Here is the latest on the situation: ****6/23/16 at 6:40 pm**** Acreage increased slightly to 45,737 and the fire is 42% contained. Crews continued burn-out operations along Hwy 60, on the western flank of the fire and along the eastern flank off of the 33B road. The North and South lines of the fire remain in mop-up and patrol status. Tonight, crews will look for favorable conditions to continue burn-out operations and will continue to monitor and patrol the existing containment lines. We remain under pre-evacuation notice at this time. My ranch is no where near the fire anymore. Carelessness was the cause of this fire, followed by stupid jerks interfering with the air support of the firefighters is beyond belief. Don't shoot the drone......there is a better target to aim for.
Yea Dan.... We where here for the rodeo chediski fire in 2002 also. We evacuated to Phoenix during that one. Living here since 1980 we have seen more then our share of wildfire destruction. BUT...at the end of the day...its still some of the most beautiful country in the U.S.
Containment doesn't always mean they have crews at the head end of the fire but are performing mop up on the end where the fire started. Good to hear they are burning out brush ahead of the fire BUT (member of the "Yeah but committee,") I've seen backfires, backfire right in the face of the firefighters. One of the reasons we locals/ Big Bearites all wear T shirts that say "Don't let the Forest Service, Play With Matches". Controlled burns that turn into roaring inferno's. I said not grinning. Where this idea came from that it's ok to let the forest burn is beyond me and certainly isn't popular with me. Glad to know everyone is safe and no serious losses for those who participate here. Hate it when anyone looses property, valuables, irreplaceable family pictures and family loved ones to the nonsense of a fire.
The news is getting better daily... Official fire update *****6/24/2016 at 9:06 am******* The fire is approximately 45,918 acres with 42% containment and 979 Personnel working it. Pre-evacuation notices remain in effect, and officials will meet today to discuss their continuation.
And flooding like heck in West Virginia and Southern Virginia. If we can get CSX and NS acts together we will send you hundreds of tank cars of water. Enough to create a whole new large lake and then some.
FINALLY !!!! Official press release ****6/24/16 at 11:36 am**** PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS LIFTING THE PRE-EVACUATION NOTICE FOR NON-TRIBAL AREAS Law Enforcement officials from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Show Low Police Department, and the Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department are lifting the Pre-evacuation notice that has been in effect throughout Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside.
Official update ***6-24-16 at 6:46 hours **** The fire has not grown in size and is 51% contained. Personnel are being released. ** Doing The Happy Dance **
Especially my WIFE !! The Rodeo Chediski fire of 2002 stressed her out so bad...she was almost hospitalized. This fire brought back all those terrible memories and she has been a basket case for over a week. Todays updates have relaxed her some and have her at least smiling a bit
It's the lack of weed abatement on our BLM properties, state and national parks and forests along with good foresting. There was a time we tax payers paid for crews to go through remove the dead wood, cut in fire breaks and remove trash. Now they just let it burn to clean it up. Laws that make it impossible to enter what they are calling wilderness land when there hasn't been a wilderness in the lower states in years. Do I dare say, as far back ...well...before the white man arrived. When the public will wake up is beyond me? Of course law breakers don't help things and the illegal camp fires strike fear into most of us forest dwellers. Peoples from other nationalities come to America and want to live like they did wherever they came from. If you are new here, the best thing you can do is learn the laws of the land. Your not in your homeland anymore. Here in California we get just enough moisture during the winter months to cause the under brush to grow. Summer hits and it all dries out. A spark from a match or cigarette butt, lightning strike, careless camper and we can experience a fire storm. Not fun, not pretty and dangerous as hell itself. Tee shirts for sale that say, "Don't let the Forest Service play with matches." You'll see then around here in Big Bear Country. Just my unsolicited two cents.
Well hopefully the fire will just be a recent memory soon and no loss of life or property. California is still burning though and West Virginia got it bad with flooding. CSX has had to reroute trains that use the Clifton Forge route in Virginia. Once a place I had looked at to retire to. Decided against it because of the history of floods. Tough country to railroad through. Don't know which is worse, dealing with a big fire or dealing with a flood. And unfortunately more rain is slated for that area.
