Air Support, Ground Attack Being Used To Keep Brown Fire From Spreading

Published: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 10:01am
Updated: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 11:38am
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Courtesy of Jacob Pomrenke
Smoke from the Brown Fire could be seen over Sierra Vista on Sunday.

Firefighters from the Coronado National Forest are battling a blaze in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, that has burned more than 300 acres. Spokeswoman Heidi Schewel says they’re using both air support and a ground attack to keep the Brown Fire from getting into key areas.

“We’re going to try to hold the fire to the ridgelines and then burn inward and downward from the ridgelines and try to keep the fire from spreading beyond those ridgelines,” Schewel said.

She says the fire is burning in brush and timber such as Ponderosa Pine. About 160 personnel are building fire lines and burning out, while ten aircraft, including one very large tanker, are attempting to restrict the fire’s spread by dumping retardant and water on the blaze.