Growing So. Arizona blaze prompts more evacuation warnings
This one is the Monument Fire.
Pre-evacuation orders have been issued for two more areas near the Coronado National Forest, but authorities are strongly urging residents to leave as soon as possible.
At least 20 homes and the chapel at Our Lady of the Sierras shrine were burned.
Officials say the blaze is moving north toward Sierra Vista.
The Cochise County Sheriff, this morning, issued pre-evacuation orders for Stump Canyon north through Miller Canyon and the Three Canyons area east to Palominas Road.
On Tuesday, residents of Ash Canyon — who did not heed the pre-evacuation order — had just minutes to flee once they were told to evacuate, said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department.
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The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office will try to assess the number of homes burned and tell people this afternoon or this evening, Call said, but he couldn’t guarantee they will complete that assessment because the fire remains unchecked.
He said officials are making plans, especially with predictions of higher winds, to defend the canyons to the north, Bear Draw, Miller Canyon and Carr Canyon. Those places are not threatened right now, Call said, and fire crews will be better prepared to defend them then they were yesterday.
But he said this fire, like others burning in Arizona, is virtually impossible to put out at this point.
Ash Canyon. Heh.
This is not to be mistaken for the Wallow Fire (20% contained at 478,452 acres), or the Horseshoe 2 Fire (60% contained at 184,198 acres), it’s newer and smaller. All of them are sending smoke over New Mexico. Mark Kelly, husband of Gabby Giffords, Tweeted a NASA photo today showing the smoke from a satellite’s view. Here’s a great photo that was posted with this article:
Large flames and plumes of smoke are visible along Highway 92 as the Monument Fire burns in the Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista, Ariz., on Tuesday June 14, 2011. Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star
That photo is for sale at the link.
Here’s a site that lists all the large, active fires currently burning in the US. I had no idea Florida was having such a season. The names of the fires are important for identification, even long after the fire is out. Firefighters collect t-shirts from the fires they have fought. Check out the names on the two fires burning in Mississippi.
And now I have taken so long to make this Page that I have to add the updated information.