CLINTS WELL, Ariz. - Forest officials announced Tuesday the fast-growing Tinder Fire was sparked by an abandoned illegal campfire.
The Tinder Fire, which started Friday northeast of the Blue Ridge Reservoir in the Coconino National Forest, has grown to over 11,000 acres. Forest officials gave an official estimate Tuesday morning of 11,420 acres based on infrared data.
According to forest officials, the campfire that caused the wildfire was started during fire restrictions. The Moqui Tower lookout reported the fire on April 27. The fire started about 1.5 miles east of C.C. Cragin Reservoir.
The fire remains zero percent contained.
“Any time we enter restrictions or have even closed the forest, we still continue to find abandoned and illegal campfires,” said Andy Pederson, Forest Service patrol captain for northern Arizona. “This shows extreme lack of care for public safety and our natural resources when people would have an illegal campfire, much less abandon an illegal campfire.”
Officials admitted that finding the person responsible for this illegal campfire will be difficult but said they will continue to investigate.
Forest officials said Tuesday firefighters would be focused on protecting structures in the north and northwest section of the fire, securing lines on the east, strengthening their lines on the west and continuing to "mop-up" the south end of the fire.
Immediate evacuations of Moquis Ranchettes, Starlight Pines, Clear Creek, Timber Ranch, Tamarron, Pine Canyon, Blue Ridge Estates, Ponderossa Pines and Mogollon Ranches were ordered Sunday as the Tinder Fire grew to over 8,000 acres.
"When the whistle was blown on Sunday, it was a very effective and efficient evacuation. Out of those communities," Jim Driscoll, who's with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, said during a community meeting Monday. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate that. It came quickly, much more quickly than I think any of us expected. But you people performed great."
Forest officials said it's unknown how many total structures have been destroyed by the Tinder Fire, but did confirm some were homes.
A shelter set up by the Red Cross for evacuated residents is located at the Twin Arrows Casino in Flagstaff.
With possible rain and snow in the forecast for the High Country this week, Bea Day, the incident commander for the southwest area incident management team, said it was a "good sign," but added there was still "quite a bit of fire on the landscape."
"We are working diligently to try to get this under control as quickly as we can," Day said.
Driscoll said Highway 87 will remain closed with " roadblocks at Clint's Well and then again north of the fire on 87." Those will remain until the evacuation orders are lifted.
Jason Clawson, who's with the operation section on southwest area incident management team, said their "feeling very confident" the fire won't cross Highway 87.
Day said there were no injuries while Clawson and Driscoll said the 19 residents who chose to stay, despite the evacuations, are all "accounted for and they're doing fine."
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.