STORM2K

WELL FOLKS.....here we go AGAIN The fire is now at 300 acres and growing RAPIDLY! Winds out of the SW @ 24, gusting to 37 MPH.......Michelle and I have been activated for duty, don't know when I'll be back.......sorry, but this is B.S.!

Breaking News Alert
First threatening fire of season
Bureau of Indian Affairs firefighters were called to a forest fire early Monday morning, two miles southwest of McNary. The fire was two acres in size when the first crews arrived on the scene. By noon, the fire, named the Wheat Fire, had grown to 22 acres.
Wind was blowing out of the southwest expected to be be steady at 15 to 25 mph today, with some gusts to 35.
Navajo County Sheriff's Department officials were monitoring the fire closely at midday but no evacuations were expected.
Smoke was heavy in the neighborhoods north of Pinetop.
For the complete story on the fire see Tuesday's Independent. Additional information will be posted to this site as it develops.

Stay safe out there with those fires

Oh my Dennis be careful there and be safe and as I see the weather no rain is in sight for that region to aliviate things so I fear this fire will be for a while burning.

You just posted why I will never live out West. Hot, dry, and wildfires. Boring weather.

Be careful Dennis & Michelle! I hope it is contained soon!

Stay safe there Dennis and Michelle. We know you are ready to do what is necessary though.

Brent...as a flatlander from Illinois for 50 years, I never thought I would fall in love with the mountains and deserts of Arizona, but I truly have.

Wildfires are a risk. The heat is intense. But this is an incredible state.

I used to think of Arizona as flatland with nothing but shifting sands and lizards. I have never seen a state with more wonderful variety. And did you know we have more shoreline than Minnesota?

Enough from the Chamber of Commerce...

Yes this is a scary season, and fires will be part of that for weeks to come.

Watch yourself, Dennis. I was wondering... Are all these fires part of the natural scheme of things, or is it the result of human interference in that area? I know that some ecosystems depend on an occasional fire, but it seems that you've been having several a year!

more thunderstorms and more snow in the mountains than Minnesota as well and the record low temperature for the State is -40F. But more to the present, looks like we're in for a windy period in the elevations for a period of time.

Steve

coriolis wrote:Watch yourself, Dennis. I was wondering... Are all these fires part of the natural scheme of things, or is it the result of human interference in that area? I know that some ecosystems depend on an occasional fire, but it seems that you've been having several a year!

WELL....we're at 95% containment this morning, thanks to the winds dying down last night and the hard work of the 3 Hot Shot crews! THANK GOD! The fire did NOT crown, had it crowned

Ed......over 3/4 of the fires we've been having over the past 2 years have been man caused, most out of pure ignorance and the lack of concern, care We do have naturally occuring fires during the summer monsoon season and like you said, MOST of those fires are benefical to the ecosystem, Mother Nature takes care of her own, weeds out the weak so that the strongest will survive and also allow for more biodiversity.

Dennis

Dennis, a week ago we drove through parts of San Diego County where fires occurred less than a year ago. The bed of the treed areas was green and rebounding, and many eucalyptus trees were recovering as well.

You are right, for the most part fire is part of the process...but uncontrolled fire started through carelessness is anything BUT natural.

Hey Dennis...be safe. I'm sure your experience with this will help you make it through again and again.

I'm glad to hear that Ma Nature cooperated!

Phew -- glad it's almost contained. You guys take care. ((Hugs))

Good job Dennis. I'm glad you guys got it under control. Do the careless people who started the fires get prosecuted? I sure hope so.
...Jennifer...

Oh Jennifer, if you really want to get Dennis upset, just ask him about the prosecution of people who set fires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He get's livid - His blood pressure goes sky high and if I could hear shouting thru the keyboard that would be the time!!!!!!!!!!! Just wait till he sees your questions. YIKES

So I take it the people get off pretty easy? I could definitely see why that would make his blood boil.
...Jennifer...

Glad your fire is contained so quickly ...good job to all the fire fighters! It's pretty windy here today, hope the winds don't reach as far as you are. Be safe!

Me too cause he is generally a mild mannered man!!!! I can't wait to see his response.



Just getting you ready.

"LOL @ KARAN!"

ANYWAYS......"2 MORE" fires TODAY, what's the MATTER WITH THESE IDIOTS? I swear to GOD, these people are NUTZ!













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Breaking News
Wildfire update: two new starts today, May 18
Forest Service firefighters are battling two White Mountain region forest fires today, May 18.
A fire south of Vernon, near the Carlock Ranch along the Vernon /McNary Road was confined to three acres at 1 p.m. There were four engines assigned to the fire, including equipment and crews from Springerville and Eagar fire departments. A helicopter and two single engine air tankers were also assigned to the fire. Stiff winds continue out of the southeast. A Forest Service spokesman said that they were hitting the fire "hard."
A second fire was reported near Alpine, three miles south of Hannagan Meadows, 1 1/2 miles east of Highway 191. That fire grew from 30 acres at 8:45 a.m. to 250 acres at 1 p.m. It has been named the KP Fire.
The Independent will post updates on these fires as information becomes available



Dennis

Been looking at the models for my forecast update on my homepage. The scenarios are not pleasant. The European model brings breezy to windy conditions to AZ this weekend and then develops a large cutoff off the coast with a strong High to the SE at H5. This means breezy through next week and becoming hot after a cool period. The GFS has a "disaster in the making" type of forecast as it evolves into a zonal flow with a strong impulse across AZ next week. The weekend system will be bad enough with 45-50kt H5 winds over AZ Friday through Saturday-that means winds gusting as high as 40 mph or so down here and gusts over 50 for higher elevations. But it's the Day 6-8 timeframe that is really scary as the model puts H5 winds of 65-70kt over Central AZ and into the Whites-this is in the same category as the winds during the major runs of the Rodeo-Chediski and Aspen fires with ridgetop wind gusts well in excess of 60 mph. Though temperatures will be cooler, the trajectory is such that humidity values will be way down in the weeds. Worse yet, the GFS keeps winds up through Day 10. Both scenarios are equally plausible so I haven't bought off on either one yet but obviously 15-30 mph winds are a much nicer proposition than 55-70 mph winds.

Steve