Rodeo and Chediski Fires merging near Show Low, AZ

CNN

[newsperson999]

Thousand more may need to be evacuated. This is a worst case scenario because the fire is forming a 50 mile long wall of flames. Forest firefighters are being redeployed to join local firefighters and focusing their efforts on saving homes.

[KirklandJunction]

What on earth does the Colorado fire start have to do with.......

Chedeski fire: yes. Rodeo fire: nothing public

[rwfromkansas]

The Colorado fire is about over with and is not much of a threat.

It is the Arizona fire that is disconcerting......

[dittomom]

All they are saying about the first fire (Rodeo) is that it is manmade and there is an ongoing investigation. The fire officials are getting sick of answering the question because the investigation is not in their hands - they are working on fighting the fire. The fire started near the rodeo grounds so that's why they're calling it the Rodeo fire.

As others have said, the second fire was started by a lost female hiker who set a signal fire to get the attention of a news helicopter. Noone was prepared to put out the fire and it got out of control.

Whoever started those fires is not gonna have too many friends around here.

[KirklandJunction]

Of course you are right.

I was doing a poor job of slapping the foulmouth.

I'm told the Cibecue area still has much attention from fed, state, county, res police all doing their thing.

Predictably in this time of chaos, some experts say the fires have joined, others say no, others say yes and no.

The body count of livestock is starting to add up, and the commercial loss of vegetation is staggering. Bankers and insurance people are not looking forward to tomorrow. We here had a contract to buy two dozen horses up there, but they were being range fed, and they've not been seen for two days. Don't know if they're dead, alive, where.........

[Iowaagman]

We have a cabin that borders the Tonto 10 mi. NE of Payson. Some a$$hole set two fires in the last two days. They were set at night and were easy to put out. They are looking for a person driving a red Nissan or Toyota pickup.

[dittomom]

It's a damn shame that people are soooooo ignorant (and that's the best you can say about them) - it should be news to noone in this state that we are in a #$%^-ing drought!

[Angelique]

Hull is on, and she just flung another shot at the environmentalists and the courts. Good.

This is so devastating. As they are saying, however, thanks to God that no lives have been lost. Homes up to ll5.

Yes, dittomom, lots of prayers.

[Irish Eyes]

Get a grip NO ONE sets a fire for ANY reason in a forest that has an extreme fire danger. There was already one fire burning out of control in the area. What is needed is a brain and the ability to use one. There is NO excuse for this.

[dittomom]

According to a report on Channel 5, it's official now - the two fires have merged. Sigh...

[KirklandJunction]

With all due respect, there are mental midgets that go into areas like that, and stop thinking.

I had the vicarious pleasure, while on voluntary civilian patrol approved and directed by the feds, of spotting and radioing a "family" camping in a closed zone, and yes they were making fixings for a briquet fire.

After reporting, I got the hell out 'cause I didn't want to see the kids faces when mom 'n dad got busted.

I still can't believe it. Amazed even me. I'm still off center. California plates. Whatever. Darwin was wrong.

I think you said No One In Their Right Mind? Yes indeed. And their vote counts the same as mine?

[Angelique]

This is unreal. More homes are going down. To think this was an arson fire is so terrible.

I'm listening to Paxton right now. He is looking VERY worried. That other older grey-haired guy--sort of chubby--that was on earlier, I worked with him.

[Angelique]

Hi dittomom, I've been away from the tele for quite awhile, and before that, on the phone. Can you give me an update on the fire? I would appreciate it.

[dittomom]

Watching Channel 12 (NBC affiliate) right now. Sounds like the fire slowed down this afternoon and has only just barely made it to western Show Low.

Earlier they had a debate between a Sierra Club guy (Rob Smith) and a female Governor of Montana. The Governor got to him when she said that what was going on in Arizona was Environmental Terrorism. He immediately assumed she was accusing environmentalists of terrorism and told her to name three people who were terrorists. She told him she wasn't talking about people - she was talking about the actual environmental factors that have contributed to the fire, lots of trees (fuel), heavy underbrush and severe drought. She was trying to say that the tragedy the residents were facing leaves them feeling terrorized. What else could she have meant? Heh, heh, heh...

[lakey]

I heard Smith say that this fire is the result of 100 years of logging!!

Afterwards, a ch 12 reporter was in Christopher Creek -Diamond Point & Star Valley can start worrying if Christopher Creek goes.

[dittomom]

That Smith was a typical Sierra Clubber. He was plenty full of contradictions. At one point is complaining about the loss of mature (100 yrs) trees and the next he saying that the forest was actually a "teen-age" forest and it won't take that long for the trees to grow back. HUNH!? He thought thinning of the forest was only necessary around homes and that the rest of the "back country" should be left alone. Where the heck did he think this damn fire started?!?!?!?

[Angelique]

I don't get Channel l2. THANKS. That is so funny. Did you hear our governor say the same thing? Everyone is blaming the environ-mentals. LOL Their voice is going to be a little stifled, and about time.

[Angelique]

I lied--I just found out I do get l2. Anyway at 9:30 there is going to be an update about the fires.

[dittomom]

Channel 10 (Fox affiliate) newscast is on now. They lead saying that it is only a matter of time before the fire sweeps through Show Low. 185 homes have burned so far and 23,000 people have been evacuated...

[lakey]

I hope a lot of people get angry at the Sierra Club. Might put them out of business & stop federal land grabs...a blessing in disguise.

Then, again, as long as we keep electing these mealy-mouthed state & local politicians, nothing will change.

We were advised by APS that Payson would probably lose all power today. Didn't happen. But it may tomorrow.

[dittomom]

LATEST UPDATE from Jim Paxon, spokesman for the fire service...

STILL ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED

Chediski Fire - 70 homes lost, 500 saved
Rodeo Fire - 115 homes lost, 1000 saved

Fire never entered Show Low proper today. Favorable conditions slowed the fire - temp only got to 87 (yesterday it was 92) and winds were calmer. The fire went through Linden and another home was lost in the Timberland Acres.

TWO FIRES JOINED at about 2:30PM in two separate areas. They will have revised maps and acreages in the morning after the infrared reports are in.

Full fire crews will be out working tonight.

Firefighters worked very hard in the Hop Canyon area. The fire did break through into Cottonwood Canyon and may threaten Lakeside later but there is still some chance it can be stopped. Alot of retardant has been laid down there and chances are 70/30 that they will be successful. If they win that battle, this will stop the fire from moving into Show Low from the south.

NUMBER ONE FIRE priority in the nation. There are 4 Type 1 teams working now.

FAA has granted total flight restrictions - this hasn't been done since the Yellowstone fire. Media helicopters will have to fly at 12,000 feet to stay out of the way of fire crews.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture will be visiting tomorrow and participating in the 11AM briefing.

Very little change coming in the weather.