May 19 Update
Incident: Sunflower Fire Wildfire
Released: 5/19/2012
Acres: 16,620
Start date: May 12, 2012
Cause: Under Investigation
Location: 21 miles south of Payson
Containment: 33 percent
Fuels: Grass, chaparral, pinion pine
Terrain: Steep, rugged
Resources: 8 crews, 16 engines, 1 dozer, 9 water tenders
Total personnel: 462
Available air support: 6 helicopters, 6 air tankers
Summary: Based on today's weather conditions minimal fire activity can be seen in both northern and southern sections along fire perimeter. Smoke may linger in canyons to the north, predominately in Deer Creek Canyon. As fire moves slowly into previously burned areas of the Willow Fire (2004), where vegetation and woody debris is not as dense we expect to see a slow backing fire, a fire moving slowly downhill. The south end of fire also remains calm as fire backs into terrain previously burned by the Basin Fire (1995).
Crews working along the south side of the fire have begun the process known as Mop-Up. Working along the control lines, firefighters search for concentrations of heat, such as stump holes, smoldering logs, and other downed heavy fuels. This dirty, dusty, fatiguing work is essential to containment of the fire. Along the east side of the fire, firefighters patrol the line, ensuring that the remaining active fire stays within the perimeter.
