"Wallow Fire" in Bear Wallow Wilderness

[azbackpackr]

Lots of activity in Springerville this morning, with the Prescott Hot Shots arriving at Safeway for a snack, and other buses full of firefighters seen on the highway heading for the "Wallow Fire" in Bear Wallow Wilderness Area, south of Hannagan. The smoke is not that visible, although my daughter was over at Hulsey yesterday and saw the smoke. I was up at Big Lake early this morning and could see only a haze of smoke south of there, not a big plume. I think winds too strong for it to plume up much. I'm back in Flag now, so I won't get the firsthand news any more.

Oh, and no campfires or charcoal grills allowed in the campgrounds since last night in Apache-Sitgreaves NF (Big Lake, Hannagan, etc.) I think stoves still allowed. Not sure about non-campgrounds.

Here's a news story on the Wallow Fire, but as of this writing it has not made it to inciweb yet. (Maybe tomorrow?)
( dead link removed )

Perimeter Map [ Wallow Fire Map 2011-06-27 :: map ]
Inciweb ( dead link removed )

[K9Shep]

Wanted to link this map before I left for work. Nothing we have not seen.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/wildfires ... meline.php

[PaleoRob]

K9Shep - you are a nice person! If I was in that situation without a dog, a therapy dog would certainly help my mental outlook. I hope you're able to get out there and volunteer without any problems.

[paulhubbard]

If the fire continues to progress towards the northeast, won't it run out of fuel (trees at least) in the near future? It's been a while since I've been to Springerville, but I seem to remember the land north/northeast of there as being pretty barren.

[JoelHazelton]

If the fire continues to progress towards the northeast, won't it run out of fuel (trees at least) in the near future? It's been a while since I've been to Springerville, but I seem to remember the land north/northeast of there as being pretty barren.

I was wondering the same thing. Looking at the Rodeo-Chediski fire on boundaries on the map, it didn't seem to venture too far out of the "green" zone.

[Thoreau]

I can understand the red tape when it comes to an incident like this, but yeah, it really does suck that people with such a valuable resources to offer have to jump through so many hoops just to POSSIBLY be able to help. In this case, that's a really REALLY awesome resource too! Heck, a mutt from the dog pound would bring a smile to my face any day, let alone a dog that's trained in that task =)

[haggster]

won't it run out of fuel (trees at least) in the near future?

In last nights meeting, the fire chief seemed a little more optimistic now that the fire was coming out of the conifers and reaching the pinyon-juniper. I think you are right in that it is running out of fuel. Hopefully it stays put and doesn't move too much further into the Blue, or west into the res.

[K9Shep]

Thank you for the kind comment PageRob.

[tibber]

won't it run out of fuel (trees at least) in the near future?

In last nights meeting, the fire chief seemed a little more optimistic now that the fire was coming out of the conifers and reaching the pinyon-juniper. I think you are right in that it is running out of fuel. Hopefully it stays put and doesn't move too much further into the Blue, or west into the res.

or the wind doesn't shift.

[azbackpackr]

Grass fires occur every year in that area you mistakenly refer to as being "barren." That "barren" area is biologically rich, home to elk in winter, antelope all year, has the most archaeological sites, and is bisected by fascinating gorges with year-round creeks (most of which can't be seen from the highways.) My favorite areas in the White Mountains are those "barren" beautiful rolling grasslands with 100-mile views, marshes and ponds in the canyons, volcanoes with craters, petroglyphs, pottery shards, etc. Plus all you city slicker flatlander types bypass the grasslands, and you think they are ugly, which means if I go hiking or mountain biking in those areas, there are no tourists or yuppie hikers to deal with, thank goodness.

And, when the grasslands do burn, they sprout up again in a few months.

[Jim]

This time of year they'll regrow in weeks.

[K9Shep]

Just got the call I am taking out of Phoenix now Salvation Army is excited to have me. No other dogs on site!

[azbackpackr]

Just got the call I am taking out of Phoenix now Salvation Army is excited to have me. No other dogs on site!

Super! You'll enjoy the weather, too. I think the smoke is blowing well away from that area as well.

[chumley]

I love the barren grasslands too. And I'm a city slicker flatlander type. ;)

[Jim]

I know what Liz means. All the people from the Valley or Tucson, when they come up in Summer, they take their RV's, their, trucks, and their ATV's and ride around all day, fat guts giggling like jello in a mold, and do it all up in the trees because that's what they think of as "nice". They seldom go to an area that isn't a forest road, and if it isn't over grown, they don't seem to like it as much. The forests around here are horrible in summer when the cool weather seekers come up in their toys to escape heat and camp. Huge bonfire, loud music, and vehicles, vehicles, vehicles!

[paulhubbard]

Plus all you city slicker flatlander types bypass the grasslands, and you think they are ugly

Wow, that's a pretty presumptuous statement

All the people from the Valley or Tucson

And that's stereotyping at it's best

As a 3rd generation native of Arizona, born and raised in Flagstaff, I [almost] take offense to your statements. I highly suspect the type of people you're referring to will never visit this site. I would like to think the people active here on HAZ are of similar mindsets when it comes to appreciating all of what nature has to offer in Arizona and elsewhere. But this is not the right venue to debate that point.

My comment was one of wonder about what will happen to the fire when it runs out of sap-rich ponderosa pines to burn, and a hope that it will be more easily containable when that occurs. Perhaps I should have said "treeless" instead of barren. Thanks goodness I didn't say it's 'desolate' ;)

[Jim]

Yeah, I guess I shouldn't have written "Tucson", just the Valley. Ever been on I-40 on a Friday? Lots of the things I mention headed to higher places. You don't see them out in the grass, just the forest.

BTW, you insulted Liz's home, but then got upset that people responded in kind.

[hippiepunkpirate]

BTW, you insulted Liz's home, but then got upset that people responded in kind.

I think Paul's use of the word "barren" was not intended to be an insult to Springerville and was not trying to attack anyone. There are fine people as well as idiots everywhere. Let Paul be, he's posting here because he cares about the fire, not because he hates anyone.

[RangerKelly]

I would think also that once the fire reaches the juniper and pinyon pine grasslands it would run out of fuel.

By the way I also think the juniper and pinyon pine grasslands are beautiful as well.

[tibber]

like the fire maps by the way. Our webmaster really does a fine job keeping us informed and up-to-date. The new map with the comparison to Rodeo Chedeski is interesting.

[paulhubbard]

The webcam in Greer is no longer active, can't connect to it. I'm hoping it's only because Greer has no power now?