The Bullock Fire in 2002

An air tanker — one of 10 — drops fire retardant on the Bullock Fire. The slurry is a mixture of water, chemical fire inhibitors and crimson dye that shows pilots what's already been hit.

The Nuttall Complex Fire in 2004

In this image from video, smoke and flames from the Gibson fire draw near to the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) atop Mount Graham near Safford, Ariz., Saturday, July 3, 2004. The observatory's third and largest telescope is partly finished, but for the second time in eight years a forest fi…

The Nuttall Complex Fire in 2004

A Sky Crane helitanker retrieves fire retardant from tanks at a mixture base before making another run at the Gibson Fire outside Safford.

The Nuttall Complex Fire in 2004

Jim Bell, center, and Austin Peck, right, of Northwest Fire work near the Noon Creek Campground.

The Nuttall Complex Fire in 2004

Flames race up a ridgeline in the Pinaleno Mountains, where the Nuttall and Gibson fires grew to 27,000 acres Thursday.

The Rodeo-Chediski Fire in 2002

Stuart Rodeffer, of Tucson's Northwest Fire and Rescue, moves a propane tank away from a burning home.

The Rodeo-Chediski Fire in 2002

Fire engulfs ponderosa pines off Forest Road 322 in Aripine.

The Rodeo-Chediski Fire in 2002

A Corona de Tucson firefighter flees wind-driven flames near a hot spot at a girls camp off Forest Road 322 in Aripine.

The Aspen Fire in 2003

Leroy Day and his wife, Jeanne Mayer, both firefighters with the Mount Lemmon Fire Department, rebuild their home in 2004 after the Aspen Fire. In the background is their neighbor's home. Many homes along North Ajo in Summerhaven were destroyed by the Aspen Fire.

Fighting fire with ... preparation: Agencies gather in Oracle, north of Tucson, for training

Incident commander Andy Miller of the Casa Grande Fire Department gives the morning briefing to the couple hundred firefighters from throughout Arizona gathered for the Pima/Pinal Interagency Wildland Drill in Oracle, north of Tucson.

Fighting fire with ... preparation: Agencies gather in Oracle, north of Tucson, for training

Chris Dawson from the Northwest Fire District refolds a test personal-emergency shelter after using it during a drill. Some of the state and local agencies participating have already fought early fires this season.

Fighting fire with ... preparation: Agencies gather in Oracle, north of Tucson, for training

ORACLE - More than a dozen local, state and federal firefighting agencies gathered Tuesday to train for what could be an active fire season in Southern Arizona.

State Briefs

Fort Bragg soldier killed while sky diving

Aspen Fire recovery

Aspens have already begun to sprout up in places on Mt. Lemmon burned over by the Aspen Fire. Here, a cabin in Summerhaven already has a grove of the young trees next to it. Photo taken Thursday, July 21, 2005, by Chris Richards, Arizona Daily Star.

Aspen Fire recovery

Customers and well-wishers mill around shortly after the grand reopening of the Mt. Lemmon General Store & Gift Shop in Summerhaven, AZ., Saturday June 19, 2004. Photo by Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star