Fire on the Mountain

pink 'mud' being dropped in the distance

to keep the fire from our houses..

still out of control...

smokey skies made for a spectacular

'moon-rise'

these last two pix were during daylight...

the smoke got pretty thick.

This picture was in the paper...

a rear-view mirror glance back as a resident evacuates.

When it burned near Fort, it threatened a large community

of neighborhoods of people across the hwy.

Fire & Rain

Natures fury is so beautiful...yet so destructive. (Photo from the local paper)

I'll take the mud and rain...over the fireworks.

Evacuating the Fire

When I saw this, I cried.  We knew it was a bad one.

...and I hurt for all my friends that live up in those hills.

The winds picked up.

The firefighters couldn't contain it to the mountains...

it crossed the highway, sending a massive

brush fire straight toward us.

Sheriff's Dept came thorough telling us to evacuate...

...tying yellow ribbons on our fence posts

making it known that we were told to evacuate.

Evacuation is mandatory now.   House should make it OK... but this fire is a mean bitch, and the winds are extra wicked today.

The fire would turn to smoke...then flare up again,

only bigger.

We were packed, had the animals ready to go

...but hung back just a bit to water around

the house one last time.

While we were watering... the planes showed up.

They dropped repellent  on the fire.

Gotta  love these guys...

Smoky Mountain

Sunday night

Monday...

a chopper with buckets of water

As of today:

3700 acres of forest land has burned in my backyard.

75 residents evacuated just 5 miles from my home

...the fire came within FEET of some of those houses.

Amazing efforts on the firefighters parts!

Another team from CO came out today...

for a different fire...

but they were sent to this one.

63,000 gallons of water/retardant have been put on it...

it's still ZERO percent contained.

So far there are 4 crews, 80 workers...

including 2 hot shot teams.

along with the numerous local, state and federal fire fighting crews

who have been on site since it started on Sunday.

We had a big fire across from the base camp on Sunday...

road closures

animal relocation's...

The only injury I've heard of was a horse getting burned in the hay field.

It couldn't escape. Very sad...

The fire started so quickly...and swept through the dry grasses.

It's miraculous that only a garage and a barn have been lost so far...

No homes or other structures have been burned.

Today, the temperatures are rising...

and the winds are expected to pick up again.

Yesterday's efforts were stifled because of wind gusts over the mountains.

Today they're concerned we'll reach red-flag warnings...

35mph or more with stronger gusts.

6 am this morning...

the valley is covered in a blanket of smoke...

The fire is under investigation....

but it's believed to have been started just yards across the border

... near some of my favorite hiking trails.

We have been given a 10 mile fly zone into Mexico

to keep the fires there from crossing over.

...news sources say Mexico has done nothing to help fight this fire on either side.

Almost EVERY fire we have had this summer near here was "human" caused.

...under investigation.

...started just across the border or right on it.

MILLIONS of federal dollars are being spent.

And how many illegals crossed over to take advantage of

free resources here in America, while all our resources,

including some Border Patrol agents, are fighting these fires?

Living on the border, we see first-hand the economic drain illegal immigration causes.

************************

After we returned home and I saw the fire maps...

I realized how close we came to losing our home.

Many, many thanks to all the firefighters and response teams who worked tirelessly to fight this fire.

Fire on the mountain...

There's a nasty fire burning in Mexico, just across the border. 

But yesterday, with red flag wind warnings...
it got past Smokey and his posse

and crossed illegally into Arizona.

not exactly sure why....

He said they said he did it???

Official word is that it was started by a human, not a bear.

I have a little sign like this at the end of my road...

The air was thick.  I couldn't even see the mountains on my drive home from work.

Another fire popped up last weekend...just down the road.

It burned 65 acres before they could contain it.

It was in the middle of a field.

We haven't had lightning for months.

...it was near an illegal trail along the river.

Is there actually such a thing as 'fire warfare?'

I think I'll need a modified squirt gun for that....

Smokey Bear

I think he should at least have a 4-wheeler, not a bicycle.

Where does he keep his fire extinguisher?

Poor Smokey, works for the government..

(He does have a nice shiny belt buckle for his service though)

Tombstone

I've been trying to get to Tombstone all week to do a little of my kind of Christmas shopping. ;)  But when I saw the Thursday newspaper, I almost thought I was too late. 

In case you didn't hear... there was a fire at Six Gun City last Wednesday.  They tell me it made national news.  It burnt to the ground.  I guess the town was lucky the entire street didn't burn...
Tombstone FD did an amazing job of controlling the fire.
Anyway...we checked on a few buddies, did some shopping ...and  I took a few pics:  (the burned area was roped off too much to get a good shot of anything but yellow tape)  I'm sure the investigation will be a long one... there's always a good story when it comes to things like this in this town...

I got in a traffic jam on the way into town. 

I could actually say to this guy..."get your ass moving!"

and not offend anyone ;)

A quick cell phone camera shot

on the way out of town...

looks old, doesn't it?

Well, IT is old ...but the picture isn't.

Christmas luminaries look cool on the roof.

As long as those candles are just lights...

Here's a picture of Six Gun City I took in 2009. 

Sad to think it's all gone now.

But they will rebuild...

Tombstone's too tough to die.

Hope I didn't make you too homesick, Sarg.