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Fire Collateral
Damage
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The Hargus Ranch, a sheep herding
headquarters, was  built
at the mouth of a canyon on the north slope of the Harcuvar Mountains
and was used between 1920 and 1940. Seeps and shallow water table
in the canyon have attracted people to the area, and prehistoric
sites indicate that the area has been used for over 7,000 years.
The historic ranch site was located at a popular access point
to the Harcuvar Mountains Wilderness Area and the Lake Havasu
Field Office intended to interpret the historic and current grazing
use, as well as the Wilderness Area for the public.
Although the fire came close, fire
fighters saved Hargus Ranch from the 1999 Harcuvar Fire. However,
following the fire, three major floods came down the canyon. The
intensity of the storms was unusual for winter rains in the area
and the seedlings that had sprouted after the fire could not hold
back tons of water and debris. The wall of water from the first
storm destroyed all of the outbuildings and severely damaged the
house. The site is still an important landmark to the local community
and Arizona Site Stewards have helped the BLM clean out and stabilize
the damaged remaining structure.
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