She's not even French

Blue is getting used to the new fence. She likes that she has a lot more room to run. I like that the back yard is no longer a sideshow for passersby. I'm still getting used to the 6' height between the houses (and I'm a little afraid to ask my neighbors if they hate me).

Blue's jumping is epic. I took the photo below at my eye height, a tad over 5 feet. The highest paw print/streak towards the left is higher than my head.

Dog cave painting

A New Fence!

It's big! It's made entirely of cedar! My yard smells like a clean hamster cage. I also have some really large and empty outdoor rooms.

Fence progress

Where's my fence?

What did you do with it?

The posts were installed on Tuesday. The concrete is still curing because of the monsoons we've had all week. Maybe Monday the guys will return and build my fence?

A weekend in DC

American History Museum

Old train, AHM

Cello, AHM

Public Art or Cranky Stone Lady?

Old Post Office

Another Stern Stone Lady

Natural History Museum

T Rex had a really big head

Uh huh, sure

That'd be the US Capitol

Tomahawk Missile

Man allegedly inside, let him out already!

Air and Space Museum

Russians line up their flathead screws

Really big Russian rocket

C's parents' back yard

Dog day pix

Blue looks like a runner. I look like a poser. A tired poser.

Midday fire update

Current Situation

Total Personnel	4,349
Size	452,155 acres
Percent Contained	10%
Fuels Involved	10 Timber (litter and understory)
Fire Behavior	Moderate fire intensity with isolated torching of unburned interior islands with short range spotting. Longer range spotting was observed on the east side of Zone 1. Heavy fuels continue to be consumed in the interior of the fire.
Significant Events	Evacuation order was lifted for the communities of Springerville, Eagar and Southfork at 1000 hrs. today. Health advisory remains in effect for those communities due to smoke.

Outlook

Planned Actions	North Zone - Continue securing communities already impacted by fire. Maintain perimeter control by mopping-up 300' into the black. Begin hazard tree falling around communities and vital access roads. Begin rehab assessment for suppression efforts. East Zone-Structure protection, continue to strengthen and secure lines, scout out line locations to meet control objectives. West - Crews will continue to hold, mop-up and patrol; also firing operations to tie the fire into the indirect fireline.
Growth Potential	medium
Terrain Difficulty	high
Remarks	Type 1 crews remain a critical resource for the Southwest Area Command. Replacement or extension of Type 1 crews that will time out during the next week will be critical to the incident. Powerlines that supply 60% of the power used in the city of Tucson, AZ. are threatened along the AZ. and NM. border. Acres by ownership are as follows: USFS - 413,237 ac., Fort Apache Indian reservation - 12,345 ac., San Carlos Indian Reservation - 7,835 ac., State of Az. - 4,234 ac., Private - 6,338 ac.

Current Weather

Temperature	85 degrees
Humidity	4%

Last day on Wallow?

Big Boy texted me this morning and said this will be his last day on the Wallow fire. I hope so! It just keeps getting bigger.

From inciweb:

The fire is 10% contained. Currently the fire is not threatening Eagar and Springerville area. On the eastern side of the fire, fire behavior was moderate. Today's activities include mop-up and hazard tree removal in the Alpine, Nutrioso, and Tal Wi Wi areas. Mop-up is underway in the South Fork area following the burnout operation conducted last night. Burnout operations were completed along FR 220 south to US 180, northwest of Luna, NM.

On the east side of the fire, efforts by firefighters to burn out remaining fuels between the containment lines and the fire have been successful. Firefighters completed a burnout operation in the Turkey Creek drainage and are building a containment line to the intersection of Highway 281 and the Blue River. Line construction is continuing along the Blue River. Containment lines in the vicinity of Greer are being widened.
On the western and southern side of the fire, firefighters made good progress widening and holding existing control lines and are beginning mop-up in areas north of the Black River. Firelines immediately south of the Black River are holding. Crews are constructing approximately 10 miles of indirect line along the fire's south end.

