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How Wildfires and Monsoons Threaten Arizona's Precious Water Supply

By Elizabeth Whitman
Jul 11, 2019

The Woodbury Fire burned close to the Salt River, which supplies water to Valley cities.
Wildfire Expert Alleges Arizona Forestry Division Covering Up Yarnell Hill Tragedy

By John Dougherty
Apr 5, 2016

A long-anticipated field presentation scheduled today by the Arizona Forestry Division for the families of 19 incinerated Granite Mountain Hotshots – during which relatives are to be taken to the site where their loved ones perished — has been sharply criticized for failing to accurately portray what happened. During the...
Video: Elephants Chase Arizona Senator Jeff Flake

By Ray Stern
Feb 25, 2016

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake released a video today of his vehicle convoy in Africa that was charged by elephants. Flake and a delegation of Congressmen were on a mission to several African countries last week to learn more about the devastating effects of wildlife poaching. He and U.S. Representative Chris...
Key Evidence in Arizona's Yarnell Hill Fire Tragedy Never Provided to Official Investigators

By John Dougherty
Dec 16, 2015

Key evidence that could explain why the Granite Mountain Hotshots moved from a safe location into a treacherous box canyon where 19 men died on June 30, 2013, was in the Office of the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's possession but was not provided to a contracted state investigation into the...
Another Fire Breaks Out North of Sedona

By Matthew Hendley
Jun 17, 2014

Another fire has broken out around Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona, less than two weeks after firefighters were able to contain the 22,000 acre Slide Fire.This new fire reported yesterday afternoon, nicknamed the Junipine Fire, grew only to 12 acres as of yesterday evening...
Photos: Aftermath of the Slide Fire Near Sedona

By Matthew Hendley
Jun 12, 2014

The 21,000-acre Slide Fire that burned north of Sedona has created risks of falling rocks and ash and other debris being swept into water sources.The Burned Area Emergency Response team has been tasked with mitigating various hazards caused by the fire, and one of the team's reports includes several photos...
Bryan Teague Ordered to Pay $5,000 for Starting 5,220-acre Tonto Wildfire

By Ray Stern
Dec 23, 2013

A Peoria man who was convicted in September of starting a 5,220-acre wildfire with a propane tank has been ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. The U.S. Forest Service had recommended that Bryan Teague pay $487,000 to reimburse the costs of fighting the 2012 fire, making it appear as though...
Arizona Wildfire Starter Bryan Teague Sentenced to One Week in Prison

By Ray Stern
Sep 16, 2013

Peoria resident Bryan Teague has been sentenced to a week in federal prison and two years' supervised probation for starting the August 2012 Mistake Peak Fire in the Tonto National Forest. Still uncertain is whether he'll have to pay nearly half a million dollars in firefighting costs...
Bryan Teague Should Get Prison Time and Pay $487K for Mistake Peak Fire, Feds Say

By Ray Stern
Sep 6, 2013

Bryan Teague, who started last year's Mistake Peak Fire by kicking a propane tank into a campfire, should spend 30 days in prison and pay $487,000 in restitution, federal officials say. The 56-year-old Peoria resident was convicted in May after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts for causing the 5,220-acre...
Good News: Giant Plume of Smoke From APS Transformer Fire Won't Kill You

By James King
Dec 6, 2011

There's good news and bad news about the transformer that caught fire in Phoenix last night.The good news: the enormous plume of smoke that is currently drifting West over downtown Phoenix is non-toxic.The bad news: the smoke could be here for a while -- Phoenix fire crews are going to...
Former County Constable Jonathan Levenson Busted in Anti-Semitic Scam to Torch Home For Insurance Payout

By James King
Oct 24, 2011

A former Maricopa County constable was arrested over the weekend after police say he conspired to burn his house down so he could collect an insurance payout.According to the Tempe Police Department, former Kyrene Justice Court Constable Jonathan Harold Irwin Levenson, who is Jewish, planned to make the blaze look...
Suzanne Izenberg Tried to Burn Down Her Own House Three Times in Less Than Two Years

By James King
Sep 1, 2011

When Suzanne Izenberg was arrested for arson yesterday, the arresting officer suggested to the court that she not be released on bail because she's a drug abuser and there's a good chance she'll try to set something else on fire -- which makes a lot of sense considering she's tried...
Two Charged in Wallow Fire. Blaze Cost $79 Million to Put Out

By James King
Aug 24, 2011

The United States Department of Justice announced today that two men have been charged in connection with starting the Wallow fire, the behemoth blaze that destroyed a large portion of the Apache National Forest earlier this year.According to the DOJ, the two suspects, Caleb Joshua Malboeuf, 26, and David Wayne...
SRP Transformer Catches Fire -- 80,000 Residents in Mesa and Apache Junction Without Power

By Adele Hampton
Jun 30, 2011

About 80,000 people in Mesa and Apache Junction are without power because of a fire on a Salt River Project transformer. The transformer -- on the corner of Power Road and University Drive in northeast Mesa -- caught fire this morning about 11:45, leaving about 30,000 residents without power. However, Salt River...
Leonard Gregg, Starter of 2002 Rodeo Fire, Scheduled to be Released From Prison Tomorrow

By Ray Stern
Jun 16, 2011

As firefighters continue to battle the Wallow fire in eastern Arizona, the starter of half of the monstrous 2002 Rodeo-Chedeski fire is scheduled to be released from prison tomorrow. Leonard Gregg, an Apache who lived in Cibecue, admitted he'd started two fires -- Rodeo and Pine. The former wildland...
Two People Questioned Over Campfire That Started Largest Wildfire in Arizona History

By Ray Stern
Jun 15, 2011

Two likely very unhappy campers are getting questioned today in connection with a campfire left burning on May 29 that apparently started the largest wildfire in Arizona history. Media reports state that the feds aren't releasing names, nor have they arrested anyone. Meanwhile, the nearly half-million-acre Wallow fire is...
Morning Poll: Are Hippies to Blame for Wallow Fire?

By James King
Jun 13, 2011

The enormous Wallow Fire continues to rage in eastern Arizona, and it has rekindled the debate over whether environmentalists are to blame for wildfires.Over the years, environmentalists have filed lawsuits that put restrictions on loggers who clear a lot of the dry brush from the forests. They say "old-growth" logging puts...
Burn, Baby, Burn? With Half of Arizona Homes Underwater, Some People May Hope Wildfires Solve Their Problem

By Ray Stern
Jun 9, 2011

With half of Arizona homes worth far less than the mortgages owed on them, some homeowners may be secretly wishing the wildfires would pay their property a visit. We ran that idea past a couple of real estate agents today, and both agreed it makes sense. "A fire could be a blessing in disguise...
Senator Jon Kyl Says "Summer Home" Might be in Path of Wallow Fire -- Which is Actually a "Factual Statement"

By James King
Jun 9, 2011

Senator Jon Kyl was overheard today expressing concern about a summer home he claims to own that might be in the path of the Wallow fire raging in eastern Arizona.Given the senator's history with "factual statements," we decided to check it out...
Six Structures Lost in Greer to Wallow Fire; Weather Conditions a Slight Improvement for Firefighters

By Ray Stern
Jun 9, 2011

Greer lost six structures last night to the still-growing Wallow fire, but weather conditions are expected to improve today for firefighters.A U.S. Forest Service spokesman said the blaze, for now, is holding to its eastern borders."It did push into some structures last night, but we were able to push it...