"IDIOTS!" We have a HUGE wildfire "AGAIN!

[azsnowman]

I SWEAR.......we have a HUGE wildfire burning, the cause? SOME IDIOTS left a campfire unattended I will post more as it comes available! To make matters worse, check out this weather forecast The "3 Forks Fire" has JUST crowned as I'm posting this, I have the scanner on and there is a MASSIVE PANIC starting



THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR APACHE...COCONINO...NORTHERN
GILA...NAVAJO...AND YAVAPAI COUNTIES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A DEVELOPING WEATHER SYSTEM ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL PRODUCE WINDY
CONDITIONS BY THIS AFTERNOON. LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...15 PERCENT
OR LESS...CAN BE EXPECTED BY LATE MORNING. FOR THIS REASON THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BELLEMONT ARIZONA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA...MAINLY FROM THE MOGOLLON
RIM NORTH AND THE MOUNTAINS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY FROM 11 AM MST TO 8 PM
MST THIS EVENING. FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION SEE
PRODUCT (PHXRFWFGZ).

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THE LOW WILL DEEPEN OVER CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AND MOVE EAST ACROSS
CENTRAL NEVADA ON WEDNESDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS ALOFT ASSOCIATED
WITH THE LOW ARE FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN ARIZONA. A STRONG
SURFACE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO
MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN ARIZONA ON WEDNESDAY. THE COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS ALOFT AND THE STRONG SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL ACT TO
ENHANCE THE WIND FLOW...THUS PRODUCING VERY STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS
WITH SPEEDS FROM 20 TO 35 MPH AND GUSTS FROM 40 TO 55 MPH DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS ON WEDNESDAY. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO
DROP BELOW 15 PERCENT OVER MOST OF NORTHERN ARIZONA. THE COMBINATION
OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...VERY LOW FUEL MOISTURE ...AND STRONG
WINDS...COULD POTENTIALLY PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.


Dennis

[azsnowman]

home : news : white mountain independent : top stories

Breaking News: Wildfire Update, Tuesday, June 8
An abandoned campfire is believed to have caused the Three Forks Fire, which was reported about noon Tuesday.
The fire is located off Forest Road 249 about a mile and a half west of the Three Forks of the Black River and four and a half miles east of Big Lake, said forest spokesman Jon Schendel.
An accurate size estimate was not available. Crews were pulled off the north flank for safety reasons shortly after 2 p.m.

[Stephanie]

I hope they catch who ever left that fire, if it's even possible now!

I'm praying that this one can be contained quickly!

[azsnowman]

This is NOT GOOD folks, "I'm in NO DANGER" what so ever BUT....a town is RIGHT in the direct path of the fire, it's approx 12 miles away from the little town of Nutrioso...with the winds right now, I just heard the evacuation notice go out for those poor folks.

Dennis

[Skywatch_NC]

Sounds like AZ needs to declare a BAN on camping for this summer!

Eric

[azskyman]

I believe, Skywatch, that a ban in many areas goes into effect this weekend!

[azsnowman]

UPDATE:

We (Michelle and myself) were dispactched out at 2000 hrs last night to aid in roadblocks, we were releaved of duty at 0800 this morning, came home to grab some shut eye, then the call came out! Nutrioso "IS" being evacuated as I speak, the 3 Forks Fire is now WELL over 4000 acres, stood at 350+ acres this morning at 0800, "Ridge top winds are estimated at 56 MPH sustained with gusts in EXCESS of 72 MPH!" The 3 Forks Fire is now within' 4 miles of Nutrioso moving upslope at 60+ MPH consuming over 600 acres per hour! The fire has crowned, all air attach have been pulled off due to the winds as well as the Hot Shot Crews.

Don't know when I'll be back, "HOPEFULLY" tonight! Take care and Prayers would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Dennis

[vbhoutex]

FREAKING IDIOTS!!!!!!

STAY SAFE YOU TWO!!! PRAYERS FLOWING WEST FROM HOUSTON AS I TYPE!!!!!

[furluvcats]

OMG...what horrible news. Keep us updated as you can....

CA has a ban on all campfires...sounds like AZ needs to incorporate that same restriction.

Thinkin about ya'll....

[Rainband]

Stay safe.Dennis and Michelle. Man people can be idiots. Keep us posted!!!

[TexasStooge]

Here we go again.

[Miss Mary]

Dennis - praying big time for you and your area. Crazy people! You'd think by now, year after year, they'd learn?

Mary

[Pburgh]

Be careful you two. My prayers are going up for the folks in the fire's path and those fighting the fire. Prayers also to keep you to safe and sound.

((Hugs))
Karan

[azsnowman]

UPDATE:

As of 1200 hrs MST....the 3 Forks Fire now stands at 5,700 acres. Latest Infared Satellite Imag. shows "8" NEW spot fires THANKS to the 72 MPH winds yesterday....evacuation of Nutrioso is still in the process, the FINAL word has yet to come out, some 500 residents, 200 homes are in the path. Campgrounds surrounding the Nutrioso area, Big Lake, Cresent Lake are now being evacuated. The ridgetop winds are reported out of the SW @ 26, gusting to 48 MPH. The fire is moving in ALL 4 directions at the moment due the "FIRESTORMS" within the fire itself.

We're heading back up here in about 1/2 hour, thought I'd stop by.

NOW....the Tonto National Forest is "CLOSED" to ALL activities today which translates into "EVERY SINGLE CAMPER will be heading OUR WAY!" "AAAAUUUUUUUGH!" Thanks to the USDA Forest Service, I SWEAR.......I THINK they are just as MUCH at fault for NOT closing the forests around US!

I'll be back, probably LATE tomorrow morning, we JUST NOW got up "YAAAAWNNNNNNN!" Whatta LOOOOOOOONG day/night THAT was!

Dennis

[furluvcats]

Glad you guys checked in....it sounds like a nightmare....hopefully the evacuee campers will call it a trip, and head home. We certainly DON'T want their stupidity heading to your neck of the woods!

[azsnowman]

UPDATE:

The 3 Forks Fire now stands at 7,300 acres, no evacuation notice for Nutrioso yet, the Eastern flank of the fire is being held by the Hot Shot crews. The fire is however, making a run to the west, which isn't good news, it's pushing it towards the little town of Greer.....the weather HAS been great for the firefighters over the past 36 hours, the winds have died down considerably, night time temps are falling into the low 30's and the RH is climbing into the upper 40's%.

We are taking tonight off.......time to rest, drink QUITE a few Margaritas and kick back!

Dennis

[azsnowman]

AH YES....the POWER of PRAYER Thanks to the prayers and the low pressure moving on, the winds, however light they are now, have swapped around, coming out of the N-NW and has pushed the fire back into itself The fire is now 70% contained with full containment expected by Mon-Tues at the latest! Thanks for the prayers folks, once again, we PROVED beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the "Storm2K Mighty Prayer Warriors HAVE THE POWER!"

Dennis

[Stephanie]

That's wonderful Dennis! Now if we can just get that rain out there to you...