Lost hikers started a signal fire outside Crown King and it quickly became a full out wildfire. Crown King has been completely evacuated and the fire was last reported half a mile from town. Residents said flames could be seen coming over the hill as they were evacuating.

A Sunday afternoon thunderstorm pushed the flames south, away from Crown King, but FD says the town is still in danger.

AZcentral news link

Man, that stinks.

Skatch - you hike a lot. Is a signal fire typical protocol, or did they just panic, or have they watched one too many "shipwrecked on a desert island, I need to start a fire to be rescued" movies?

The article says that search and rescue teams saw the signal fire, but due to rough terrain, didn't start their search until the next day... if I'm ever lost, that's going to be in the back of mind that someone knows I'm out here, but "hey! we'll get to them tomorrow!". Yikes. 8|

the last few major fires in AZ are results of hikers getting lost and starting signal fires. I think the one that burned allot of northern az a few years back ended up getting fined a big amount for the signal fire she started because it spread and burned several thousand acres of forest land

Chris the 1st fire was from a hiker and they got that under control then a voulnt fire fighter started the 2nd one that went out of control so he could keep working.

Watching this on the news yesterday just sickened me. CK is one of the last remaining relevant little mining towns left in AZ. The majority of us have spent a lot of time up there. To know that 1 or 2 IDIOT ECCO-TERRORISTS might potentially cause the permanent demise of historic Arizona.

That totally sucks to here about the fire Shanda (aka girlfriend) has been asking me to take her and the kids the back way up and now that might not ever happen total bummer

Longarmjpxj wrote:That totally sucks to here about the fire Shanda (aka girlfriend) has been asking me to take her and the kids the back way up and now that might not ever happen total bummer

If you guys do decide to do that, let me know. Ivan loves that trip and I'd like to take Jen and Katelyn too...

alanzona wrote:If you guys do decide to do that, let me know. Ivan loves that trip and I'd like to take Jen and Katelyn too...

I too have yet to go that way or even to get to Crown King.
So let me know too :)g)

Oh and if you get lost... HAM RADIO!!!!

That was my 1st trip. Dana, Michael and Jono thought it would be funny to put a driver ed sticker on my jeep. It was pretty funny.

lol ouch nate how bad did that hurt

I got out too pee and I saw it. Michael and Dana said oooooo no you have to leave it on. And I did. It was one of the best trips I have been on. Great Views, Snow and Bob Helping me with driving up one little run. It had it all.

offroadaz wrote: I think the one that burned allot of northern az a few years back ended up getting fined a big amount for the signal fire she started because it spread and burned several thousand acres of forest land

It was in 2002 and they were the Rodeo and Chedeski fires. The first fire was set by a forest employee. While fire crest were trying to put out the first fire, a lost couple stared a signal fire to get the attention of the water helicopters for rescue.

The people were rescued but the 2 fires merged which became the largest fire recoreded in Arizona history.

Spshlj wrote:It was in 2002 and they were the Rodeo and Chedeski fires. The first fire was set by a forest employee. While fire crest were trying to put out the first fire, a lost couple stared a signal fire to get the attention of the water helicopters for rescue.

The people were rescued but the 2 fires merged which became the largest fire recoreded in Arizona history.

Yeah, wasn't that guy a volunteer fire fighter on one of the reservations? And was afraid he was not going to have any work. Wonder if that guy is still in jail?