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. The fire was detected on April 27, 2018, and was not fully contained until May 24. The fire was caused by an illegal campfire.

Tinder Fire
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
Date(s)April 27 – May 24, 2018
Burned area16,309 acres (6,600 ha; 25.483 sq mi)
CauseHuman cause
Buildings destroyed96
Map

Fire

At 11:43 AM (Mountain Time), April 27, 2018,[1] a United States Forest Service lookout tower spotted smoke rising from a place 1.5 mi (2.4 km) east of the Blue Ridge Reservoir, within the Coconino National Forest and the U.S. state of Arizona.[1][2] Within the day, 100 firefighters had arrived to combat the Tinder Fire, then at a size of 150 acres (61 ha).[3][4] At the time the Tinder Fire began, weather conditions in the Mogollon Rim region of Arizona were abnormally dry, hot, and windy;[1][5] four red flag warnings had been issued for the area since April 1.[1] Winds as fast as 50 mph (80 km/h) fanned the fire and hindered firefighting aviation—which was grounded on April 29 after the detection of 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 1000 homes in Coconino County,[6][7][8] and the declaration of a state of emergency in Coconino County by Governor Doug Ducey on April 30.[7]

By May 1, the Tinder Fire had destroyed at least 20 homes and had grown to a size of 11,420 acres (4,620 ha).[9][10] The next day, however, rain and snow slowed the growth of the fire and allowed firefighters to make progress in containing its spread.[1][11] By May 3, 625 firefighters worked on containing the Tinder Fire, a process then estimated to be 48% completed.[12][13]

The Forest Service allowed selective re-entry into evaluation areas on May 4.[14]

SR 87 reopened on May 5. The fire was 79% contained at 15,841 acres (6,411 ha), with firefighters patrolling, mopping up and securing the fire lines.[15] Windy conditions continued to cause concern through May 11. On that day, evacuation warnings were put in place for a subdivision of Mogollon Ranch. The fire grew to 16,309 acres (6,600 ha).[16] [17]

By May 24, the fire had been declared 100% contained.[18]

Aftermath

The Tinder Fire burned 16,309 acres (6,600 ha) over 27 days.[19]

The Tinder Fire destroyed 96 buildings,[19] of which 33 were homes and 63 were minor structures.[20] The containment and suppression of the fire cost $7,500,000 (equivalent to $8,093,361 in 2021).[20]

At the fire's peak, 695 firefighters worked to contain its spread.[1]

References
  1. "Tinder Fire". Coconino National Forest. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  2. "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.
  3. Ren, Victor (April 27, 2018). "Wildfire on Mogollon Rim causes pre-evacuation notices in Northern Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  4. "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.
  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. Burkitt, Bree (April 29, 2018). "Tinder Fire grows to 8,600 acres; residents evacuated, structures burned". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  7. Pohl, Jason (April 30, 2018). "Arizona Tinder Fire: Coconino County officials declare state of emergency". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  8. 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.
  9. "Tinder Fire grows but weather conditions improve". KGUN-TV. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  10. Pohl, Jason (May 1, 2018). "Illegal campfire sparked 11,000-acre Arizona Tinder Fire; damage assessments continue". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  11. "Weather helps prevent Tinder Fire from spreading". KGUN-TV. May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  12. "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.
  13. Pohl, Jason (May 3, 2018). "Tinder Fire: 41 structures damaged or destroyed; residents return Friday". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  14. "Coconino County to lift Tinder Fire evacuation order for residents Friday". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  15. "Hwy 87 is open but the Coconino National Forest area closure for the Tinder". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  16. "Tinder fire update: Firefighters staged for structure protection". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  17. 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.
  18. "Tinder Fire". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  19. "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.
  20. Lynch, Michael; Evans, Alexander (June 2019). "Southwestern United States" (PDF). 2018 Wildfire Season: An Overview. Northern Arizona University. p. 9. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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