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."

[dittomom]

No problem. I think we're all learning alot more about the geography of Arizona because of this.

Whenever Jim Paxon's on, I like to hear him. Loved it yesterday when he told the reporters to stop asking about who started the fire - that's not his job, his job is to put the fire out.

[dittomom]

Just turned on the internet stream of the Limbaugh show. He's talking about the Arizona fires now. He brings up the comments of Gov Hull that you mentioned yesterday. Rush is complaining that the news reports of the fires are NOT talking enough about the reasons for the fires - i.e., the environmentalists policies.

[Angelique]

I've never heard Rush on the internet. I'm glad he's talking about the enviro-nazi's. They have created more problems to the environment than a swarm of locusts.

[dittomom]

On talk radio here they were just saying how "funny" it is that there is nothing on the Sierra Club website about the fires in Colorado or Arizona. A caller said he rang up the local Sierra Club and asked if they had sent any resources to help out with the fires. Sierra Club said no. Talk show host said, "Good. At least they're not in the way!"

[dittomom]

Jim Paxon on now. Still sounds optimistic about preventing the fire from attacking Lakeside and Show Low from the south. Greatest danger still coming from Linden, to the west of Show Low. Fire activity went down last night because the humidity rose unexpectedly in the Linden area.

Fire behavior specialist will be coming on later.

[dittomom]

Undersecretary of the Interior on now, J. Steven Griles, on now. Assuring people that they have the resources to put the fire out and rehabilitate the area once the fire is out.

[Angelique]

Thanks, I turned it on, and wrote, but lost my connection. I saw the undersecretary. Finally some help from the feds. This is so terrible. Be careful in watching. We don't want you having any nightmares.

[Angelique]

I have to sign off for now. Do not have two phone lines, and am expecting a call Take care

[dittomom]

Bill Jackson, fire behavior analyst on now.

Says this is the biggest fire he has experienced. Fire environment is very complex, weather, topography, drought conditions, etc.

Praises efforts made in Hop Canyon and Cottonwood Canyon to build fire lines. There is still an extreme problem with short range spotting.

Lots of crews patrolling and mopping up the spot fires.

Some reporter asks Jackson if the residents of Show Low have reason to be "extremely, cautiously opitimistic?"

Jackson repeats the question back to him slowly and answers, "YES!" Everyone laughs....

[dittomom]

S'alright. I'm listening on the radio. Catch ya' later.

[dittomom]

Jackson hopes that by the end of the day they will have held the line in Cottonwood Canyon and Hop Canyon to the south of Show Low.

Still a big risk around Route 260 on the west edge of Show Low but they are working it hard.

There is no containment, but the fire hasn't jumped the lines they are building, so there is less and less risk of a fire wall coming through Show Low. Biggest risk is from embers flying into Show Low and creating spot fires.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Here, post #2 might be able to help you. I haven't checked their site yet.

[Angelique]

Just had an update, and the wind is picking up...not good. On the news, they are talking about "Hot Shots." They saved 30 structures.

[KirklandJunction]

Undersecretary of the Interior J. Steven Griles!
I'm getting too impatient with these bureaucrats!

If you have the resources now, put it out now!

Where were you last Tuesday? You didn't have the resources then? But now?

[dittomom]

Well, it is a BIG fire...

Just heard a sound bite from Gov Hull. She said the paperwork required to get the President to declare a disaster area (i.e. Federal disater relief money) is now likely to be signed tomorrow. Seems like this is taking longer than it needs to as well...

[dittomom]

Then again, it may be that The President wants to declare the disaster on a different newsday...Bush's Mideast speech to be delivered at 3:45PM

[KirklandJunction]

With all due respect for you, and a lot of people in Az do so, fed procrastination is not unexpected.

To people here, this fire is a heckuva' lot more urgent than George Jr. convience with the press. If he can't get it all done, we understand. Very well.

Yes, it is a big fire. Wasn't always, but that darn fire went right past (maybe through) the Chedeski Peak LookOut Tower.

Somehow I have a feeling that not a darn bureaucrat will lose sleep, career, pension nor limo.

They might toss Barton to the wolves. Maybe.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

And the fire won't? Ok. Hey, pass me another brew, will ya?

[KirklandJunction]

Fire won't.......?

Doesn't matter.
Help yourself to the fridge, I'm busy.
Keystone is crap: soccer bet.
Coors or Sammy, please restock from the cabinet to the left.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If the area in front of the fire is evacuated of people, and the fire if left to itself wil kill animals, why not blast? Works with oil rig fires