Wallow Fire (Phoenix, Tucson, Green Valley: pine, yard, trees)
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I just heard it hit 430k acres today.
They are getting some headway on it but high winds were expected.
It only has to hit 457k acres to be the biggest in AZ history.
I understand it can take 60-80 years to grow those pines again.
Sad~~~
It will likely be the largest before it's all over with. For one thing, this June is very normal thus far in that there is no moisture ... and if this normal weather continues, don't expect the monsoon moisture to help any until at least early to mid July. Also, this fire has similar characteristics to Rodeo/Chedeski: started by idiots (not naturally caused), and it follows a very dry winter/spring season.
This winter & spring were eerily similar to 2002 as far as moisture content since there was such a lack of it ... and that is what is causing such widespread destruction of the forests. Lots of people keep saying how dry Arizona is, but the fact is that there are wet seasons that help contain the dryness ... however, when one or more of those wet seasons doesn't deliver the normal rain & snow, the forests become even more tinder dry than usual. The result is these massive fires like Rodeo/Chedeski and Wallow.
It will likely be the largest before it's all over with. For one thing, this June is very normal thus far in that there is no moisture ... and if this normal weather continues, don't expect the monsoon moisture to help any until at least early to mid July. Also, this fire has similar characteristics to Rodeo/Chedeski: started by idiots (not naturally caused), and it follows a very dry winter/spring season.
This winter & spring were eerily similar to 2002 as far as moisture content since there was such a lack of it ... and that is what is causing such widespread destruction of the forests. Lots of people keep saying how dry Arizona is, but the fact is that there are wet seasons that help contain the dryness ... however, when one or more of those wet seasons doesn't deliver the normal rain & snow, the forests become even more tinder dry than usual. The result is these massive fires like Rodeo/Chedeski and Wallow.
This winter was weird. Flagstaff got plenty of moisture over the winter, right about average from what I have seen but the white mountains and the southeast got little to nothing. Its odd being that Flagstaff is usually dry while the whites and southeast are moist. Lets just hope this baby dies down.
Well, I just want to chime in here. I never thought about going to this forum while I have been scouring the internet about this fire, but now I have. I see that none of you actually live on the mountain full time, but some of you were worried about your summer cabins, nothing wrong with that at all.
I'm wanting to put a different twist on this thread. I don't live there now, but I dearly, dearly wish I did. That mountain is like my second family, whom I dearly miss. Once I am finished with the family obligations that keep me here in the NW, I intend to move back and hope I get re-accepted into the fold.
I lived there through the Rodeo-Chediski, when alot of us evacuated to Eagar. When we left town, there was no 'pushing and shoving', no aggresive driving of any sort. We just left. When we got to Eagar and Springerville, the whole town opened their arms to us. I got to stay in an old car dealership which was better than the Red Cross center at the Round Valley dome. Alot of folks got to stay in stranger's homes. There were a few of us at that place, and we had a gas barbeque. The local propane company (Graves?) came by and filled our tank(s) for free. The Foreign Legion gave us the use of their showers for free while offering free breakfast(s). The Salvation Army came by like a durned catering truck with lunches if we wanted, free of course. Trust me, though, I'm not for a free ride, it did come at a cost. The cost came every night and morning with the awaited reports to see if our homes had burned down yet. Then when we were allowed to go back home, it was the same sort of trip. I doubt anyone drove over 45MPH, just to make sure that anyone else that wanted to hit the highway in front of another could get in. When we got back, the mayor was at the outskirts of Pinetop on her pickup truck with a "Welcome Home" banner on it. I still tear up thinking about it.
Well in my reading of the articles at wmicentral.com it looks like the residents of ShowLow and Pinetop-Lakeside fully took advantage to show the same type of hospitality to our neighbours in the Round Valley and elsewhere as they showed us in 2002. Damn. I just wish I had been there to be able to do my part.
Well, I just want to chime in here. I never thought about going to this forum while I have been scouring the internet about this fire, but now I have. I see that none of you actually live on the mountain full time, but some of you were worried about your summer cabins, nothing wrong with that at all.
