 acres (66,917 ha) in Arizona in 2018.[2] In January 2018, Doug Ducey, the governor of Arizona, warned that the state—then in a historically dry winter season, plagued by drought, and recovering from the 2017 wildfire season—could face a "disastrous" wildfire season in 2018.[3] At the time the Tinder Fire began, weather conditions in the Mogollon Rim region of Arizona were abnormally dry, hot, and windy;[4][5] four red flag warnings had been issued by the National Weather Service for the area since April 1.[4]

Fire

At 11:43 a.m. (Mountain Time), April 27, 2018,[4] a United States Forest Service (USFS) lookout tower spotted smoke rising from a location near the Kinder Crossing Trail 1.5 mi (2.4 km) east of the Blue Ridge Reservoir, in the Coconino National Forest.[4][6][7] The fire was intended to be named after this trail, but a dispatcher's error resulted in the name Tinder Fire, which was retained.[8] Within the day, 100 firefighters had arrived to combat the Tinder Fire, then at a size of 150 acres (61 ha).[9][10] Winds up to 50 mph (80 km/h) fanned the fire and hindered firefighting aviation—which was grounded on April 29 by a civilian drone flying over the fire—over April 28 and April 29. This rapid growth prompted the closure of Arizona State Route 87 (SR 87), evacuation orders for 1,000 homes in Coconino County,[11][12][13] and the declaration of a state of emergency in Coconino County by Ducey on April 30.[12]

By May 1, the Tinder Fire had grown to a size of 11,420 acres (4,620 ha) and destroyed 30 buildings.[14][15] The next day, rain and snow slowed the growth of the fire and allowed firefighters to make progress in containing its spread.[4][16] By May 3, 625 firefighters were digging firebreaks around the Tinder Fire.[17][18] The evacuation orders were lifted on May 4, by which time the fire had grown to an area of 15,841 acres (6,411 ha), but was believed to be 79% contained.[19][20] SR 87 was also reopened to public traffic on May 4.[21][22] By May 12, the fire had grown to 16,309 acres (6,600 ha), but no further, despite windy conditions;[23] by May 24, authorities declared it to be 95% contained.[24]

Aftermath

The Tinder Fire burned 16,309 acres (6,600 ha) over 27 days and cost $7.5 million (equivalent to $8.7 million in 2022[25]) to contain and suppress.[26]: 9 [27] About 10% of this area suffered total foliage mortality.[26]: 9  The Tinder Fire destroyed 96 buildings,[27] of which 33 were homes and 63 were minor structures.[26]: 9  At the fire's peak, 695 firefighters worked to contain its spread.[4]

The USFS began to investigate the cause of the fire on April 27 and concluded by May 1 that it was an abandoned, illegal campfire. The USFS were unable to determine the responsible party or parties.[10][15]

References
  1. Pyne, Stephen J. (2016). The Southwest: A Fire Survey. To the Last Smoke. Vol. 4. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-3448-7. JSTOR j.ctt1d41dp2. LCCN 2016004471.
  2. "National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  3. Bowling, Joshua (February 22, 2018). "Ducey warns Arizona of a disastrous fire season, requests double fire prevention funding". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  4. "Tinder Fire". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  5. "Wildfire breaks out near Blue Ridge Reservoir". Arizona Daily Sun. April 27, 2018. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  6. "Tinder fire continues to grow; Type I team en route". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. April 28, 2018. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  7. "Kinder Crossing Trail No. 19". United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  8. "The Latest: Arizona fire supposed to go by another name". Regina Leader-Post. Associated Press. April 30, 2018. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  9. Ren, Victor (April 27, 2018). "Wildfire on Mogollon Rim causes pre-evacuation notices in Northern Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  10. "Tinder Fire Update: Wildfire in East Clear Creek". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. April 27, 2018. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  11. Burkitt, Bree (April 29, 2018). "Tinder Fire grows to 8,600 acres; residents evacuated, structures burned". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  12. Pohl, Jason (April 30, 2018). "Arizona Tinder Fire: Coconino County officials declare state of emergency". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  13. Burkitt, Bree (April 30, 2018). "Wildfire in Arizona grows to 13.5 square miles, burns buildings in its path". USA Today. The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  14. "Tinder Fire grows but weather conditions improve". KGUN-TV. Associated Press. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  15. Pohl, Jason (May 1, 2018). "Illegal campfire sparked 11,000-acre Arizona Tinder Fire; damage assessments continue". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  16. "Weather helps prevent Tinder Fire from spreading". KGUN-TV. May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  17. "Tinder Fire information: 47 structures lost in northern Arizona fire". KGUN-TV. May 3, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  18. Pohl, Jason (May 3, 2018). "Tinder Fire: 41 structures damaged or destroyed; residents return Friday". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  19. Levenson, Eric; Vera, Amir (May 6, 2018). "Tinder Fire in Arizona has destroyed 33 homes and is still burning". CNN. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  20. "Tinder Fire evacuation orders lifted for hundreds of homes". KGUN-TV. Associated Press. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  21. "SR 87 reopened after Tinder Fire evacuation". KPNX. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  22. "State Route 87 near Winslow re-opens as Tinder Fire continues to burn". KTAR-FM. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  23. "Final Update: Type III team winding down, winds moving ash". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  24. "Tinder Fire". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  25. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  26. Lynch, Michael; Evans, Alexander (June 2019). "2018 Wildfire Season: An Overview" (PDF). Southwestern United States. Northern Arizona University. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  27. "National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. July 25, 2018. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
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