Clark Peak Fire on Mt. Graham
Fire started: April 25, 1996
Fire contained: May 8, 1996
Closest approach (200 yards) to the MGIO Observatory: May 3, 1996.
Some statistics:
- ~6500 acres burned
- ~1100 persons assigned
- 31 crews
- 26 engines
- 9 helicopters
- 1 air tanker
- 4 dozers
- 11 water tenders
- Estimated fire cost to the USFS: $4.6M
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 great. The estimates give 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 as close as 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 yard away. No
structures were lost to the fire, neither at the Observatory nor
anywhere else in the mountain