Wallow fire video

Fire update

Wallow Fire All Zones:

Injuries to Date: 6

Location: Apache, Navajo, Graham, and Greenlee Counties, Arizona

Total Personnel: 3,208

Includes 20 hotshot crews; 45 hand crews

Date Started: 05/29/2011

Cause: Human - under investigation

Residences: 2,714 threatened; 29 destroyed;

5 damaged

Size: 430,171 acres total

Commercial Property: 473 threatened; 4 destroyed

Percent Contained: 6%

Outbuildings: 34 destroyed; 1 damaged

Aviation Resources: 15 Helicopters, 5 Air Tankers available, plus a DC-10

Other: 1 vehicle

The fire is 6% contained. Burnout and holding operations continued today along Highway 273 near Greer and northeast of Alpine. The DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) completed two successful drops on the west flank of the fire south of Greer. Burnout operations have been conducted around Tal Wi Wi Lodge north of Alpine and burnout continues along Forest Road 220 toward Luna, New Mexico. The Wallow Fire's spread into New Mexico is due to burnout operations. Burnout operations were completed on the southern edge of the Black River. Structural protection and line construction improvements are underway around Sunrise Resort. Tonight's activities include structure protection, continued burnout and mop-up operations to strengthen containment lines, and patrol for spot fires. Today's Red Flag warning for southwest gusty winds will continue until 8 pm.

One hundred and seventeen law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions are working with the incident.

Big Boy said that Good Morning America shot video of his crew. Still trying to figure out when that will air.

Everything's coming up...

They didn't do so well last year, probably because I neglected to dead head them or cut them back. There are dozens of buds this year.

Dog Day 5k was today. C and I were late, so she pinned my bib on and I ran to the start line with Blue a couple minutes after the race actually started. I ran through walkers for about a mile, then caught up to the runners. I don't think I ever got passed, and I kept passing people right to the end. I don't remember crossing a timing mat at the start, so I think the chips just registered at the end. Whatever. Next year, though, watch out. I want the new leash!

Night burnout operations

I got a few texts from Big Boy in the past couple of days. He thought their burnout operations might save a town. He's fine, but very tired.

Wallow Fire Information
Date Started: 5/29/2011
Number of Personnel: Approximately 3,012
Location: south and west of Alpine, Arizona
Including 24 hotshot crews and 79 handcrews
Cause: Human - under investigation
Equipment: 18 dozers, 197 engines, 61 tenders
Size: 386,690 acres based on last night's infrared flight
Aircraft: 16 helicopters
Percent Contained: 5%
Injuries to Date: 3 minor injuries
Residences: 5,242 threatened, 29 destroyed, 5 damaged
Structures: 24 destroyed
Other: 1 truck destroyed
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.

Current Evacuations
· Full evacuations for Eagar, Springerville, Sunrise, Greer, Blue River, Alpine, Nutrioso, and the following subdivisions along highways 180/191: Escudilla Mountain Estates, Bonita, White Mtn. Acres, and the H-V Ranch. This area includes County Roads 4000, 4001, and 4225.
· The evacuation center is located at Blue Ridge High School, 1200 W. White Mtn. Blvd., Pinetop-Lakeside.
Notifications
The Apache County Sheriff's officials are currently in the process of notifying residents of Alpine and Nutrioso who have sustained damage to their homes due to the fire. There were 5 homes
affected. Residents of Alpine and Nutrioso that have had outbuilding damages will receive a certified letter in a few days at the Show Low Post Office.
Fire Update
Dozer line construction took place along Highway 260 going west from Eagar to Highway 373 junction; then southeast to Greer Lake in prep for burnout for tonight's operational period. Firefighters are prepping with dozer line in the south end of Greer Valley heading southwest to Highway 273 at Sheep's Crossing for an additional burnout. Dozer line will take place on the east side of Escudilla Mountain extending southeast towards Luna, New Mexico for burnout. All fuel moistures are extremely low.
Closures
Due to extreme fire conditions, the Apache National Forest is closed to all public entry. See website for closure order details. Please see the Forest website for more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/.

Not much of an update

Fire Information Report for Wallow
Wildland Fire Incident
Report Date: 08-JUN-11
Burnt Area: 216,600 Acres (51% increase from yesterday)
Location: Greenlee County, AZ (Alpine, AZ)
Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Team Type: IMT Type 1
Team Leader: Joe Reinarz
Containment Status: 0% contained)
Expected Containment: Unknown
Fuels: Fuel model 8 and 2 High 7000000.00 2700PRIM

Biggest wildfire in the country

The Wallow Fire is burning in eastern Arizona near the communities of Alpine, Nutrioso, and Springerville.

