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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 17, 2020 17:20:36 GMT -6
My fingers, toes and eyes are crossed that the fire does not reach your community. I am worried for you. I am finding out that it is difficult to bite my nails with my fingers crossed. Very seriously though, I hope everyone stays safe, especially the firefighters.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 17, 2020 20:30:05 GMT -6
Looks much better now, the strange, dark smokes have become just a normal pall of white-grey, and no sign of the flames coming over Samaniego Ridge. The wind continues to push the fires almost due north, and with the evening hours the strong winds are abating. Down to 12 mph up on the peaks. The mountain tops are visible once more, and the active/ heavy smokes have moved about two miles further north of us. Local NEWS at 6 PM had shots from the evacuated Summerhaven town, heavy smoke, firefighters with respirators, several "successful" backfires have removed a lot of the vegetation from the perimeter about the town, and, so far, no structures damaged. Down here in SaddleBrooke, more sighs of relief as the active fire-front seems to have moved beyond us. The town of Oracle may be the next potential high population zone threatened, but no word on their alert status being upgraded to an actual evacuation. The night time usually brings a slowing down of the fire-spread, and certainly the clouds of smoke are greatly diminished already. Around 3 PM, earlier today, it was cataclysmic in appearance, now, just mildly threatening. So far -- greatly relieved, and everyone here still safe! www.kold.com/2020/06/16/go-mt-lemmon-mt-bigelow-north-organization-ridge-road-including-summerhaven-told-evacuate/
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 18, 2020 5:12:43 GMT -6
Glad your Saddlebrooke area is safe. Also hoping the other populated areas will be safe again soon. Praying for everyone in the path and the firefighters.
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 18, 2020 17:04:14 GMT -6
I’m glad things look better today. My fingers and toes were getting awful cramps. Hope that continues!
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 18, 2020 22:37:30 GMT -6
Things are much better all along our front, the Samaniego Ridge. It is still festooned with individual hotspots, but all day long the fires have moved downslope very slowly, a few hundred yards of advancement. The sweeping rush of a unified wall of fire is over, at least on this side.
Unfortunately, the less steep valleys that lead down the northern slopes (the Canada Del Oro north branch, and Peppersauce Canyon) have seen more rapid movement toward the town of Oracle. That part of the conflagration is hidden from our view, although the towering columns of smoke can be seen. Reports suggest the old firelines of 2003 have been renewed, and Oracle, though under cautionary alert, has no order yet for mandatory evacuation.
Very lucky that there have been no reports of major injuries, nor deaths! Lots of air traffic all day, heading into Oracle, slurry dumps mainly to reinforce the lines.
The peak component of the fire, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven are still threatened, but the town is yet secure.
The third main fire front is still burning out eastward above Tucson proper, but again has been contained within the wilderness zones of the Front Range.
We should get a good update on the local 10 PM NEWS.
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 19, 2020 13:08:19 GMT -6
Continuing to hope for the best for all communities. And that you stay safe!
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 19, 2020 14:38:32 GMT -6
Trying to upload a backyard picture here... Can any of you see the picture? This is Samaniego Ridge, Wednesday, about 3 miles from us as the crow flies. Attachments:
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 19, 2020 17:54:02 GMT -6
Yes, it shows up very well. That looks too close for comfort.
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 20, 2020 5:39:00 GMT -6
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 20, 2020 8:22:12 GMT -6
At first, I was thinking "Ok. I see smoke, but.." And then it got thicker and thicker and then..... I kept saying "Oh, God!" over and over...
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 20, 2020 9:10:59 GMT -6
WOW! That is a dramatic clip, Stormy! So very glad it never got so close to Catalina, or SaddleBrooke. Now we are all still worried about Oracle as the flame masses move downslope to the north.
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 20, 2020 13:12:06 GMT -6
The speed really made it seem really terrible because it looked like it went so fast. But even slower, it is awful.
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Post by Andorinha on Jun 21, 2020 9:36:49 GMT -6
Today, fairly quiet (so far), winds are down, smokes going almost straight up. Summerhaven is evacuated, and the cabins out east of it for about three miles. Near Mount Bigelow there is a wondrous bit of fir/ pine wood, Marshal Gulch. It largely escaped the fires for the last 50 years, and is one of the last mature forest patches left. The flames are headed that way. Firefighters usually concentrate in that neighborhood because of the high density of communications towers and two telescope domes. We are hoping they can save that zone again! The town of Oracle, usually in sight from our patio, is heavily covered with smoke, just the grey stuff that indicates light fuel loads, and not much air traffic heading up north. I'm hoping that means they have a good set of firelines already working. Oracle is still in just the "ready" stage of potential evacuation. They have several "old folks'" centers in Oracle, not sure how the breathing conditions may be in town. No report of injuries yet, YAY! Not even sure they have lost any houses yet -- remarkable job by the crews and teams up there! southernarizonaguide.com/easy-beautiful-hike-marshall-gulch/Attachments:
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Post by Stormrider on Jun 21, 2020 13:11:52 GMT -6
Sounds like pretty good news then! Hopefully Marshal Gulch and Oracle will be kept safe. It would be a shame to lose that mature forest and the town. The picture and link of the Gulch look awesome. very pretty
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Post by fanuidhol on Jun 21, 2020 16:55:20 GMT -6
That picture is gorgeous. Hope they can get this fire out soon. And without injuries and the gultch spared.. Thanks for the update!
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