Wildfire update: Crews to be on scene for 'couple of days'

July 8, 2008 - 10:41 AM

PHOTO BY RYAN BRENNECKE/THE SUN
A CONTROLLED BURNED spread to brush near Avenue 17E and County 4th Street on Monday, just west of the Dome Canal, and south of the Gila Levee.

Fire crews continue to battle a wildfire Tuesday in the Dome Valley area, where 220 acres have been burned.

No structures are threatened by the fire, which officials say will likely keep crews on the scene for the "next couple days," according to Ken Palmrose, information office with the Bureau of Land Management in Phoenix.

Strong winds fanned the controlled burn into a wildfire early Monday evening. The fire was reported as out of control at 6:41 p.m.

As of late Tuesday morning three fire engines, two hand crews and a bull dozer were battling the blaze.

Palmrose declined to predict when crews might have the fire under control.

"The crews don't see any big problems out there, though. They say once they get the bulldozer out there they'll have a good handle on things," Palmrose said.

The land involved is mostly owned by BLM, with the burn site stretching across both sides of the Gila River, according to Palmrose.

The fire is primarily consuming salt cedar and arrow weed.