Frye Fire
Four firefighters standing next to a hose, watching the Frye Fire, June 17, 2017
A firefighting team near the Frye Fire, June 17, 2017
LocationGraham County, Arizona, US
Coordinates32°44′06″N 109°52′19″W / 32.735°N 109.872°W / 32.735; -109.872
Statistics
Cost$26 million (equivalent to $31 million in 2022)
Date(s)June 7 – September 1, 2017
Burned area48,443 acres (19,604 ha; 75.692 sq mi)
CauseLightning
Map
Frye Fire is located in Arizona
Frye Fire
Frye Fire is located in the United States
Frye Fire

The Frye Fire was a wildfire that burned 48,443 acres (19,604 ha) in Graham County, Arizona, United States, from June 7 to September 1, 2017. The fire was ignited by a lightning strike on Mount Graham, within the Coronado National Forest, and spread rapidly until it was mostly contained on July 12. The Frye Fire destroyed three buildings, briefly threatened the Mount Graham International Observatory, cost $26 million to contain (equivalent to $31 million in 2022) and suppress, and involved more than 800 firefighters. There were no fatalities, but 63 firefighters were quarantined as a result of a strep throat outbreak.

Beginning in July 2017, rains from the annual North American monsoon season washed sediments off mountain slopes in the Frye Fire's burn scar. This runoff, consisting of rainwater, ash, and debris, clogged creeks and damaged infrastructure within Graham County. The fire particularly impacted the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel, whose remaining habitat on Mount Graham was devastated.

Background

Wildfires are a natural part of the ecological cycle of the Southwestern United States.[1]: 3–6  The Frye Fire was one of 2,321 wildfires that burned 429,564 acres (173,838 ha) in Arizona in 2017.[2] The State of Arizona expected a "normal" season but one with high fire potential in the state's southern grasslands because of high temperatures, low humidity, and an abundance of fuels.[3] By August 2017, wildfires had burned the most land since the 2011 season.[4] In May 2018, the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University published a study of the 2017 wildfire season in Arizona and New Mexico and observed that more land had burned in Arizona than the average of the previous ten years. Eleven fires were studied, of which ten were in Arizona and included the Frye Fire.[5]: 1 

Fire

On June 7, 2017, lightning struck a portion of chaparral on Mount Graham in the Coronado National Forest and Graham County, Arizona,[6] which had not burned since the Nuttall Complex Fire in 2004.[5]: 5–6 [6] By June 9, an area of 15–20 acres (6.1–8.1 ha) was on fire, and the flames were spreading in the direction of the Frye Mesa Reservoir.[7] The United States Forest Service (USFS) closed trails near the fire and began fire suppression, complicated by difficult terrain.[8] The burned area grew from 630 acres (250 ha) by June 13 to 6,305 acres (2,552 ha) by June 18.[9][10][11] The USFS closed all campgrounds and trails in the Pinaleño Mountains within the Coronado National Forest on June 19.[12]

Beginning on June 18, an enlarged force of over 300 firefighters focused on preventing the Frye Fire from reaching the Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO).[13][14] Over the next day the fire spread towards but did not reach the MGIO;[15] Pavel Gabor, Vice Director of the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), stated that fires had reached to within 30 ft (9.1 m) of the VATT.[16][17] On June 24, the Frye Fire was pushed back from the MGIO and was estimated to be 29 percent contained, but the burned area had grown to 35,569 acres (14,394 ha).[18]

On June 23, Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona, declared a state of emergency in Graham County, securing additional state and federal aid for containing the Frye Fire.[19][20] Firefighters made progress on containing the spread of the Frye Fire on June 25 and June 26,[21][22] which allowed Gabor to inspect the VATT on June 27 and report that the facility had sustained no heat or smoke damage.[23][24] From June 27 to July 12 the Frye Fire grew from 38,395 acres (15,538 ha) to 48,443 acres (19,604 ha). The fire was 88 percent contained by July 12.[25][26] Recreational areas within the Coronado National Forest began reopening on July 13.[27] By July 17 the fire had not grown any further and firefighters were demobilized to contain other wildfires.[28]

Strep throat outbreak

On June 17, the USFS announced that an outbreak of streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) had begun amongst the firefighters assigned to contain the Frye Fire.[29] Tucson-based ABC affiliate KGUN-TV reported on June 18 that 21 firefighters had been quarantined;[10] other local news organizations quoted a USFS spokesman who reported a total of 45 cases.[29][30] According to a report published by the Wildfire Lessons Learned Center (WLLC), a federally-funded research database,[31] quarantine of personnel showing strep throat symptoms, regular testing for strep throat, and regular disinfection of equipment began on June 16. No new cases were detected after June 16; 300 people were exposed to strep throat, of which 63 individuals were quarantined.[32] During the 2020 Western United States wildfire season and the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic, the WLLC and some news publications highlighted the Frye Fire strep throat outbreak as an example of how to effectively contain outbreaks of infectious diseases in firefighting camps.[31][33][34]

