July 2, 2011

Amazing collection of dramatic photos from NM and AZ fires ^Reply

All, Natural Disasters, News: US • Tags: Arizona, AZ Fires, Big Lake AZ, Buffalo Thunder Casino, Eagar AZ, hotshot crews, Jemez Mountains, Las Conchas fire, Lee Valley rec area, Los Alamos, Los Alamos fire, Los Alamos National Labs, Luna NM, New Mexico, NM Fires, Pacheco Canyon fire, Pajarito Mountain ski area, Pojoaque NM, Raton fire, raton nm, Santa Fe NM, sky crane, slurry bomber, Springerville AZ, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Wallow Fire

Amazing collection of dramatic photos from NM and AZ fires.

A firefighter walks through heavy smoke near the Los Alamos fire, June 29, 2011 JAE C. HONG AP

Flames from the Las Conchas fire burn in the hills above Los Alamos National Laboratory, a nuclear facility June 27, 2011 JAE C. HONG AP

The Las Conchas fire burns near the Valles Caldera National Preserve near Los Alamos, New Mexico, June 27, 2011 EDDIE MOORE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL ZUMAPRESS

Los Alamos, New Mexico, June 29, 2011 JAE C. HONG AP

Hotshot crew members prepare to work in the Pajarito Mountain ski area, June 28, 2011 JAE C. HONG AP

Flames consume vegetation on the Jemez Mountains, near Los Alamos, New Mexico, June 28, 2011 EDDIE MOORE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL ZUMAPRESS

Los Alamos residents leave the area on June 27, 2011, as the Las Conchas fire encroaches on the city ADOLPHE PIERRE-LOUIS ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL ZUMA PRESS

The sun shines through smoke from the Las Conchas fire burning near Los Alamos, N.M., on June 27, 2011 SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN AP

A slurry bomber flies over the Pacheco Canyon fire as it burns north of Santa Fe, N.M., on June 18, 2011 EDDIE MOORE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL ZUMAPRESS

A burned structure is seen north of Raton, N.M., on June 16, 2011 RICK BOWMER AP

A sky crane near Luna, N.M., fills up with a fire retardant on June 14, 2011 Matt York AP

Fire officials look over a map of the Wallow wildfire in Eagar, Ariz., on June 22, 2011 JOSHUA LOTT THE NEW YORK TIMES

Smoke from the Pacheco Canyon wildfire rises behind the Buffalo Thunder Casino, Pojoaque NM, June 19, 2011 BRIAN SNYDER REUTERS

These tents in Eagar, Ariz., provide an incident command center as well as a place for firefighters to sleep MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ AP

A firefighter does battle with the Wallow fire in Nutrioso, Ariz., on June 10, 2011 MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ AP

Fire-crew members sharpen their tools as they prepare for a back-burn operation to slow the spread of the Wallow fire JAE C. HONG AP

Smoke rises around the Lee Valley recreational area on June 12, 2011, as the Wallow fire continues to burn in Big Lake, AZ KEVORK DJANSEZIAN GETTY IMAGES

The sun sets behind smoke from the Wallow fire Luna, NM, June 13, 2011 Matt York AP

A roadside in Springerville, Ariz., on June 8, 2011 ERIC THAYER GETTY IMAGES

Emily Shupe comforts her 18-month-old son Jax as the family prepares to evacuate to Phoenix from Springerville, Ariz., on June 7, 2011 MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ AP

Firefighters sleep between trucks at the command post for the Wallow fire in Springerville, Ariz., on June 8, 2011 ERIC THAYER GETTY IMAGES

Police officers direct cars as residents leave Springerville, Ariz., on June 7, 2011 JOSHUA LOTT REUTERS

The fire fills the sky behind Robert Joseph, 64, Luna NM, June 6, 2011 JAE C. HONG AP

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June 25, 2011

Lines grow around Pacheco Canyon fires, Santa Fe NM. Photos. Wallow Fire AZ update. ^Reply

All, Natural Disasters, News: US • Tags: 2011, AZ, forest fires, June 25, National Forest, Pacheco Canyon fire, photos, Santa Fe NM, Santa Fe ski area, Tesuque Peak, update, Wallow Fire

Sat. June 25, 2011

The forest fires burning above Santa Fe and on the Arizona-New Mexico state line grew slightly Friday as firefighters continued to lengthen their containment lines.

The Pacheco Fire reported a week ago in the Santa Fe National Forest is now estimated at 6,800 acres and 18 percent contained. The fire not two miles north of the Santa Fe ski basin is burning in mixed conifer and ponderosa pine in steep and rugged terrain.

Much of the increase in fire size since Friday is due to a successful overnight burnout operation, a statement released by the Central West Zone Incident Management Team Saturday morning said.

The fire was described as less active on Friday than on Thursday with most of the activity on the north side in the drainage south of Rancho Viejo. Minimal movement was seen on the south side of the fire.

Winds pushed the smoke plume eastward, and the fire continues to threaten the Santa Fe watershed and ski area, the Tesuque Peak communications site and tribal lands of Nambé and Tesuque pueblos. The fire is largely within the Pecos Wilderness.

Large sections of the Santa Fe National Forest are now closed to public access with the imposition of State Three fire restrictions. Open fires and smoking outside buildings and vehicles are banned in the areas that remain open.

Click on image below to enlarge. Clicking again will then scroll through pictures.

Wallow Fire update, AZ

Fire bosses in Arizona say most of the activity on the Wallow Fire Friday was on the south side. There favorable conditions allowed firefighters to begin working on ground lines on the fire perimeter as they try to keep the blaze from crossing the Blue River.

The Wallow Fire, which started May 29, has now grown to near 535,000 acres and ranks as the largest in Arizona history.

Winds on Saturday were forecast to reach 17-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph, enough for torching and short-range spotting on the east side of the fire, segments of which are now in New Mexico.

“These conditions are similar to those that existed when the fire has made large runs,” an update from incident commanders said.

June 21, 2011

Pacheco Canyon fire near Santa Fe NM. Photos. ^Reply

All, Natural Disasters, News: US • Tags: Nambe Lake, New Mexico, NM, Pacheco Canyon, Pacheco Canyon fire, Pacheco fire, Pecos Wilderness, Santa Fe, ski area

Apparently, Monday’s winds – which were gusting over 40 mph – actually assisted the forest fire near Santa Fe NM. The winds blew back in the direction of land that was already burned, thus aiding in lowering the spread to fresh forest land.

At noon Tuesday, June 21st (today) incident commanders said the fire had grown to 4,883 acres since it ignited below Ski Santa Fe Saturday and spready into the Pecos Wilderness. It is zero percent contained.

With the winds dropping today, over the Pacheco Fire, fire behavior was low. A large smoke plume like that observed Sunday will not occur today.

Below are photos taken of the large smoke cloud taken on Sunday, June 19th. Also included are photos of a helicopter getting water from Nambe Lake for the Pacheco Canyon fire.