Posted on 06/17/2016 12:33:23 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Massive Wildfires Force Evacuations In at Least 3 States; New Mexico's Dog Head Fire Explodes to 12,000
Major wildfires burning across the West have consumed tens of thousands of acres and forced evacuations in at least three states. In New Mexico, one particular wildfire exploded in size on Thursday.
Dry conditions are hampering firefighting efforts in a region that is expected to see dangerous and potentially deadly heat over the weekend and into early next week.
"Humidity values less than 15 percent and dew points as low as the single digits will be present and persistent across a large portion of the Southwest through at least Sunday," said weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles. "The driest air appears to be in New Mexico on Friday and Saturday afternoons."
The most extreme heat in the coming days will be in the Desert Southwest where highs could climb to near 120 degrees, including in Phoenix, where it hasn't been that hot in more than 20 years.
Dog Head Fire - New Mexico
A state of emergency has been declared as the Dog Head Fire exploded to more than 12,000 acres by Thursday night, forcing evacuations in the Manzano Mountains southeast of Albuquerque. The sudden growth was attributed to dry conditions, hot temperatures and afternoon winds.
Enlarge Residents of the town of Chilili along state road 337 begin to evacuate due to the Dog Head wildfire near the Manzano mountains, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Chilili, N.M. (Roberto E. Rosales/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) It has been dry in the region for more than two weeks, said weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam. The last measurable rainfall occurred in Albuquerque on June 1, when 0.12 inches was measured.
Residents in Chilili, Mercid, Escobosa Ponderosa Pines and Yrisarri were forced to leave their homes, and officials cut electricity in evacuated areas as a precaution, the Associated Press reported.
"The only thing I'm worried about is the wind,” area resident Manuel Urban told KOAT.com, “because if it picks up, then there's nothing that is going to stop that fire.”
More than 400 firefighters are battling the blaze, according to InciWeb. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fire crews worked to secure a section of line of the North Fire in New Mexico's San Mateo Mountains. (TC Smith/USFS) The largest of these fires has burned nearly 25,000 acres in the San Mateo Mountains of southwestern New Mexico over the course of nearly a month.
The lightning-caused North Fire started May 21 in the Cibola National Forest and is only 30 percent contained. According to a release from the U.S. Forest Service's Magdalena Ranger District on Wednesday, smoke will be the biggest danger for communities and residents in the vicinity of Magdalena and surrounding areas.
"There will be little movement of air to get the smoke up and out of the area," the release said. "Smoke will not move very far or mix well into the atmosphere. It will settle into drainages and low-lying areas, with high likelihood for evening inversions. Smoke may be heavy at times during all hours and lifting of smoke during the day slower than has been seen over the past days." Cedar Creek Fire - Arizona
A wildfire near Show Low, Arizona, that started Wednesday and swiftly grew in size is 2,500 acres in size and prompted a few evacuations in the area.
"It’s huge, I've never seen a fire up here like this," Pinetop resident Ryan Davis told ABC15. “In Pinetop, it's clear, then we drove underneath it and it got all dark and then you could smell it – it smelled like a campfire."
The so-called Cedar Creek Fire has burned nearly four square miles of brush and timber in rugged terrain about nine miles from Show Low, and thousands of area residents remain under pre-evacuation advisories. Navajo County spokesman Adam Wolfe said only about a dozen people have been evacuated.
“Fire is still on the outskirts of town. But the smoke is really bad. Wind is really getting bad," Ryan White, who works in Show Low, told USA Today on Wednesday night. "The wind seems to be pushing it right toward Show Low, Pinetop areas. I could smell the fire around noon; went to look outside the shop and could see the smoke building.”
County officials told residents in Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and three other communities to prepare for possible evacuations, but Wolfe says Show Low's west side is the area that likely would be affected initially if evacuations are necessary.
"When it started and the wind was really bad, it was raining ash. Like, it was falling out of the sky," Pinetop resident Janice Elmore, who hadn't been ordered to evacuate yet, told ABC15. “It's pretty scary, but we love it up here so we want to stay as long as we can."
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
A wind-driven fire that has consumed at least 2,500 acres in the Los Padres National Forest prompted mandatory evacuations in Southern Santa Barbara County as it swept toward the Pacific Ocean. The fire started shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon near the Sherpa Ranch, and late Wednesday evening, KTLA.com quoted Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni as saying the fire had "blown up."
A heavy air assault on the fire took place Wednesday and Thursday with eight air tankers, three heavy helitankers, three medium helicopters, a lead plane and DC10s being used to fight the blaze, KTLA.com reported. In total, 150 firefighters are battling the blaze that remains 0 percent contained, according to InciWeb.
The fire was burning "very close" to the ExxonMobile facility in Las Flores Canyon, KEYT.com said.
"The refinery has fire around it, and companies in place protecting it," Zaniboni told the AP, adding that it has a cleared buffer zone.
Evacuation centers have been set up at the Wake Center in Goleta, California, and Santa Ynez Union High School in Santa Ynez, California, Inciweb reported. A large animal evacuation center has been set up at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Goleta.
Welcome; you’re on the list!
Prayers are fine .. but what about trying to find out and inform the public whether or not these fires are being purposely set ..??????????????
They are a continuation of several types of fires that the San Diego area has been experiencing for quite some time.
It started with single dwellings; went to small apt units; then larger apt units. NOW, WE HAVE EXPANDED TO LARGE SECTIONS OF VERY, VERY DRY LAND.
AND .. WHEN ARE CALIFORNIANS GOING TO BLAME THE STATE LEGISLATORS FOR HAMPERING THE ABILITY OF LANDOWNERS TO WATER THEIR LANDS; INSTEAD THESE LEGISLATORS HAVE ELECTED TO DUMP THE WATER INTO THE OCEAN - [CLIMATE CHANGE FRAUD].
CALIFORNIA .. YOU BETTER WAKE UP.
STAY SAFE BUDDY !!!
Looking good so far. Winds down today, had to actually drive around this AM to see smoke. Picking up a bit now, but nothing like the last 2 days.
Wind change expected, evacuating after dinner. Will check in when I can, no danger at present.
DAMN ......Prayers up for you and yours Slim !!
I wish you the best, and pray that the fires do not reach your land.
Throw me on that list too please, sometimes it’s the only place I hear things.
You’re on it!
How are thigs going? Quite windy here in Alb. Buddy that lives close to the firestation by Yrrisari had to evacuate. Hope all is well.
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