STORM2K

WELL folks, it's happened.......the FIRST of MANY to come, we have a wildfire and it's NOT good The "February" Fire has grown to 400 acres, started late Monday night in the area hit hardest by the Western Bark Beetle........this is what's REALLY making it bad. The area, on U.S. Highway 260 between Payson and Christopher Creek just below the Mogollon Rim. Winds are gusting to 35 MPH in the area of the fire. ONCE the fire reaches the top of the Rim.....it's a clear shot to Show Low, Pinetop and surrounding areas. The area that's burning has an estimated 20 "million" DEAD Ponderosa Pines thanks to the beetle......they are matchsticks soaked in gasoline waiting to burn More bad news........there are virtually NO WILDLAND fire crews on board yet, the hiring process is underway, the crews that ARE available are in California fighting THAT fire

One way to look at it I guess.........."if" this fire does make it all the way to Pinetop, I won't have to worry about the REST of the fire season. I posted a Special Statement from the NWS in Flagstaff in the Winter Forum in regards to what's fixing to happen..........this REALLY stinks

Dennis

The 400 acres I qouted is the new estimate at 1500 hrs. MST according to the forest service scanner here at the police dept......needless to say, we are GLUED to the scanner......we have made prelimary plans here at the station for a evacuation in the next 4 days if this fire is not contained SOON

http://www.azcentral.com



Wildfire burns 150 acres north of Payson

12 News / Associated Press
Feb. 7, 2006 09:34 AM


PAYSON - A wildfire has broken out along the Mogollon Rim, north of Payson, and has charred 150 acres in very rugged terrain.

"We are aggressively attacking this fire to limit its spread in the area," said Tonto Fire Management Officer Jeff Borucki. "This is the first serious fire on the Tonto this year, and we want to make sure it doesn't grow into a larger problem.

Tonto National Forest spokesman Vinnie Picard said the blaze, dubbed the February fire, was reported about 8 p.m. Monday. He said it began in the Coconino National Forest and then spread into the Tonto.

Picard said there have been no structures burned, nor any injuries, and that the cause isn't known, though forest officials believe it's human-caused because of a lack of lightning in the area.

Two helicopters and crews have been dispatched to the scene.

Oh i pray for rain for yall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and may all the smoke jumpers stay safe!!!!!!!

Dennis - I can't even comprehend what this feels like but sometimes I have to bite my tongue, cause I want to ask you....

have you ever considered moving? Not saying you need to pack up right now. But if this is going to be a trend, I don't know.....this doesn't sound like paradise to me or your former little slice of Heaven. Sad that it has come to this though, Mother Nature at her very worst.

I'm so sorry. I will pray for rain.

Mary

I've thought the same thing myself Miss Mary but I think that this has been "home" all his life if I remember.

It must be some kind of long-term phase that has kicked in that unfortunately will change when it is good and ready.

I sure hope they will be able to contain it soon, an no new fires break out. I will do a lil' rain dance for ya. Heres hoping you guys get some wet stuff to douse the flames, or at least slow it down.

My home state is praying for more rain as well. There was one wildfire over a month that wiped 80% Ringgold, TX off the face of the earth.

Leaving LAX yesterday afternoon, we flew directly over the fires in Anaheim Hills on our way back to Phoenix.

The scary part of these early season fires is that the temperatures at night are in the 30's and 40's in a many areas and the full effect of drying and winds will not arrive for weeks.

Nature has a way of compensating...first drought, then flooding, and then things in between. We all know this will be the case in southern California and again in Arizona. Both of these regions are areas of extremes, not consistent and predictable conditions.

We will learn some things about risk factors and rural housing...not all that different than the lessons of Florida and New Orleans and hurricanes.

If we are going to want to live among nature's environment, then we must learn to contend with, and be smart about, the real possibilities of wildfire on the loose.

Dennis, I have a very bad feeling it is only going to get worse. My brother is fireman for L.A. County and the fire burning in Corona/Cleveland National Forest is very early. Considering it is still Winter, the fires are starting way to early.

Offical acreage as of 1000 hrs MST via the PD scanner, we are now at 1000+ acres, moving in a NE-E direction, 3/4 mile from topping the Rim, winds in EXCESS of 40 MPH expected with gusts to OVER 60 MPH within the fire expected, RH 9%, DEWPOINT -2°...........'PRIME FIRE CONDITIONS, FIRE IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED 3000 acres by nightfall with a EASTERN movement predicted.....expected time of arrival to Heber/Overgaard area 72 hours.

God Help Us!

Miss Mary.........NO I'm NOT moving, I mean, people along the Gulf Coast haven't moved since Katrina and this hurricance season is expected to be as bad if not worse than last year..........go figure, we're only human!

Dennis

azskyman wrote:
Nature has a way of compensating...first drought, then flooding, and then things in between. We all know this will be the case in southern California and again in Arizona. Both of these regions are areas of extremes, not consistent and predictable conditions.

That is what it seems to be happening - first the beetle then the drought. It's like Ma Nature is cleaning house before restoring her. I hope that this cycle ends soon though.

Stephanie wrote:

azskyman wrote:
Nature has a way of compensating...first drought, then flooding, and then things in between. We all know this will be the case in southern California and again in Arizona. Both of these regions are areas of extremes, not consistent and predictable conditions.

That is what it seems to be happening - first the beetle then the drought. It's like Ma Nature is cleaning house before restoring her. I hope that this cycle ends soon though.

