"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 )

[azbackpackr]

It's frustrating that the Modis map doesn't have roads

The MODIS map has several base layers, including Topo, road map, land ownership, etc.

Here's the map from 3:30am this morning using the topographic street map as the base layer.

modis6_6_330.jpg

Tried to figure out the program, but it just messes up every time I click on topographic or street map or whatever. I give up.

[chumley]

I'll continue to post a screenshot of it every day since that way it will be archived in the thread for future generations... a feature that the geomac viewer does not have!

[azbackpackr]

Thank you! I plan to drive over there on Friday, most likely. Then I can report from ground zero. That is, zero visibility, almost zero timely info from the authorities, zero respect for the sheriff, who, from all reports I have heard, is using this event to grandstand for re-election, zero respect for the A-S Forest Supervisor who lifted the campfire ban just before Memorial Day weekend...you catch my drift...

[Sredfield]

T . . . zero respect for the A-S Forest Supervisor who lifted the campfire ban just before Memorial Day weekend...

I can't imagine an administrative ban on fires would have effected a different outcome. If you don't have enough sense not to start a fire in tinderbox conditions, you likely aren't tuned in to the pertinent rules. And lightening doesn't heed any rules.

[azbackpackr]

Maybe, maybe not. I was up there that weekend, and when you are in the high country, there is green grass, etc. quite visible everywhere under the trees, and there are even flowers. So, if you didn't know any better, you might think it isn't that dry. Also, if there had been a ban, then there would have been big signs up along the highways. There's a chance that the two campers who started the two fires (which quickly merged into one) might not have started them if those signs had been in place.

Supposedly the supervisor was sent a memo to put a ban in place, but claims he "didn't see it." That's what I heard via the local grapevine, forest service employee gossip.

[chumley]

Just had to screen capture this from AZCentral. They are such good reporters over there.

Anybody remember the enormous Crane Creek fire in 2005? I think it killed hundreds of cranes and 200,000 acres of prime crane habitat. Tragic.

[RickVincent]

Greer is being evacuated. It looks like this fire may just continue to burn until monsoon storms arrive in July.

[chumley]

Greer is being evacuated.

Source?

[chumley]

AZCentral is reporting the Greer Evacuation, sourcing Navajo County Sheriff's dept via the Show Low Police department. Hopefully it hasn't come to that.

Neither WMI, info593 or inciweb are reporting it. Also no notice on Show Low Police site nor Navajo County Sheriffs site. Yet.

Edit: Gov. Brewer just signed an emergency declaration and said that Greer will be evacuated. I guess that's about as official as it gets.

[paulhubbard]

Saw the same thing on a 3TV facebook post about Greer being evacuated. Web Cam (while power lasts): http://74.36.168.38:8000/adrv/fullonair.html

(It takes a few seconds for the display to come up)

[RickVincent]

Escudilla is engulfed. I'm at least glad I got to see it while I could. Nothing like Mid-October on Escudilla.

[RickVincent]

Fire map. Updated 3:00pm. Escudilla engulfed.

[paulhubbard]

From Greer webcam:

[RickVincent]

Greer Area Evacuation Order
6/6/11 3:00 pm

By Order of
Apache County Sheriff's Office
Greer Area Evacuation Order
Effective Immediately
Every one in the Greer area is required to evacuate the Greer community and surrounding areas immediately!

Greer area evacuees are requested to go to Blue Ridge High School in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ or to register with the Wallow Fire Joint Information Center if they choose to go to a different location. Call 928-333-3412 to register.

The designated evacuation route is as follows: Take US Hwy 260 west to Pinetop-Lakeside. It requested that you not travel east on US 260 to allow Emergency Services Equipment access to the Greer area.

If you choose to go to the Round Valley area, please go through Pinetop-Lakeside.

An American Red Cross shelter has been established at:
Blue Ridge High School, 1200 West White Mountain Boulevard.
All evacuees are required to check in with Red Cross personnel after arrival. The shelter that has been established is a no pet shelter.

For more information call: 928-333-3412 or call 593 from a Frontier landline or CellularOne cell phone.

Violations of this order may result in legal action and the evacuee being arrested.

Please continue to check current local conditions by calling 593
or 928-333-3412 or by going to the 593 website at: http://www.593info.org

N O T I C E:
The Apache County Sheriff's Office has issued a Mandatory Evacuation for the Greer area. This notice is effective immediately.
The evacuation route is Hwy 260 West to Pinetop-Lakeside.

Source: Apache County

[RickVincent]

I Haven't heard anything else about this.
(admin removed on request of blogger)

[chumley]

Me neither. I had heard that they had upgraded it to "human caused" and "under investigation". Quotes attributed to the Show Low Police Dept. said that it was caused by an abandoned campfire. But I haven't seen that published anywhere officially yet.

[cindyl]

Escudilla engulfed.

and

[azbackpackr]

Springerville and Eagar have been put on "pre-evacuation notice," whatever that means. My family member is at the meeting right now at the high school. I am feeling pretty upset about not only Escudilla but also South Fork, which is likely to take a direct hit.

The meeting at the high school can be watched on "streaming" here: http://www.justin.tv/zeronome?utm_campa ... 1302467264

Edit, 6:36 p.m: It's very low-tech, hard to see and hard to hear. But interesting. People in a small town can really pull together.

[joebartels]

Difficult to follow yet some good info. Really touches home what people are going though...

Greer you have my heart forever!! Thanks for all my childhood memories and the joy you brought! I love you forever!! I will miss you terribly!

[kevinweitzel75]

@joe bartels
Wow. Sad to read, but good to know. Reminds me of Idaho Salmon/ Snake river fire in '95. Watched it come over the top of the friggin' mountain range and literally shot down a canyon, buring everything. They said that it was uncommon for a fire to crest a peak and keep burning right down the other side. We were listening to a scanner for hours waiting to here if it was going to hit White Bird. Scary stuff.