Highway 191 Will Open for Travel at 10 AM Sunday
Incident: Chitty Wildland Fire
Released: 7/8/2007
LOCATION: The Chitty Fire is on the Clifton and Alpine Ranger Districts of the Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forests; the fire is burning in the Chitty Canyon area adjacent to Highway 191 and Blue Vista
Overlook. Forest Road 54 at the top of the Mogollon Rim and Highway 191are being used as a fireline.
Estimated distance from Alpine, AZ to the fire is about 27 miles to the south.
STARTED: June 30, 2007 at 4:30 P.M. CAUSE: Lightning CONTAINMENT: 70%
ACRES: 14,200 acres. Acreage increase is primarily due to continued burnout operations.
FUELS: The fire is burning in ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce, and white fir vegetation on steep
southwest facing slopes. Burn operations on the southern portion of the fire are in pinion-juniper fuel types.
SUMMARY: Fire activity today was moderate due to aerial ignition. Where continuous grass stands were present, uphill runs carried fire into pinion and juniper fuel types. Smoldering was observed in most areas throughout the fire. No structures are threatened.
Highway 191 will open for travel at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 8, 2007. Travelers should proceed with caution throughout the fire area as there may be smoke from the fire and firefighters working along the roadway.
Hannagan Campground and Hannagan Meadow Lodge remain open as are Upper and Lower Juan Miller and Honeymoon campgrounds. The campgrounds in the Black River are all open. The Grant Creek and Foote Creek trails are open.
Plans for a Type 3 Incident Management Team to assume command of the firefighting efforts are being developed. As the Chitty Fire moves closer to containment, Joki's Type 2 Team will transfer command. Resources continue to be released to other incidents as fire conditions permit.
RESOURCES: There are 241 personnel assigned to the fire tonight including: 2 Hot Shot crews, 5 Type 2
hand crews, 7 engines and crews, 1 dozer, and 4 water tenders. Glenn Joki's Type 2 Team is managing this
fire.
