KOLD News 13Kitt Peak Evacuated

Kitt Peak Evacuated

Mark Stine KOLD News 13 Reporter

A wildfire burning near Kitt Peak has burned 3,500 acres in the Baboquivari Mountains.

The Alambre Wildfire is burning south of Kitt Peak in brush and mesquite. 

The fire was spotted around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. In just three and a half hours the fire grew to 250 acres. By Sunday morning it was up to 450 acres. Monday the fire has ballooned to 3,500 acres, Monday night 5,755 acres have burned.

Staff and astronomers were evacuated at 7 p.m. on Saturday night from Kitt Peak. Visitors were asked to leave Kitt Peak earlier in the day.

A Type 2 Incident Management Team from the U.S. Forest Service is now in place handling the fire. One large air tanker, 4 single-engine air tankers and one helicopter are trying to control the blaze through the air. There are several ground crews trying to keep the fire from spreading.

Update:

The Alambre Fire, burning in grass, chaparral, oak and mesquite on the Tohono O'Odham Nation south of Kitt Peak National Observatory, is currently estimated at about 5,755 acres and is continuing to grow due to hot, dry and windy weather conditions.  

No homes or other structures are in immediate danger from the fire's growth.

Tribal authorities have contacted the community representatives of Pan Tak, Little Tucson and Fresnal Canyon to apprise residents of the fire's location and activity. The fire remains five miles away from the closest homes.  

Firefighters are in place at Kitt Peak Observatories to provide structure protection. The fire is about two miles from the observatories.  

CLOSURES:

State Highway 386, the road from Highway 86 to Kitt Peak Observatories is closed. The access road to the village of Pan Tak is closed except to residents.  

For photos of the Alambre Fire, please go to: http://www.imtcenter.net/EasternArizonaType2IMT/default.html

You can click on the Photo Gallery and then click on Alambre Fire 2007. Fire Updates are in the Document Download section and current maps are in the News section.  

FIRE STATISTICS:  

Acres Affected:  5,755  

Start Date:  07/07/07  

Cause:  undetermined at this time  

Personnel:  330  

Helicopters:  3  

Hand Crews:  11  

Engines:  7  

Dozers:  2  

For more information and continuous updates contact: 520-396-0574.

Stay tuned to KOLD News 13 for continuing coverage of the Alambre Fire making its way toward the Kitt Peak National Observatory.