Thursday, June 21, 2012

Arizona's Poco Fire grows to 11,011 acres, is 15% contained - @azcentral

by Cassondra Strande - Jun. 21, 2012 08:50 AM
The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team

The Poco Fire, which is burning six miles northeast of Young in the Tonto National Forest, has grown to 11,011 acres.

The blaze increased in size by 2,900 acres from Wednesday. It is 15 percent contained.

More than 700 crew members are working to fight the fire as it burns through ponderosa-pine forests near the area of the 2002 Rodeo-Chedski Fire.

Two power lines were threatened by the fire, and one firefighter was treated for a burn injury to his neck.

Two other wildfires are being monitored Thursday.

The Fox Fire was 60 percent contained despite a 1,200-acre increase in size Wednesday night.

The fire, which is burning in the Coronado National Forest, has now blackened 4,600 acres of grassland and brush in a remote section of the Rincon Wilderness.

The Sunflower Fire, also in the Tonto forest, remains at 80 percent containment after burning 17,618 acres.