At least 325 of 340 structures, businesses and homes, were lost to the fire. Firefighters were ordered to save only those building that could be saved in minutes because the fire spread so rapidly.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
As the Aspen Fire barrels up Marshall Gulch and through Summerhaven, a home on Phoenix Avenue falls to the flames – one of more than 300 structures destroyed. Losing them frustrated firefighters who were trained to save buildings but forced by flames to fall back.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Seen from just north of Catalina, the Aspen Fire illuminates the jagged silhouette of the town's namesake. The blaze continues to sweep across the top of a "sky island" mountain range that has always offered Tucson residents relief from the scorching desert below.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star 2004
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.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Dani Hayhurst holds a picture of the interior of one of her cabins before it was destroyed by the Aspen Fire. Dani and Pat Hayhurst lost two cabins, and rebuilding, for them, is a tribute to the past.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
A giant plume of smoke is created as the Aspen Fire moves into the Mount Lemmon mountain top town of Summerhaven as hotshot crews and firefighters could only watch. All emergency personnel were evacuated to the Box Camp Trailhead where their efforts were reduced to watching.
Photos: The Aspen Fire in 2003
The Aspen Fire devastated Summerhaven and Mt. Lemmon in 2003.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Corona de Tucson and Three Points firefighters battle to save a house on Phoenix Avenue near Carter Canyon Road.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Fire crews drive back into Summerhaven after the Aspen Fire raged through Summerhaven.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Weapons used in the fight against the Aspen Fire included air power. Here, an Erickson S-64 Air-Crane Helitanker makes a water drop in Esperero Canyon.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
An air tanker's retardant is spread ahead of flames early in the fire's progress. But the fire soon made such efforts look puny.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
As the Aspen Fire barrels up Marshall Gulch and through Summerhaven, a home on Phoenix Avenue falls to the flames – one of more than 300 structures destroyed. Losing them frustrated firefighters who were trained to save buildings but forced by flames to fall back.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Heavy smoke envelopes a hotshot crew as firefighters wait for flames to move toward them.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
The remains of the Alpine Lodge in the heart of Summerhaven, just days after the Aspen Fire destroyed much of the village.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
A crew member of the Sacramento Hot Shots uses a flare to ignite a backburn along the Catalina Highway near the Alder picnic area.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star 2003
Aerial of what is left of the Alpine Lodge in Summerhaven after the Aspen Fire burned through the town.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Steve Hulland Jr. and his wife, Samantha, draw support from each other. Mount Lemmon Cabins & Cookies, which went up in flames, was their family business.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star 2003
The Aspen Fire as seen from the east side of Tucson. This photo was taken June 23, 2003.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star 2003
Smoke from the Aspen Fire on Mount Lemmon is visible from miles away. This photo was taken from the east side of town.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
A burned car and the rubble of buildings show the fire's destructiveness along Summerhaven's main drag, where so many Tucsonans once enjoyed the mountain ambience.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Water tenders sit idle ready to provide support for hot spots in Summerhaven. The remains of the Alpine Lodge is at right.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Seen from just north of Catalina, the Aspen Fire illuminates the jagged silhouette of the town's namesake. The blaze continues to sweep across the top of a "sky island" mountain range that has always offered Tucson residents relief from the scorching desert below.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
A scorched motorcycle sits along Ajo Avenue in Summerhaven.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Bob Foster hands his wife, the Rev. Jo Foster, a tea kettle from the kitchen area of their home on Ajo Avenue in Summerhaven.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Employee Jennifer Breed sorts through the rubble for beads and other trinkets at what used to be the Living Rainbow business along Sabino Canyon Parkway in Summerhaven.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star
Daniela Guerrero, 4, enjoys the playground equipment at First Avenue Elementary School as waves of smoke from the Aspen Fire blow over San Manuel, reducing the sun to a dim glow.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- Aaron Latham / Arizona Daily Star
Flames from the Aspen Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains encroach on radio towers atop Radio Ridge. This photo was taken June 20, 2003.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star 2004
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.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star 2005
Two years after the devastating fire, homes are being rebuilt in Summerhaven.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Part of the recovery effort from the Aspen Fire involved collecting some of the items that have been salvaged and are in widely varying condition.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Dani Hayhurst holds a picture of the interior of one of her cabins before it was destroyed by the Aspen Fire. Dani and Pat Hayhurst lost two cabins, and rebuilding, for them, is a tribute to the past.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
A chimney stack is all that remains of one house, while an undamaged home is seen in the background near the intersection of Phoenix Avenue and East Carter Canyon Road.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
The Aspen Fire consumes two homes close together near Phoenix Avenue and East Carter Canyon in Summerhaven.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
A giant plume of smoke is created as the Aspen Fire moves into the Mount Lemmon mountain top town of Summerhaven as hotshot crews and firefighters could only watch. All emergency personnel were evacuated to the Box Camp Trailhead where their efforts were reduced to watching.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Fire equipment and emergency personnel pass the Alpine Lodge as they evacuate Summerhaven just hours before the fire swept through. Alpine Lodge burned down to its foundation.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
The lush forest and the vibrant village of Summerhaven were largely reduced to ashes and smoldering rubble.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Brenda Young and Sharon Brady watch the Aspen Fire from Two O'Clock Hill in Oracle, which firefighters shielded with fuel breaks and intentional burns.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star 2005
People walk through hundreds of trees in 2005 that burned during the 2003 Aspen fire.
The Aspen Fire in 2003
- James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star 2005
Homes are rebuilt in 2005 in Summerhaven and the surrounding area after the Aspen Fire raged through the area.
Johanna Eubank is a digital producer for the Arizona Daily Star and tucson.com. She has been with the Star in various capacities since 1991. Contact her at jeubank@tucson.com
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Johanna Eubank
Online producer
