MORE FIRE IN AREA

Blaze burns trees, brush near Tubac, Tumac‡cori

Tumac‡cori—A second fire in two weeks burned trees, brush, grass and weeds near the Santa Cruz River on Wednesday and Thursday, but no structures were damaged.

Tubac Fire Chief Kevin Keeley said Thursday the fire apparently broke out on some of the land of the Tumac‡cori National Historical Park, but away from the ancient mission and other buildings there.

About 180 acres were blackened, the chief said.

The smoke added to the morning haze in the river valley. It ranged from light gray to dark black as the flames moved into new, unburned areas.

The smoke billowed across Interstate 19 near the Tumac‡cori exit, No. 29, but didn’t interfere with traffic.

Despite light to moderate winds, fire crews kept it under control.

Chief Kelly said crews weren’t using water or other liquids on the actual fire.

What did they use?

“Dirt,” he said.

Hand tools were the extinguishing instruments, Keeley said.

The fire’s southern boundary was Santa Gertrudis Lane, less than a mile south of the national park. Areas were burned up to a mile and a half north.

Although spring has announced itself with the leafy green canopy of the Cottonwoods near the river, much of the area is still covered by dark, leafless mesquites, good fire fodder.

Although no rain is forecast for the next week, the area here is not as dry as it was in 2006 and 2007, according to Weather Bureau charts. Most of that time, especially 2006, was reported to be extremely dry

Nine organizations participated in controlling the fire Wednesday, Tubac-Tumac‡cori Fire District, Rio Rico fire, suburban Nogales, U.S. Forest Service, city of Nogales, State Land Department firefighters, Arivaca Fire Department, Green Valley Fire District and workers from the federal Parks Department.

On Friday, March 21, a similar brush fire burned along the river near the Tubac Community Center and Tubac Golf Resort. No structures were damaged there, either.

On Thursday, Chief Keeley said workers haven’t discovered any connection between the two.

On Wednesday’s fire, the chief said Tubac crews, alerted by the sight and smell of smoke “were already halfway there” before the official call came in.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749