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Post by Andorinha on Jun 7, 2020 17:36:18 GMT -6
Just a place for a garrulous old man to post about his locale.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 7, 2020 17:38:45 GMT -6
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 8, 2020 5:09:17 GMT -6
It sounds like a big one! Are there homes involved that need evacuating or is it open land? My son-in-laws mom lives near Old Tucson.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 8, 2020 9:27:10 GMT -6
Last I saw (this morning) the fire was still spreading, but from our backyard it does not seem to be producing as much smoke as it was yesterday. "Old Tucson," the TV and movie sets, are way out west, about 20 miles away from the mountains, so your relatives should be safe there. Oracle Highway, 6 lanes and a median divider, mark the probable western limits of any fire. What has happened generally is the eastern movement of the flames across the Santa Catalina range, into the heavily forested canyons and ridges. 2012 was the last "great fire" to follow that pattern, took out about 1/2 of the forests. So far, the news outlets still say, "no evacuations, no structures threatened." About 2000 acres involved, last I heard.
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 8, 2020 9:55:06 GMT -6
What a shame. I thought you had enough snow and rain this winter to keep the lands moist enough to prevent the outbreak of fires.
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 8, 2020 10:12:14 GMT -6
But, it sounds like there is a benefit, as long as human life and structures aren't impacted. "The low-intensity fire should help clear dense and overgrown vegetation, forest officials said. The burn will help the bighorn sheep in the area by removing vegetation cover used by predators, officials said."
For the Pine Barrens of NJ, fire is necessary for the pines to germinate. The pinecones only release their seeds in high heat. If fire is prevented, other tree species take over. Unfortunately, fire is often prevented because of human encroachment.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 9, 2020 8:33:08 GMT -6
Average rainfall is 11 inches, last year we got 14 -- but it dries out so quickly when it gets hot early and when even the peaks did not have enough cold to keep their snows for long. Enough rain fell to get the scrubby vegetations really growing, but all dried out now and providing vast heaps of tinder.
Yeah a burn is often necessary, beneficial through time, but the really huge fires can wipe out entire ecosystems where the last of the old growth remains. Double-edged?
A cooler night, this last one, left the window open, woke to smarting eyes and the scent of burning. The wind turned more northward in the night. 2500 acres now, and moving over the front range, getting into the canyons that lead up to the forested zones. So far, still no evacuations needed, and only a few ranger shacks and tool sheds damaged...
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 10, 2020 4:06:39 GMT -6
Hope the wind turned again and you don't have the effects of the smoke any longer. And I see from the news that the Bighorn Fire is 2500acres. Hope you guys are not impacted by having to evacuate.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 10, 2020 9:45:45 GMT -6
The latest news says 10% contained, a bit more than 2500 acres involved -- not much change from yesterday. We are lucky to be situated west and north of the fire-epicenter, and the usual winds this time of year are from the south west. The heavy smoke is moving away from us and the heavily populated Oro Valley area. Unfortunately, it spills over some of the mountain ridges down into Tucson proper, but no flames near the populated zones, just smoke hazards, people being warned to stay inside.
The winds are forecast to increase today, and a surge in temperature will exacerbate the difficulties of fire-fighting.
Not sure if it is related, but we seem to be getting increased wildlife activity in our neighborhood -- more birds drinking at the bath-basins, more deer on the golf courses. Even had a solitary, scrawny coyote come ambling down the 4 inch wide partition wall of our back patio. Never seen that before, though the walls do act as a connecting highway for foxes, bob cats and an occasional mountain lion. I thought the doglike coyote would be too clumsy for such a balancing act.
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 10, 2020 13:25:12 GMT -6
Hmmmm . . . Sounds like the animals are moving away from the fires if you ask me. Especially, if that is not usual for your area.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 11, 2020 9:27:56 GMT -6
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 11, 2020 10:03:50 GMT -6
Ooooo! Stay safe! I hope it doesn't reach any neighborhoods.
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 11, 2020 19:36:08 GMT -6
Yes, please, stay safe! Any changes since this morning?
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 11, 2020 21:23:36 GMT -6
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 12, 2020 6:48:28 GMT -6
Keep safe! And keep us informed on the movement of the fire. Hope that there will be no loss of life and that structure damage is at a minimum.
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