Sunflower wildfire passes 12,000 acres burned
Over 12,000 acres have been destroyed by the Sunflower
fire, burning 21 miles south of Payson.
Debbie Cress, a team manager of the fire, said it has
behaved as expected and is 10 percent contained as of Thursday morning.
“It shifted to the south, southwest today so that pushed
the fire into some areas of unburned timber and some
heavier fuels which created quite a bit of smoke along the
northern edge of the fire,” she said.
Cress said the fire is in very rugged and steep terrain.
As of Wednesday morning there were 12 crews, 16 engines,
two bulldozers and two water tenders being used to fight
the fire. In all, more than 400 people have been called
upon to fight the blaze.
Strong winds going from the east to the south played a
major role on Tuesday.
The fire is no longer threatening State Route 87.
The Gladiator fire, burning northwest of the Valley has
destroyed more than 2,000 acres. It is 5 percent
contained.
