This is a simple park and grab. It is located at an overlook on the Mogollon Rim along the Rim Road (FR 300) between FR 95 and FR139. It is under a large rock: you will need to go down a couple of feet but it is more than 10 feet from the “edge.” Nonetheless, not a great location for small children: leave them in the car.
Fire on the Rim is located where two major and fatal fires occurred. The first one was the Dude Fire, which occurred during record heat in June of 1990. Here is the account from the Rim Country Museum (https://rimcountrymuseum.org/dude-fire/): "On June 26th at about 2:00 p.m. a dry thunderstorm broke in the fire areas, blasting the firestorm in four directions at once. The fire engulfed homes in Bonita Creek Estates and the historic Pyle Ranch. In Walk Moore Canyon, just north of the Control Road, six firefighters were killed when they could not escape from the fire and the hot winds produced by this type of plume-dominated fire. The six were volunteers from Perryville State Prison in Phoenix; five inmates and one prison supervisor. On June 27th, the governor declared northern Gila County a disaster area and the Town of Payson proclaimed a local emergency. By the next day the fire had destroyed over 21,000 acres and burned the historic Zane Grey Cabin and other structures. Forest Road 300 served as a boundary on the north that kept the fire from hopping up onto the Rim. By Sunday, July 1st, six days after it began, the fire was declared “under control” and evacuated residents were allowed to return."
The Highline Fire On June 10, 2017 a fire started near Bonita Creek and above the Highline trail in the vegetative overgrowth of the Dude Fire. Recognizing the potential for spread both on top of the rim and to adjacent communities, a Type I fire management team was immediately requested. The fire eventually merged with a smaller fire on top of the rim (including the area where this letterbox is placed). After aggressive fire management, it was contained, and the surrounding areas breathed a sigh of relief that no homes were destroyed and no fatalities occurred.
Unfortunately, the fire resulted in a flash flood that killed 10 people. Here is a newspaper account of the tragedy (http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/gila_county/water-wheel-tragedy/article_ae83a907-6c3b-5c47-bcc7-5d8586e804e3.html): "Floodwaters rushing off slopes denuded by the Highline Fire killed 10 people on Saturday as water loaded with logs and debris rampaged down Ellison Creek and into the East Verde. Those killed were members of a Valley family celebrating a birthday with a dip in a creek that draws hundreds of swimmers every weekend."
"The normally docile stream turned into a murderous chaos of black water, logs and debris. By the time the flood subsided, it left debris in branches of trees on shore six feet above even the swollen river level. The debris-laden floodwaters carried more than a dozen people downstream, all friends and family members gathered to celebrate the birthday of a woman whose entire family was consumed by the flood."
This Letterbox commemorates all those who fight wildfires, and those who have lost their lives because of wildfires. As you travel this beautiful area, please be mindful of fire.
This is a letterbox hybrid. In addition to the normal logbook and trade items, it also contains a letterbox stamp, inkpad, and stamp book. Please do not remove the stamp, ink pad, or stamp book. THEY ARE NOT TRADE ITEMS!