[yorkie]

When looking for a link for you, I realized that the fire is called the "Cottonwood Fire", not meaning that it was burning in Cottonwood.

I am so sorry - and I apologize.

Cottonwood Fire - near Benson (click)

[Chances Are]

The Flagstaff fire is so named because it is almost upon the main access road, Flagstaff Road, in that area. While it doesn't have the inaccessibility problems that contribute mightily to the High Park and Waldo Canyon fires, access is difficult enough, especially for big rigs that firefighting demands.

There are fires up in Wyoming, over in Utah, and down in New Mexico and Arizona. The weather has been so dry for so long, everything everywhere is tinder dry.

We're just coming off 5 straight days of record-breaking 100+ degree weather (tied for the longest ever run of such temperatures), and most everywhere, humidity runs in single digits.

The wind is a constant problem, and it's exacerbated where these wildfires run.

We're supposed to cool down to 98 today, but they said the same thing about yesterday, which turned out to be 105. Thunderstorms are in the forecast, it's true, but local weather person Kathy Sabine estimates the Flagstaff fire was the result of no less than 51 lightening strikes in that area within a very short time frame.

Where I am, right now it's not too bad, but should the wind shift to the West, that will change in quick order.

Playing golf is problematic, as the air generally stinks. Damned if I'll draw that stuff into my lungs!

CA....