fire at the mouth of madera canyon
Fire at Proctor burns educational supplies
On June 22, 2007, a fire was started along the Madera Creek bed to the west of the Proctor parking area. The fire burned up the side of the creek moving east with a strong west wind and burned along the north side of Proctor Road, up to the edge of the Proctor Ramada (scorching some of the wood), then burned the section of brush and grass that is bounded by the paved trail, Proctor Road, Proctor parking lot, and Madera Canyon Road. In the process, it burned several signs and a storage shed containing supplies for the 4th grade educational program and other FOMC equipment. To see the damage to the shed, scroll down to the photos.
If you would like to make a donation to the Friends to replace the burned educational equipment, please write a check to: "Friends of Madera Canyon" and mail it to PO Box 1203, Green Valley, AZ 85622-1203. Please write "Proctor Fire" on the memo line of your check. Thank you! Our 4th Grade school children will greatly appreciate your tax-free gift!
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time (Sunday June 24) but is likely of human origin.
The fire was at its hottest when it jumped the paved Madera Canyon road east of the restroom and headed up hill on the east side of the road burning some of the area that were burned in the 2005 Florida fire. Forest Service brown and white signs melted in the intense heat. Perhaps because this area had been recently burned, the fire did not take off up the hill very fast. Fire crews were able to contain the blaze with retardant drops and hot-shot crew help and got it out late Friday finishing up on Saturday.
All visitors and residents of the canyon were evacuated Friday and many had to drive out through the smoke and flames. Chuparosa Inn manager, Jenni Tobias, described it as what it must be like driving into hell - flames licking both sides of your car, windows closed and air conditioner running - as you race through the smoke along a road you cannot see with your outcome uncertain!
The fire only an hour after it started on June 22 is already burning across the Proctor parking area. Photo by Al Tozier
Several birders were in the canyon on Sundayand found things relatively normal. From the photos below, you will note that in much of the area, only the dry ground cover was burned and the living brush and trees above was spared.
But think what it would have been like IF - the Kettenbach development had been completed and the fire started just below that development. Consider the panic rush of 280 cars trying to race down Madera Canyon Road over three one-lane bridges with the fire crews trying to come up at the same time.
View from Proctor Road looking back (NE) towards the Patsy Proctor Ramada. Madera Creek is between here and the ramada. Photo by Al Tozier
View from the Proctor parking lot past the Patsy Proctor Ramada towards Elephant Head. Photo by Al Tozier
View from the Ramada north to the storage building. The ramada was scorched but the roof of the storage shed was completely burned as were the contents. Photo by Al Tozier
Contents of the storage building reduced to twisted metal and ash. Some 300 compasses, binoculars, field guides, educational materials, tables, chairs, and portable microphone dias were destroyed. Photo by Al Tozier
View from Proctor Road with the Patsy Proctor Ramada on the far left, the restroom to the left and the new Bud Gode ramada on the right. Photo by Al Tozier
View from the restroom looking NE towards Madera Canyon Road. The restroom was not damaged. The fire burned hottest from here to the road. Photo by Al Tozier
Bench by the large Sycamore tree next to the creek bed and Proctor Road. The main paved trail is above and behind the bench. Note that the trees and larger brush are not burned but the ground cover has been removed by the fire. Photo by Al Tozier
A warning ignored? Photo by Al Tozier
Area just north of the Proctor Road turnoff showing where the most intense fire jumped the road to the left (east). Note the sign that is completely destroyed. Photo by Al Tozier
View on the east side of Madera Canyon Road where the fire crossed the road and burned to the east up the hillside. Photo by Al Tozier
Grasslands west of Madera Canyon Road that were prevented from burning by the retardant drop and work of hot-shot fire crews. Photo by Al Tozier
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