In every talk I give about survival signalling I discuss the importance of ensuring that your signal fire (or camp fire for that matter) doesn't create a forest fire. It will get noticed, but... Usually everyone gets a good laugh, but I don't think anyone really believe that it could happen. Read on...<br><br>Lost woman sets signal fire in woods; blaze continues to grow<br><br>Judi Villa<br>The Arizona Republic<br>June 20, 2002 12:55:00<br><br>A woman lost in the woods set a signal fire Thursday that quickly consumed nearly 200 acres of wildland and threatened the town of Heber, officials said.<br><br>A helicopter from KPHX-TV Channel 5 saw the fire and rescued her. Neither the television crew nor the woman extinguished the fire before leaving.<br><br>"They didn't take the time to put the fire out. Nobody did," said Dorman McGann, a spokesman for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.<br><br>The fire had burned 180 acres by early afternoon and was continuing to grow. It is about 10 miles south and east of Heber near the Gentry Lookout Tower. City officials went through Heber neighborhoods, telling residents to prepare to evacuate. If given the order, residents will have only about 30 minutes to get out.<br><br>McGann said the woman was with a female friend when they got lost in the woods and the friend set out for help. She stayed, spotted the Channel 5 helicopter and set the fire to draw the pilot's attention. She was taken to an unknown hospital. Her name was not available.<br><br>There will be a criminal investigation into the fire, McGann said.<br><br>I should also note that the latest large fire here in Arizona, named the Rodeo Fire, grew from 300 acres to 50,000 acres in 12 hours! Please be careful out there, it's a tinderbox.<br>