Category: McBride

Just got back from the base of escudilla….

Awful. Not a tree one left on the North side. there is a good size stand of aspens on the NE side down low, but three different places where smoke is still coming up and the wind is howling so hopefully they can hold out. West side, totally gone with the exception of a FEW pines. A little stand of pines on the SW side, but south side is gone. Didn’t get to the East. I hope the top faired better. The ridge from one end to the other is pure black tooth picks.

Today:

A Red Flag Warning continues to be in effect due to strong and gusty southwest winds. Alpineresidents and business owners will be allowed to return at 10am via Highway 180 through Nutrioso after

checking in at ICP in Eager. Mop up and rehabilitation efforts begin as Zone 1 areas are incorporated into

Zone 2. Highway 180 between Luna and Alpine will remain closed due to fire suppression activities.

Structure prep and protection remain a priority in Luna and the Blue River drainage. Type 1 crews will

continue constructing fireline between the 191 road and the 281 road.

More Information:

The Fire Information Office for Zone 2 is located at the Catron County Fairgrounds inReserve, New Mexico. For more information about Zone 2 of the Wallow Fire, please call 575

‐533‐6928.Closures:

There is an area closure on the western portions of Quemado, Reserve and Glenwood RangerDistricts. The closure is necessary to protect the public and provide for firefighter safety while working to

contain the Wallow Fire.

Air Quality Updates

http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/outlooks/smoke/swcc_smoke_outlook.pdf

http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/outlooks/smoke/swcc_smoke_outlook_map.png

http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/outlooks/smoke/swcc_smoke_outlook_monitoring_summary.pdf

The Wallow Fire Structure Assessment Team has completed its work in Greer. The team reports that 22 homes were destroyed, 5 homes damaged and 24 outbuildings and 1 truck destroyed. The Apache County Sheriff is still in the process of tracking and notifying the property owners who were affected.

– Additional update for Greer from John Freeman Jr.:

“Greer is as of this date very lucky. we lost some structures but no people. there is a DC10 dropping slurry as well as helattack dropping water. there are a number of backburns going on and dozer lines to stop the fire from coming around” (assume from the SW). “The slope in back of paradise acres is damaged and “nuked” in several areas but the bright side is a lot of the fire stayed on the ground and there is some duff (stuff on the ground) to help retard erosion.

We still have fire around us and all is not over but the crews have kept most of it away from our properties. There are fire crews from all over the US, Greer Fire is helping support them and do structural protection. (we are getting very dirty but Jeff is making us steak and shrimp tonight compliments of no power and freezer not working).”

Ed Coleman from the Valley sent me this information.  Laurie Herring layered the IR data with Google Maps data.  Here is her comment and the image.

– 1st Image – This is the only residential area near Eagar that looked threatened.    Major hwy is 261 just south of the 260.

– 2nd – 5th Images are Greer 

• Dumper is dropping today. Missions starting at 0900
• Notifications start today for people that have lost homes.  Alpine will hear today, and then it will go to Nutrioso and continue heading North along the evacuation path.  Notifications are dependent upon weather and access to the areas.  These will take time, so please be patient (the next few days)
• — From someone trying to register their property to be notified | “I was told by the sheriff dept. that you HAVE to call 928-333-3412 to register you property.” Thanks Claudia Miner
• Google Earth is most up to date data!  Use the link on the right-hand side
• Hopefully there will be no more Red Flag warnings for the next seven days.
• Meeting Notes | 9 June 2011