That's EXACTLY right Stephanie Mother Nature knows FAR better than man and his modern technology in what needs to be done. I blame the radical ENVIRON"MENTALISTS" for the conditions in the forests now......overgrown and choking itself to death with undergrowth. I also put the current Administration on the hot seat for these conditions! Fire is NATURAL and with the USDA's Plan of Action until LAST year, was to supress the fires, even the little ones that are needed to clean the forest floors........that has since changed thanks to Congress.

It is indeed a tough situation.....but as I've said before, "Let go and let God Go!" (or in this case, let Mother Nature GO and work HER magic!)

Dennis

BTW.....the fire is now at 1500 acres and has "Crowned"......which BTW is the WORST fire!

azskyman wrote:Leaving LAX yesterday afternoon, we flew directly over the fires in Anaheim Hills on our way back to Phoenix.

The scary part of these early season fires is that the temperatures at night are in the 30's and 40's in a many areas and the full effect of drying and winds will not arrive for weeks.

Nature has a way of compensating...first drought, then flooding, and then things in between. We all know this will be the case in southern California and again in Arizona. Both of these regions are areas of extremes, not consistent and predictable conditions.

We will learn some things about risk factors and rural housing...not all that different than the lessons of Florida and New Orleans and hurricanes.

If we are going to want to live among nature's environment, then we must learn to contend with, and be smart about, the real possibilities of wildfire on the loose.

I can smell the fire from here in west-central OC, and yesterday afternoon there was quite a big smoke plume in the NE sky and blowing towards the west. I have a pic, here it is:

[img]http://www.blowsomesteamoff.net/miscellaneous/2-7-2006/2-7-2006%20(Small).jpg[/img]

That is looking towards the East-Northeast from my location. And yes, there are LOADS of car dealers around here.

I'll pray for you all ...

I don't think rain is going to happen any time soon, but maybe the winds could abate some at least.

MAN.....whatta fire I see on the news where the fire "WAS" a controlled burn that got OUT of control!! It happens and when it does......some HEADS ROLL.

If I get to the right spot on the mountain here, I can see the plume from the February Fire.......as the crow flies, it's approx. 75 miles to my west.

Dennis

The smoke plume is now visible on radar

http://radar.wrh.noaa.gov/radar/latest/ ... kfsx.shtml

azdustman wrote:The smoke plume is now visible on radar

http://radar.wrh.noaa.gov/radar/latest/ ... kfsx.shtml

That's the same story in my area on New Year's Day.

This says the fire is at 1250 acres..........just off the scanner from the 0530 Briefing, it's now at 1550 acres

http://www.azcentral.com

Wildfire spreads
Fire: Special crew helps battle 1,250-acre blaze Drought: 2006 nearing worst year in a century

Michael Clancy
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 9, 2006 12:00 AM


A specialized firefighting crew took over responsibility Wednesday for the "February" fire burning along the Mogollon Rim.

The move indicated how seriously officials are taking the 1,250-acre fire, which spread rapidly through rugged country that has not received normal winter rain and snow. Last year, the first fire on the Tonto National Forest to reach this size began in May.

Emily Garber of the Tonto National Forest said specialized teams are called in when a fire is deemed to be too complex for local firefighters. Factors such as the dryness of the forest, the proximity to homes or other structures and how the fire is moving are considered when calling in advanced crews. advertisement




"These are more experienced firefighters with a more formalized setup," she said.

This week's fire has confirmed officials' fears of an early and long wildfire season this year because of the severely dry conditions.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona expressed concern that not enough money is available in the proposed federal budget to prevent and contain wildfires in a time of drought.

In a letter to President Bush, Kyl cited proposed reductions in funds used to prevent and fight fires and to promote healthy forests. "The situation is reaching a critical point as the Southwest prepares to confront an unparalleled fire season," he said.

Kyl's letter echoed concerns expressed by Gov. Janet Napolitano in late December letters to the secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, which oversee federal lands.

"The fire season already has begun," Kyl wrote, citing the February fire.

Unexpected nighttime winds, forest dryness and an abundance of dead trees, logs and other plants are fueling the fire, which grew to 1,250 acres on Wednesday. The fire started at an abandoned campfire atop the Rim.

Wind was calm during the day, though firefighters were bracing for a late-afternoon surge of wind generated by the warming of the day. On Wednesday, the temperature reached 71 in Payson, about 10 miles south of the fire, about 14 degrees above normal for Feb. 8.

Garber said firefighters are establishing a perimeter and stationing equipment at Camp Geronimo, a Boy Scout facility about two miles away, in the event the fire gets close enough to threaten it.

Boy Scout executive Larry Abbott said that no one is at the camp, used by 9,000 campers during the summer, and that it is not believed to be in danger.

Garber said summer home communities and a Girl Scout camp to the east, as well as Pine and Strawberry to the west, are not threatened.

A prescribed burn conducted two months ago around structures at Bray Creek Ranch, near the Scout camp, proved effective, Garber said. The fire skirted that area, which is exactly what is supposed to happen. By burning dry timber and clearing away brush, there is no fuel to feed wildfires.

Garber said three helicopters were dropping water on the fire, and two air tankers were en route. About 170 firefighters are fighting the fire and nine fire engines are on hand.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality deployed air-monitoring equipment near Payson, Pine and Strawberry to keep track of air quality.

"We want to notify the public immediately if the smoke poses a risk," department Director Steve Owens said.

"We want to make sure that we take every precaution to protect area residents from any potential health effects from the smoke."

The fire started at an abandoned campfire atop the Rim.

Any idiot knows that he/she supposed to put the campfire out when not in use.

Some of the "idiots" who start and leave campfires unintended happen to be illegals-that is a serious issue down here with wildfires some of which have caused damage on Fort Huachuca and threated towns and homes.

Steve