Aftermath

Image of Arizona State Route 366, damaged by runoff from the Frye Fire scar, July 24, 2017
Damage to Arizona State Route 366 from runoff, July 24, 2017

The Frye Fire burned 48,443 acres (19,604 ha) over 86 days,[6] growing to its greatest extent on July 12,[26] and cost $26 million (equivalent to $31 million in 2022[35]) to suppress. Of the total area burned, 13 percent suffered total foliage mortality. Three structures were damaged or destroyed by the Frye Fire.[5]: 5–6  More than 800 firefighters worked to contain the Frye Fire at its height.[25]

By July 18, a USFS Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began assessing the environmental and civic risks posed by the Frye Fire's burn scar.[36] They released a report on July 20 that recommended stabilizing soil deprived of understory and the clearing of roads of drainages.[37] At the same time, Graham County officials issued warnings about severe, damaging floods as annual monsoon rains were expected to wash unsecured, burned soil out of the Frye Fire's burn scar.[38][39] Those monsoon rains arrived by July 19 and washed surface runoff laden with ash into nearby communities,[40] prompting the Coronado National Forest to delay reopening and the closure on July 31 of Arizona State Route 366 (SR 366) after it was damaged by runoff.[41][42] Two homes were damaged on July 31 when Ash Creek overflowed and was partially filled in with sediments washed out of the burn scar.[43][44] On August 11, the Ash Creek flooding threatened to shut down the town of Pima's sewage system.[45]

The Coronado National Forest secured funding for the implementation of the BAER team's suggestions on July 23,[46] which included aerially reseeding 1,023 acres (414 ha) of the most severely burned parts of the Frye Fire burn scar.[46] By August 10, 57,000 lb (26,000 kg) of sterile barley seeds were dropped over this area to stabilize the ground and allow native grasses to grow and replace the barley.[4][39] On August 9, a bridge and culvert over Wet Canyon on Mount Graham, which had been damaged by runoff and debris from the burn scar, was demolished to open Wet Canyon as a drainage.[4][47] Cleanup of Ash Creek and construction of water management infrastructure in and around Pima lasted into September 2017;[48] SR 366 reopened on September 14.[49] In July 2021, the USFS and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management began to employ inmates from the Fort Grant state prison in a three-year project to restore trails on Mount Graham.[50][51]

Effect on the Mount Graham red squirrel

The Frye Fire had a traumatic effect on the Mount Graham red squirrel, an endangered subspecies of the American red squirrel that lost most of its habitat and population to the fire. According to a report published by the Arizona Game and Fish Department on October 17, 2017, the Mount Graham red squirrel's population had been reduced from 252 squirrels in 2016 to 35 squirrels.[52][53][54] The Mount Graham red squirrel was expected to go extinct in 2017 because of this decimation, loss of habitat, predation, and competition with other squirrel species. Following efforts to restore its habitat in 2018, the population of Mount Graham red squirrels rose to 67.[55] As of December 2022, the Mount Graham red squirrel has still not recovered to its pre-Frye Fire population.[56]

