A mountain biking event on the Mogollon Rim next month aims to raise money to protect the area's towns from devastating wildfires.
The Fire on the Rim event is scheduled for Saturday, September 17, in the Rim Country town of Pine and the surrounding Tonto National Forest. It features races of 15, 30 and 45 miles. It's the highlight of a three-day festival (September 16-18) that includes a community dinner, live music, a beer garden, food trucks, vendors, raffles and kids activities.
The event is coordinated by the Pine Strawberry Fuel Reduction Committee, and proceeds from it go toward wildfire prevention, trail advocacy and development of new trails in Rim Country. The committee was formed in 2004, after an assessment gave Pine and Strawberry a 20 percent chance of surviving a catastrophic wildfire in the area. Since then, it's worked to reduce brush and other fuels, build trails to provide fire breaks, and educate property owners on how to make the area more safe from fire.
Nearly 300 mountain bikers from around the country competed in the event last year, organizers said. THAT Brewery, a craft brewery based in Pine, is the event's title sponsor.
To learn more about Fire on the Rim or register for the race, visit www.fireontherim.com.