Charred acreage at nearly 300,000 acres; fire to hit Show Low soon

The Arizona Republic ^ | 6/23/02 | Judd Slivka, Pat Flannery, Kristin Go

[uglybiker]

SHOW LOW - Two huge wildfires raging through northeastern Arizona have exploded to a total of nearly 300,000 acres, fire officials said Sunday morning, with the larger blaze expected to hit Show Low by Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

Noting the shifting winds and the intensity of the inferno, operations section chief Buck Wickham cautioned, "That's a projection, and this fire has done nothing that we've projected yet."

[KirklandJunction]

Oil rig fires are ignited petroleum coming through a hole, called a hole in the ground.

Dirt surrounds the hole. Put explosives where the fire is, in the hole. Explosion blows the dirt all around the hole. Collapse the hole and the petroleum can't burn, snuffed out.

Put explosives in the fire of a forest fire and the explosion will blow surrounding matter, which ain't dirt but burning wood, all around. As in spreading the fire to that which hasn't been burning until your scheme arrived.

Keep thinking. Someday will come when your ideas will be embraced by the people needing help. Not today.

Better yet, watch tv. That big red and white old P3 drops fire retardant. When it was in the Navy, it dropped explosives (torpedoes). Probably a good reason for the change.

When you watch tv, please think about the people and livestock that are very close. Exploding burning trees are not their friends.

You aren't the first with your idea, it's been tried, and is not exactly at the top of the list. Not today.

Another metaphor I'm just reminded, is that oil field fires usually do not have adjacent fuel nearby on the surface. Trees are different.

[Snow Bunny]

Thanks Angelique, you are so right.

[Angelique]

I suppose you have heard, but they are saying it was a good day as far as the fire not spreading as they had previously thought. Let's pray this turn of events continues. Hope eternal vigilant.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If something like this was done in an area where there are not houses (and these fires have/had been in areas where a daisycutter would not damage homes or lives), I don't see how a cutter dropped at the leading edge of a fire would push it into un-burnt areas. If it was at the leading edge, woudn't the blast on the back half of the blast area push it back over already consumed territory? I think I will look into it some more and see what I find. I know with oil rigs they don't just "drop it in the hole", so I don't think the opinion on a blast at the front line of a wall of flame is accurate, either.

[Angelique]

We need a little humor break here. This fire is being blamed on the enviro-mentals. There os also note the deafening silence from the Sierra Club, et al.

Would you be so kind to give us a new name for the Sierra Club? Merci

[SierraWasp]

"Would you be so kind to give us a new name for the Sierra Club? Merci"

Yep! Here she comes... Mercy Me!!!

SIERRA FLUB!

I think the "F" is soooooo fitting!!!

[SierraWasp]

Well... You asked fer it, an you gots it!!!

[KirklandJunction]

Go for it. Legally.

The feds might have an opening in their Colorado crew, if they play fair.

[dittomom]

They are saying now that there are new flare ups outside Show Low and the flames are threatening to hop Hwy 60.

[Xenalyte]

Anyone know if Boots 'n' Coots is out there fighting it? Those guys kick ass.

[Angelique]

Yes, they had one of the guys on the tele today, and he looked exhausted. They saved 30 structures. Those guys are the best.

[farmfriend]

I love it!!!! Great name.

[Angelique]

I knew there would be more. This hot weather and the winds, and without the fire under control are three strikes right there.

Can you tell me why Show Low seems to be the indicator of defeat? Is it because of its size?

What do you think about Bush coming tomorrow. KFYI has been ragging on him all day.

[Angelique]

Tres Magnifique

[dittomom]

Just got home from dinner and turned on Fox News (Channel 10). I see they are evacuating more towns. They showed a new map with a projected worse case of how far the fire could spread. This is definately not good...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Awww shucks, darn, drats. Which towns, do you know???????

[dittomom]

I think the new map showed Hondah and McNary as "E" for evacuated. New press conference is coming up in a few minutes...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks, Dittomom, I'll wait for your report.....(she says Please, sheepishly). HSM, you may be interested in this, too.

[dittomom]

President Bush is coming to visit Arizona tomorrow on his way to the G8 Summit in Canada.

Air Force One will land in Phoenix early in the morning and then the President will take a small plane up to the fire area. He will visit an Elementary school in Eager.