The Arizona Republic - Arizona wildfires: Poco Fire tops 11,000 acres

Press Release

By Cassondra Strande

The Poco Fire, which is burning 6 miles northeast of Young in the Tonto National Forest, has grown to 11,111 acres, fire officials said.

The blaze, which increased by 2,900 acres since Wednesday, is 15 percent contained, said Punky Moore, a spokeswoman for the firefighting efforts.

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.

Crews responded to at least one new fire in the Tonto National Forest on Thursday.

The 177 Fire, which started along side Arizona 177 near Milepost 164, has burned about 10 acres. Four engines, two crews, a helicopter and an air-response crew worked to contain the fire Thursday afternoon.

The fire, about 6 miles south of Superior, forced the Arizona Department of Transportation to close Arizona 177 at the Arizona 60 junction.

Two other wildfires were being monitored Thursday.

The Fox Fire in the Coronado National Forest has now blackened 7,500 acres of grassland and brush in a remote section of the Rincon Wilderness. It was 60 percent contained despite an acre increase Thursday.

The Sunflower Fire, also in the Tonto forest, remains at 80 percent containment after burning 17,446 acres, according to fire spokesman David Aldo.

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