Deer Head Fire Smoke Column Visible Again From Tucson

Date: August 6, 2014
Contact: Fire Information Hotline, [phone]

Tucson, AZ – Smoke from the Deer Head Fire will be visible today over the Rincon Mountains. The lightning caused blaze is being managed for natural resource benefits in the federally designated Wilderness area of the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.

The fire was surveyed Tuesday with global positioning instruments and has grown to 939 acres. It continues to burn in Wilderness, where it is functioning in its natural role, helping reduce fuel loads and maintaining wildlife habitat. Firefighters on the mountain continued to direct the fire's spread away from important resources in the area, such as the historic Manning Camp.

Today's plans are for firefighters to use strategic burnouts on the south perimeter between constructed fire lines and the fire. These actions are part of the strategy of keeping the fire east of Heartbreak Ridge. The burnouts, and the fire itself, will produce additional smoke visible most of the day Wednesday.

Weather forecasts for the remainder of the week indicate dry weather with relative humidity hovering in the teens followed by increasing moisture returning to our area into this weekend. Fire activity increases with low humidity, which will be observed today, along with increased smoke from the fire visible from Tucson and eastward along Interstate 10. Over 30 firefighters who are working the fire in this wilderness setting are miles from roads. They are being supported with supplies brought in by helicopter and mule trains. Refuse and waste from their activities are being hauled back down the mountain for disposal.

The Tanque Verde Trail and Juniper Basin Campground will remain closed. A decision to reopen both will be made after the Jackalope Fire is declared controlled. All other Rincon Mountain District backcountry closures will remain in effect for the duration of the Deer Head Fire to ensure public safety.  

For additional fire information visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ or: https://Facebook.com/SaguaroNationalPark or call the Fire Information Hotline at [phone].