I'm wanting to put a different twist on this thread. I don't live there now, but I dearly, dearly wish I did. That mountain is like my second family, whom I dearly miss. Once I am finished with the family obligations that keep me here in the NW, I intend to move back and hope I get re-accepted into the fold.
I lived there through the Rodeo-Chediski, when alot of us evacuated to Eagar. When we left town, there was no 'pushing and shoving', no aggresive driving of any sort. We just left. When we got to Eagar and Springerville, the whole town opened their arms to us. I got to stay in an old car dealership which was better than the Red Cross center at the Round Valley dome. Alot of folks got to stay in stranger's homes. There were a few of us at that place, and we had a gas barbeque. The local propane company (Graves?) came by and filled our tank(s) for free. The Foreign Legion gave us the use of their showers for free while offering free breakfast(s). The Salvation Army came by like a durned catering truck with lunches if we wanted, free of course. Trust me, though, I'm not for a free ride, it did come at a cost. The cost came every night and morning with the awaited reports to see if our homes had burned down yet. Then when we were allowed to go back home, it was the same sort of trip. I doubt anyone drove over 45MPH, just to make sure that anyone else that wanted to hit the highway in front of another could get in. When we got back, the mayor was at the outskirts of Pinetop on her pickup truck with a "Welcome Home" banner on it. I still tear up thinking about it.
Well in my reading of the articles at wmicentral.com it looks like the residents of ShowLow and Pinetop-Lakeside fully took advantage to show the same type of hospitality to our neighbours in the Round Valley and elsewhere as they showed us in 2002. Damn. I just wish I had been there to be able to do my part.
Thanks for a wonderful first-person story. I had read somewhere elsewhere about the folks in Show Low and P-L being able to reciprocate, and rising to the occasion. Good folks all around, both in 2002 and now.
This story has saddened me as back in the 60's, my family would go camping in the White Mts. We would camp at a campground called "Sheep's Crossing" for a couple weeks and on the weekend, we would lock up our stuff and go into town and stay one night at the Reed's Motel. There was a Baptist church that we would attend and then drive back to the camp on Sunday PM. About 5 years ago, on our way to CAL, my parents ( now elderly), my wife and I went through Springerville and stayed at the Reed's Lodge. The place is bigger with a two story annex but still brought back memories. Prayers for all of those in that area.
I have to say that it was eerie looking out my living room window watching the Coronado Fire at night. Millers Peak seems a lot closer but it should burn out soon.
I see this morning that official estimates are that the Wallow Fire has now surpassed the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire by over 1000 acres and is now at some 469K acres lost.
Tho this fire was man caused, there is nothing un-natural about it. This is the way the forest re-seeds and rejuvinates itself. It happens in cycles that we may be unaware of due to our short life span relative to these processes.
The good news is that fewer homes have been affected than were in the rodeo fire. However, this also serves to remind folks of the danger involved with living among the trees. Like those that live near the ocean, near rivers, on faults or near volcanic areas, it is our responsibility to live responsibly and intelligently in these areas. We are just short term visitors on this earth.
Thanks observer53. And I agree, this fire has surpassed in acreage the R-C fire, but fortunately it is much lower on household damage and has been much lower on displaced people.
Back to my first person, since someone mentioned Sheep's crossing and Reed's motor lodge. I'm kind of a lone wolf and that's why I was glad to just sleep on the floor of that old car dealership. I stayed in Pinetop for another day after the evac order was given. Then I realized that I was 'really' alone, and all the stores and such were closed as well. That's when I left. The first night I slept (cold camped) out near South Fork. The next night I went to Reed's and mentioned that I was a refugee. I still got charged a full rate.
The next day I found some friends that were at the old car dealership, and so I stayed there until those same folks invited me to a cabin in Greer for a night. The next day we were allowed back home.
I know I went the long way around the barn and obscured my 'rage' in this post, but I will tell anyone and everyone. I will NEVER stay at Reed's, nor recommend them to anyone ever. The fact that they charged me full and/or more than advertised still burns me to this day.
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I had read somewhere elsewhere about the folks in Show Low and P-L being able to reciprocate, and rising to the occasion. Good folks all around, both in 2002 and now.
