Oak Fire Chars 600+ Acres Near Mt Ord

On Sunday, July 17, a lightning-caused fire on Mt. Ord, came within a couple hundred yards of Bill Brown's Black Mountain Excavating office on State Route 188. According to preliminary reports, 4 hotshot crews, 5 engines, 1 dozer, 2 helicopters, and heavy airtankers (when available, the priority for airtankers is life, property, resources) were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters are optimistic and are directly attacking the fire with air support. Lightning also sparked numerous other fires on the Tonto, including the Salome Fire in Greenback Valley near the Conway Ranch, and the Greenback Fire, below Greenback Peak in rough terrain at the upper end of Salome Creek (both are currently a couple hundred acres).