Residents of Alpine and Nutrioso were evacuated from their homes last night as the Wallow Fire raged on. The fire has consumed 106,000 acres and is at zero percent containment as of Friday, June 3.
Much of this area is well over 8,000 feet in elevation. Every spring, after the snowpack melts, the winds come a-blowin' and turn the forest into a tinderbox. The country is very rugged and much of it is inaccessible except by foot, horseback, or parachute. I love this forest, and have spent many years hiking, hunting, snowmobiling, and fishing there. This gives you an idea of what the forest looked like before the fire:
Please say an extra prayer for the firefighters/smoke jumpers who are battling this monster, and for the people and animals fleeing ahead of the flames.
UPDATE: 6/7 Here's a photo taken this afternoon, from Springerville. Evacuations are currently underway.
UPDATE: 6/8: From Springerville:
Conditions are worse this morning, and the fire is still 0% contained. It stretches (as a crow flies) about 20 miles, and its borders extend from just outside Luna, New Mexico to just outside Greer, Arizona. High winds and dry lightening are in the forecast for the next few days.
ReplyDeleteThe Blue has been evacuated. A friend told me this morning that Greer has also been evacuated. Residents of Springerville and Eagar are being told to mow down all their grass, move woodpiles away from structures, and make preparations to evacuate.
The fire has overrun the Big Lake Lookout Tower. It is expected to cross into the San Carlos and/or Apache Reservations sometime today.
There are approximately 50 firefighters stranded in the Hannigan's Meadow area, and supplies are being airdropped to them. Nearly 1,100 firefighters, from multiple departments and jurisdictions, are currently battling this inferno. Embers are being carried by the high winds, and creating spot fires miles from the main conflagration, spreading fire crews thin.
The smoke plume has extended all the way to Albuquerque. So far, this is the 4th largest fire in Arizona history. It may be number one before this is all over (the worst being the Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002, not far from where this one is burning. Actually two fires that merged into one, the Rodeo fire burned 469,000 acres. Wallow is quickly approaching 200,000, with no containment in sight.)
Making my morning news crawl, I see that Fox and CNN have picked up the story.
ReplyDeleteThis is terrible Lady Red. My thoughts and prayers for the locals and for the brave firefighters. It brings back memories of the terrible Carmel fire in Israel in the winter. It's horrifying to see, terribly sad to witness the destruction of such beautiful forests and terrifying for all those involved.
ReplyDeleteI hope no one is holding their breaths waiting for the Federal Government to declare it a disaster area. As with Texas, the state probably votes the wrong way for that.
ReplyDeleteIt just keeps growing. Sunrise Ski Resort, on the Apache res, is now being evacuated, and the towns of Springerville and Eagar are being given pre-evac instructions.
ReplyDelete234,000 acres, and 2,300 firefighters. 0% containment.
Annie, thank you so much for your prayers. The firefighters need all the help they can get. Matt, I don't foresee a lot of disaster assistance being given to Arizona, but at least the feds are sending fire crews and support staff. This monster could burn unabated until the monsoon rains come, usually the first week in July.
311,000 acres. 0% containment. Winds are in excess of 60mph. From the WMI:
ReplyDelete6/7/11 1:10 pm – The Incident Commander for the Wallow Fire states it is highly likely that there will be an evacuation for Eagar and Springerville within the next 2-3 hours.
The population of these two towns (separated by only a sign, and known collectively as Round Valley) is about 6,000.
Here is an amazing map.
ReplyDeleteHope I'm not boring you all to tears, but this forest is one of my favorite places, and I have family who live there.
Lady Red, you are not boring me. I am deeply saddened by the destruction, and praying for the people who live nearby.
ReplyDeleteThanks DWT. Prayers are welcome.
ReplyDeleteThey've just started the evacuation of Round Valley. They're doing it in stages, from south to north, so they can get everyone out. There is only one two-lane highway left open.
I have many friends there. I hope and pray they get their families out safely. My family members are safe, but my brother and SIL's home is right in the path of the fire. :(
I've updated my original post with a photo taken this afternoon from Springerville. :(
ReplyDeleteI just got word that my SIL's brother is out safely. Albuquerque is sending 40 trucks, plus equipment and people, to help protect homes.
ReplyDelete311,000 acres. 0% containment. Winds are in excess of 60mph.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, lady red. You definitely have my prayers.
I've added two more photos. 0% containment. 389,000 acres.
ReplyDeleteLady Red, you have my prayers, too. Along with my prayers of help, prayers of thanks also go out to the people fighting this disaster.
ReplyDelete(Sorry I have been short on comments -- my laptop seems to have a problem with the blog. Same problem I had last week -- if I try and post a comment, it says I am not logged in. I go to log in, it says I am logged in. I go to post a comment, it says I am not logged in. There have been several comments I have wanted to make over the past few days but the the mind was willing but the computer was week.)
UPDATE, for those following the Wallow Fire:
ReplyDeleteDate Started: 5/29/2011
Number of Personnel: Approximately 3,012
Location: south and west of Alpine, Arizona
Including 24 hotshot crews and 79 handcrews
Cause: Human - under investigation
Equipment: 18 dozers, 197 engines, 61 tenders
Size: 386,690 acres based on last night's infrared flight
Aircraft: 16 helicopters
Percent Contained: 5%
Injuries to Date: 3 minor injuries
Residences: 5,242 threatened, 29 destroyed, 5 damaged
Structures: 24 destroyed
Other: 1 truck destroyed
Only 5% contained.
ReplyDeleteI pray that the weather will cooperate and that they get this under control somehow before more lives and homes are gone. The damage to nature and wildlife is horrific.
Florrie, the firefighters are reporting thousands of dead elk and deer. Also, I think that there were two packs of Mexican Grays with pups that are probably gone as well. :(
ReplyDeleteThis afternoon's update: 409,000 acres burned. The fire crews are doing an outstanding job protecting lives and property, under extremely hazardous conditions. I wish I could hug 'em all!
Just hard to wrap your mind around 409,000 acres burned.
ReplyDeleteYes, the fire crews are putting their lives on the line. I'm sure they've had little sleep or contact with their own families.
I just heard on the news that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated half a million bucks to help with rebuilding in Joplin. Two thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteYou know, with all the natural disasters that have befallen our country lately, I cringe at the thought that hurricane season is upon us.