References

  1. ↑ Pyne, Stephen J. (2016). The Southwest: A Fire Survey. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 9780816534487.
  2. ↑ "National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ Jeong, Yihyun (April 11, 2017). "What to expect for Arizona's 2017 wildfire season". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Ziegler, Zachary (August 31, 2017). "Looking Back on Fire Season in Arizona, and Places Touched by the Flames". Arizona Public Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Lynch, Michael; Evans, Alexander (May 2018). "2017 Wildfire Season: An Overview" (PDF). Southwestern United States. Northern Arizona University. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 "Frye Fire". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  7. ↑ Bell, David (June 9, 2017). "Five area fires burning due to lightning strikes". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Public meeting on Frye fire is Monday, Lizard fire grows to 14,900 acres". Eastern Arizona Courier. June 10, 2017. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ Greaber, Joey (June 13, 2017). "Frye Fire has burned 631 acres". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Greaber, Joey (June 18, 2017). "Personnel increases as Frye Fire grows". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Frye fire at 6,305 acres, structures not under 'immediate threat'". Eastern Arizona Courier. June 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  12. ↑ Greaber, Joey (June 19, 2017). "Frye Fire area closure expands". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ Bell, David (June 19, 2017). "Firefighters protect MGIO". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Firefighters work to protect Mount Graham Observatory from Frye Fire". Arizona Daily Star. June 18, 2017. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ Wenz, John (June 19, 2017). "Wildfires in Arizona are threatening important observatories". Astronomy. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  16. ↑ Gabor, Pavel (June 19, 2017). "VATT Smoked but not Cooked in Frye Fire". Vatican Observatory. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Frye Fire may have caused heat damage to telescope". KGUN-TV. Associated Press. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ Greaber, Joey (June 24, 2017). "Frye Fire size increases, structures no longer threatened". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ Frank, BrieAnna J. (June 23, 2017). "Emergency declared in response to Arizona wildfires". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  20. ↑ Bell, David (June 23, 2017). "Gov. Ducey declares state of emergency due to wildfires". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ Greaber, Joey (June 25, 2017). "Containment increasing for Frye Fire near Safford". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  22. ↑ Villarreal, Phil; Greaber, Joey (June 26, 2017). "Firefighters make progress on Frye Fire". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  23. ↑ Gabor, Pavel (June 29, 2017). "Frye Fire: VATT Damage Assessment on June 27". Vatican Observatory. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  24. ↑ Beal, Tom (June 28, 2017). "Telescopes on Mount Graham all appear fine as Frye Fire continues to burn". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Villarreal, Phil (June 27, 2017). "Frye Fire still spreading near Safford". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Villarreal, Phil (July 12, 2017). "Frye Fire nearly contained". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Cluff Ranch Pond #3 to reopen Saturday". Eastern Arizona Courier. July 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  28. ↑ Bell, David (July 17, 2017). "Crews conduct final wrap-up on Frye fire". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Strep throat outbreak forces quarantines on Frye Fire crews". KOLD-TV. June 18, 2017. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Firefighters battling strep in addition to Frye fire". Eastern Arizona Courier. June 18, 2017. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  31. 1 2 Miller, Elizabeth (May 12, 2020). "COVID-19 pandemic complicates 2020 wildfire season". New Mexico in Depth. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  32. ↑ "The Strep Throat Outbreak on the Frye Fire". Wildland Fire Lessons Learned. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Revisiting the Strep Throat Outbreak on the Frye Fire". Wildland Fire Lessons Learned. April 2, 2020. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  34. ↑ Gabbert, Bill (May 15, 2020). "The media is picking up on the fact that fighting wildfires is going to be even more hazardous during the pandemic". International Fire Fighter. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  35. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  36. ↑ "While fire winds down, recovery ramps up". Eastern Arizona Courier. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  37. ↑ "High burn severity in 5 percent of Frye fire area". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Graham County warns of flooding danger from Frye fire". Eastern Arizona Courier. June 30, 2017. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  39. 1 2 Capo, David (August 10, 2017). "Aftermath of Frye Fire on Mount Graham". Tucson Local Media. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  40. ↑ Johnson, Jon (July 21, 2017). "Ash runoff from Frye Fire so far mostly beneficial". KWRQ. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Majority of Frye Fire area remains closed due to flooding potential". Coronado National Forest. United States Forest Service. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  42. ↑ Johnson, Jon (July 31, 2017). "Mount Graham closed again". KWRQ. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  43. ↑ Johnson, Jon (July 31, 2017). "Homes damaged in Ash Creek flash flood". KWRQ. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Clearing the waters in Pima". Eastern Arizona Courier. July 31, 2017. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  45. ↑ Johnson, Jon (August 11, 2017). "Pima Sewer requires emergency action to stay afloat". KWRQ. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  46. 1 2 Johnson, Jon (July 23, 2017). "Coronado National Forest receives Frye Fire rehabilitation funding". KWRQ. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  47. ↑ Guajardo, Simon (August 16, 2017). "History comes down one stone at a time". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  48. ↑ Sowders, David (September 16, 2017). "Ash Creek cleanup continues". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Swift Trail on Mount Graham to reopen Thursday". KWRQ. September 13, 2017. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  50. ↑ Curley, Brooke (August 17, 2021). "Three-year inmate project enhancing mountain hiking trails". Eastern Arizona Courier. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  51. ↑ Contreras, Bivian (April 8, 2022). "Department of Correction crews rebuild trails damaged in 2017 Frye Fire". KGUN-TV. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  52. ↑ "Surveys of endangered Mount Graham red squirrel show decline due to impacts from the Frye Fire". Arizona Game and Fish Department. State of Arizona. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  53. ↑ Bowling, Joshua (November 19, 2017). "After costly Frye Fire, endangered squirrels may be nearing extinction". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  54. ↑ Davis, Tony (October 18, 2017). "Endangered red squirrel population down to 35 after Mount Graham fire, authorities say". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  55. ↑ Totiyapungprasert, Priscilla (November 11, 2018). "These squirrels have staved off extinction, but they're still not out of the woods". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  56. ↑ Frederico, Jake (December 28, 2022). "Mount Graham red squirrel numbers grow after agencies develop more accurate counts". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
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