6 Arizona Rim towns empty; arson is suspected

Arizona Republic ^ | June 21, 2002 12:00:00 | Charles Kelly, Judd Slivka and Kristen Go

[Cincinatus' Wife]

National Incident Information Center - FIRE AND AVIATION MANAGEMENT - Maps

[cubreporter]

We're from Colorado and feel for the people in Arizona. Prayers for you all and that beautiful state.

[Geezerette]

Prayers back to you for your beautiful state!! I live in Phoenix, and saw the conflagration on local TV.

That woman here who lit that "signal" fire, and the one in CO who is now said to have set it to "make herself look good" when she put it out (which she didn't) are beyond comprehension!

g in Phx, AZ

[hope]

Thanks for your prayers. The southwest desperately needs some rain.
I am looking at the plumes of smoke from my back window which is about a hundred miles as the crow flies and 260 road miles away.
I know alot of people being affected by this.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'm in the mountains east of Albuquerque, and I can see the haze caused by the fire. Sometimes at night, the inversion layers make it possible to smell the smoke. Since we're bone dry too, it's awfully hard to get back to sleep when that happens.

[SGCOS]

If you folks in AZ need some whoop-ass bulldozers, we have a couple here in Colorado we're not using.

Good luck and stay safe.

Oh yeah, things you might want to start collecting for your firefighters... bandanas...flashlights...batteries...bandaids...mole skin...chapstick...shovels...2.5 gallon gas cans...leather gloves(without cuffs)...water...gatorade...eye drops...nose drops...beef jerky...trail mix...cash

[Myrddin]

I have some shirt tail relatives in Show Low. I haven't corresponded with them in 20 years. They always had great things to say about Show Low. I hope it isn't destroyed in this fire.

[Angelique]

This is such an unbelievable tragedy. I just listened to a press conference, and I think the fire has now spread to over l80,000 acres.

Evidently, all of the fires were arson, save one, which was shear stupidity. One thing is very clear, and that is what Senator Kyl was stating yesterday. These enviro-nazis have made it impossible for the Forest Service to do their jobs. What is more amazing is that the "protected" underbrush, introduced by farmers many years ago, and not native to AZ, is a major contributing factor to these wildfires.

[hope]

Wind gust are running about 40 miles an hour and if they shift west Show Low will be next. West Show Low is being evacuated. Pine Top and Lakeside nieghboring Show Low are the most beautiful country you'd ever lay eyes on.

[SGCOS]

...and I think the fire has now spread to over l80,000 acres.

that would make it growing about 100,000 acres in 24 hours...Unbelievable!

[kaktuskid]

100 years ago those forests were made up of large trees separated with a great deal of grassland. When there were fires, the grass and other trash on the forest floor burned but the large trees survived and were healthier. Now you can't cut a single tree because you may inconvenience a spotted owl, therefore there are 1000s of small trees, little grass and sick larger trees.

[Angelique]

It is the wind, the lack of humidity, the heat making this fired spread so fast. I had read that you guys in CO may have some bulldozers. They are trying to set up a fireline, but evidently, the resources are slim. The spokesperson said that they only have 640 fighting this inferno, and it should be at least, triple that. Our governor finally asked the feds for help, but their resources are spread too thin. That whole beautiful N Arizona country may literally go up in smoke.

[Angelique]

One thing that has been nice to hear is that even though the Red Cross immeditely set up temporary quarters, but hardly anyone came since neighboring towns were taking in the evacuated folks. I am afraid, though, the evacuations are big in numbers.

[Angelique]

Too big in numbers, now.

[Geezerette]

How long did it take for New Mexico to recover from Clinton's Los Alamos fire? Two years ago or more, wasn't it?

g

[Geezerette]

Radio just said, "If the fire makes it to Hot Canyon, we will evacuate West Show Low" ... and it's headed right for Hot Canyon now.

45 mph wind ... twice as strong as yesterday.

g

[Born in a Rage]

When I lived in Tempe, my neighbors moved up to Show Low...I hope they can get this monster fire contained somehow. I used to go up that way often. It's such a shame. Take care.

[Born in a Rage]

Thinking of and praying for you and yours....stay well.
Lynn

[Geezerette]

I asked on another thread, how do they name these fires? "Rodeo", "Chediski", and the "Dude" fire back in the 1970's that they refer to in comparison to these?

It doesn't sound like the names of towns or locations.

g

[Born in a Rage]

I did a google and there is a place called Chediski Peak in AZ...

As far as the other names, I have no clue how they are/were named. My guess is that it starts with whatever the local FD starts calling it, for whatever reason.