Date Started: 5/29/2011
Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,515 personnel
Location: south and west of Alpine, Arizona
Including 31 hotshot crews and 25 handcrews
Cause: Human - under investigation
Equipment: 12 dozers, 138 engines, 31 watertenders
Size: 233,552 acres (Infrared data as of June 5, 10:09 P.M.)
Aircraft: 22 helicopters
Percent Contained: 0%
Injuries to Date: none

Current Evacuations
· Evacuation of the Sunrise and Greer communities was announced this afternoon by the Sheriff's Office.
· The evacuation of Blue River, Alpine and Nutrioso residents remains in effect.
· Evacuations by the Apache County Sheriff's Office included the following subdivisions along highways 180/191: Escudilla Mountain Estates, Bonita, White Mtn. Acres, and the H-V Ranch. This area includes CR 4000, CR 4001, and CR 4225
Fire Update
· Structures threatened: 348 ; Structures lost: 4
· Firefighters continue perimeter control in conjunction with San Carlos and Ft. Apache Indian reservations and continue point protection around values at risk.
· Spot fires occurred up to 3 miles ahead of the fire on the northeast flank due to extreme winds.
· A Red Flag warning remains in effect until 8:00pm due to low humidity and high winds.
Closures:
Due to extreme fire conditions, the Apache National Forest is closed to all public entry. See website for closure order details. Please see the Forest website for more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Fire Restrictions: A Temporary Emergency Closure Order for the Apache National Forest was issued effective June 3 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

As seen on a wall

This is part of a mural near the warehouse district lightrail station. C and I went to the Lynx home opener this afternoon. They won, which they haven't done against LA in 8 or 9 games.

Big Boy is headed to Arizona to a new fire. Their truck broke down in Albuquerque, so they are awaiting repairs by shopping at REI. That's my boy!

First fires of the season

Big Boy was sent to Colorado and is working on these two fires. He sent me this picture.

The Bear Fire and the Purgatoire Fire, located in Las Animas County have not been as active today due to cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity. The Bear Fire has burned approximately 6885 acres on Horseshoe and Barela Mesas. 324 acres have burned in the state of New Mexico and 6561 acres have burned in the state of Colorado. The Purgatoire Fire has grown to approximately 6140 acres. The Purgatoire Fire is burning in the Purgatoire River Canyon in steep terrain. Crews are working to suppress this fire where access is available. Residents are urged to be aware of the potential for the fire to spread as winds push the fire out of the canyon.

There are currently 400 personnel assigned to these fires. Those personnel include 15 engines, 9 Type 1 hotshot crews, 8 type 2 hand crews and 5 bulldozers. Bulldozers and crews are continuing with construction of new line and improvement of existing line. Engines are providing structure protection as well as patrolling and reinforcing fire lines. There are also four helicopters working on the fire as conditions allow.

Isolated precipitation has fallen on the Bear Fire this afternoon but the potential still exists for active fire behavior due to the associated winds from thunderstorms. Tomorrow's weather prediction calls for very high winds on both fires which could lead to very active fire behavior.

There are ranches, outbuildings and historic structures near the fire. No evacuations are in place at this time but residents are on alert and will be notified if evacuations are needed.

Due to heavy fire traffic, the public is being asked to stay out of the area unless they are residents. There are road restrictions in place on Grey Creek Road near the Bear Fire. Only residents are allowed past road restrictions.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	Thursday May 26th, 2011 approx. 03:28 PM
Location	20 miles northeast of Raton, NM
Incident Commander	Todd Richardson

 

Current Situation

Total Personnel	351
Size	6,885 acres
Percent Contained	40%
Estimated Containment Date	Saturday June 11th, 2011 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved	This fire is burning in mixed confer, brush and grass.
Fire Behavior	Thunderstorms moved over the fire today bringing high wind and isolated precipitation resulting in a slight decrease in fire behavior. Single and group tree torching was observed.
Significant Events	Assessed and constructed road access to the north fire perimeter. Continued to hold and mop-up South and East flanks.

 

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue to construct, improve and hold control lines on the West side of the fire using hand crews and dozers. Continue to hot spot and mop-up east side.
Growth Potential	High
Terrain Difficulty	High
Remarks	The Rocky Mountain Type 2 team is continuing to manage the Bear fire and the Purgatoire fire separately. Overhead will be tracked on the Bear fire 209. Acres to date: New Mexico 324 acres, Colorado 6561 acres.