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I want to cry right now. I have a cabin in Pinedale. I got home from work a little while ago and turned on the news. Pinedale is being evacuated in fear that this over-night fire will scorch it. What a sad situation. Some of the best hiking in AZ too in that area of the state My cabin will probably burn down to the sticks by tomorrow.

I have no words, other than sorry.

I'll chip in my own sorrows and regrets for you. I have a couple of good friends whose families have lived in that area for a couple of generations. One of them told me that her father (lives in Pinetop) wouldn't leave till "the fire is in my backyard." Brave words - and I hope he doesn't pay for them. I haven't heard if their home is "toast" yet.

What a depressing weekend.

I feel so bad for everyone involved in this.

One semi-bright note - at the time I am writing this, the AZ fires still have yet to claim a life. Houses and forrests can be rebuilt/regrown - a life can never be replaced. I think it is miraculous that we have been spared that particular tragedy.

Well said Olesma.

The most important thing is that which cannot be replaced - Human Life.

Thank God that no life has been lost, and pray that it remains that way.

Jeremy-

I'm saddened and angered by the loss of your home too. I was in Alpine this past weekend to help a buddy with his cabin but we didn't get a whole lot done as there is a ban on outdoor power tool use and chainsaws. We did get some concrete and plumbing work accomplished though. We tried to dayhike up Escudilla Mtn. on Saturday but the rangers were shutting down all access to the Apache Sitgreaves NF. Good for them. The area around Alpine is as dry as anywhere else and the whole town is on edge that either the Rodeo Fire could spread the 70+ miles east to Alpine or another blaze could start up nearby.

I drove up early last Friday and at that time, US 60 was still open so I made good time. Although the smoke between the Salt River Canyon and Show Low was thicker than fog. Returning home yesterday, I had to go up through Eager/Springerville to St. Johns, Holbrook, Winslow, Payson and finally route 87 back to the valley. 427 miles, yikes!

There was faint smoke in Alpine all weekend and we saw plenty of evacuees pass through on their way out of Show Low. The only restaurant in Alpine was serving complimentary dinners to fire crews on their way into the blaze area. The wierdest thing was seeing a fireworks stand in Luna, NM just over the border from AZ on route 180. Fireworks are legal in NM.

I just breaks my heart to see the loss of habitat and homes due to someone's negligence.

-Nealz

Man that's astonishing fireworks are being sold so close by. Though I remember being a kid on the southern border of Nebraska. We'd go a few miles to Kansas cause they had all the good fireworks. Never saw it myself but heard when a hundred square acre wheat field catches fire it goes in a flash.

"Legal" fireworks - while fun - have been the cause of a lot of fires over the years. I seem to remember several minor fires here in Phoenix that were started by fireworks brought over the border from NM.

In Houston they are legal, but I recall a number of sellers who would trim their inventory to just sparklers and smokebombs if we were in a particularly dry summer. Of course, they were the minority.

Heck, I'm surprised I'm still alive after palying with and altering/manufacturing fireworks (some of the stuff was just too "wimpy" for us) as a youngster. I do know that I had no regard for whether or not I might start a forrest fire. I just wanted to see the sparks and hear the boom. Ah, the irresponsibility of youth.

I hope we don't see more fires after this 4th celebration.

Did anyone catch the horrible story about the woman in Eagar or Pinedale that had a cattery with 40+cats in it+LEFT THEM penned up? And it burned to the ground!I cried .How could anyone do that.If she had a cattery+sold cats,she had to have carriers,etc.Why couldn't she have left the cages open+let them fend for themselves.Some of them might have made it.It hurts your heart. I hope she never sleeps again. I just don't get humanity sometimes.

Diane, Jeremy, I was gone when this topic started and just came accross it. I'm so sorry for your loss and the losses by so many in the fire. And GeorgAZ, someone with forty cats is in it for the money, like dog puppy mills; they don't care about the animals which makes me sick.

What kind of punishment or retribution is just for a firefighter that has caused such loss and destruction,even to his own people.This action is completely incomphrensible.Firstly,the forest service worker in Colo.,the"hiker"(yeah right),and worse, a firefighter!Our enemies must be enjoying the disrespect that these people have for their beloved country. There are just no words.