Crews Work to Keep Fire From Bird Preserve
An air tanker and helicopter crews pummeled a stubborn wildfire with water and retardant, trying to keep the blaze from spreading into a renowned bird-watching preserve in southeastern Arizona.
On the ground, about 200 firefighters cut fire lines and planned to set backfires to deprive the 935-acre blaze of fuel, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Joan Vasey.
The wildfire was about three miles from the 380-acre Ramsey Canyon Preserve, home to more than 170 species of birds, including up to 14 types of hummingbirds. Some homes are also tucked into the forest. The preserve was closed late Tuesday.
Preserve manager Carol Lambert said she’s had only limited success notifying travelers of the closure.
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