Northeast Arizona Burns - The Wallow Fire
386,000 acres and growing. Looking East towards Springerville from Highway 260 and the Sunrise Ski Resort turn off. I know this area well and it breaks my heart to see it burn.
In 2002 we flew security and SAR missions on the Rodeo Chediski fire, a monster that consumed 470,000 acres just West of this area. It was the largest wildland fire in Arizona history. I thought and certainly hoped that we would never see anything like it again in my lifetime but here we are just 9 years later looking at something that could be just as big if not bigger. Just doesn't seem fair.
I have spent a lot of time in this area. I did my ski patrol training for a season at Sunrise which is to the right of this location. The best mexican food restaurant on the planet, Los Dos Molinos, is in Springerville which has just been evacuated. One of my favorite places in the world, Hidden Meadows Guest Ranch, is just over the hills there on the left. And that is prime Antelope country smack in the middle of that big smoke plume. What a shame.
I wish those affected by the fire and all of the amazing folks trying to manage and put it out good luck. High temps, low humidity, varied terrain, lots of fuel and wind presents a big challenge. Let's hope the rains come early so we can get this thing under control.
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