Local Fire Grows From 2 acres to 350 in 24 Hours

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Today our town (Tucson, Arizona) saw a lightening induced fire grow from 2 acres at 5:00pm yesterday (Tuesday 6/6) to 350 acres within 24 hours. The drought and the area of the fire on the mountain in the Santa Catalina Mountains that loom over Tucson is extremely ominous this evening. The smoke has been phenomenal all day, and the extent of the fire grows worse by the hour. I am concerned for the critters, both four legged and two legged, that this fire will or has affected. The difficulty in fighting the fire, besides the drought, is the steep terrain on which the fire is located. The view from our street is scary but awsome. The potential for destruction is overwhelming. How do folks deal with this kind of situation? Any folks out there from the New Mexico fires who could offer any advice?

-- Aunt Bee (SheriffAndy@Mayberry.com), June 08, 2000

Answers

Aunt Bee,

I'm really sorry to hear this. The catalinas are beautiful. I spent many a happy hour hiking in them with my dad when I was a kid. Sure hope they can get it under control soon. Is it toward the Eastern or Western end? I hope it's not in Sabino Canyon area!

Best Wishes...

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 08, 2000.


Aunt Bee,

I'm really sorry to hear this. The Catalinas are beautiful. I spent many a happy hour hiking in them with my dad when I was a kid. Sure hope they can get it under control soon. Is it toward the Eastern or Western end? I hope it's not in Sabino Canyon area!

When are your rains supposed to start? One good Tucson Summer gully-washer would certainly stop any fire!!! Ours don't usually start for another month or so up here, and things are REALLY DRY! I've been cutting weeds and clearing brush almost every day.

Best Wishes...

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 08, 2000.


How do folks deal with this kind of situation? One of the most popular and time tested solutions is "panic and run away."

-- E.H. Porter (Just Wondering@About.it), June 08, 2000.

Phoenix....temp down and humidity up today. Six drops of rain fell on my patio. We had about an inch of rain one day a few months back and thats about it since last September. Our monsoons start next month which should give us 3 or 4 inches during the 8 to 10 week period.

Supplies of desert animal skulls (for sale at the flea markets) is increasing.

-- fauna (x@x.edu), June 08, 2000.


fauna,

What direction or part of tha Valley of the Sun are you in?

I'm about 2+ hours north of you. A bit cooler up here!

Clearing brush as quickly as possible and deep soaking trees.

Feeding & watering the wildlife, too. I've got quite a zoo!

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 08, 2000.



Flash

North Phoenix

I guess the heat ran LL out of town.

I try to get my outside chores handled early each morning. I've also been clearing some property down by Florence (not far from the prison).

-- fauna (x@x.edu), June 08, 2000.


Hi Fauna,

Careful! LL lives around those parts somewhere!!!

I do like you, get as much as possible done early in the morning, then sometimes a little in the evening, before it gets dark. If you have to mow a large area, I hope you have one of those fancy mowers that you ride on. I don't! Clearing 1.6 acres.

I called the county Fire Department a couple of weeks ago, and they were very happy to come out and recommend things to make my property, and the neighborhood safer. Apparently few take advantage of this service. I'm in a wild-land area and one of the streets around here is called "Burnt Ranch Road", so you get the idea!

Best...

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 08, 2000.


Aunt Bee, I have a sister in Tucson. When they bought their property they were at the edge of town. Now it's built up all around them. I hope the fires get stopped soon.

It seems that so many states are burning, and such huge areas. We are so dry here in MO, that I fear fire everyday. Last winter we had arsonists setting fires, and thousands of acres burned.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 08, 2000.


Aunt Bee, I am on the East Coast, fires are burning too. I live in a rural area with a lot of pine trees. We had to evacuate when Floyd came close (my first experience), and the following are my suggestions. Knowing we have only limited car storage, there isn't a whole lot we can take. We decided water, food, a windup radio and pillows and blanket came first. After that, the photos, then Grandmother's old radio. Then all the insurance papers, birth certificates, titles, etc. By then, there was no room or time for my personal collection of antique toys. I had no choice. I had to ride away, and not give anything, a backward glance. Thank God!, the hurricane caused no damage, and I can still admire my very old, pretty collection. But if push came to shove, I would choose the family photos, on any day.

-- When Push (comesto@shove.com), June 08, 2000.

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