Fires to the Left of Us, Fires to the Right

[Catherine+twins]

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you!

Sing it out!

About 62 miles to the east of us, near Pecos, NM, the Tres Lagunas fire is near 2000 acres (started yesterday). About 56 miles to the west of us, near Jemez Springs, NM, the Thompson fire started this afternoon and so far is just more than 5 acres. Winds above 20 mph, gusts to 40, calmer tomorrow; humidity around 10%, 0% chance of rain. The Tres Lagunas fire probably started when a power line blew down in high winds yesterday. The Thompson fire probably started when a tree blew down on a power line today.

The kids have the cats' boogy bag packed. We have our own bags packed, too, but will update them with the summer clothes this weekend.

I normally love living in the "urban-wildland interface," with a forested canyon right across the street from my house. But that forested canyon is tinder dry right now, after 3-5 years of severe drought.

We want some of the rain that is falling east of us!

Catherine

[Mary C]

My prayers are with you and your kids. I know this must be hard. I can only imagine. I would be terrified. I would melt down for sure. keep strong and I am praying. but do keep us updated as much as possible. I for one will be on pins and needles till the fires are out.

Mary C.

[Verna]

Take care Catherine. I spent a few days in NM early in May and yes, it sure was dry, but still beautiful.

Keep in touch.

[Catherine+twins]

The Tres Lagunas fire to the east of us is now 2500 acres. That one is not a danger to us, as it is moving east.

The Thompson fire could threaten us. It's up to between 800-1000 acres now (just overnight!) and is also moving east. The Los Conchas fire two years ago started about 5 miles from where the Thompson fire is burning now, and it came all the way to the edge of town. Of course, we have that burn as a fire break on the south and southwest sides of town, but the north side of town still has live, if very dry, trees.

Oh, guess what? I live in the part of town called the "Northern Area!" And my dear step-dad lives further north in an area that didn't even get burned 13 years ago in our previous forest/town fire. (My neighborhood got its trees "thinned" a bit in that fire, the Cerro Grande, and lost 5 houses two blocks from mine. About 400 families lost their homes in that fire, although as many homes here are duplexes and quads, it was less than 400 structures. In my neighborhood it was 4 single-family houses and a duplex.)

Nope, not going to happen. We are NOT going to have a fire in town this year!!!

Sometimes I am a bit overly glad I don't live in Tornado Alley, and comment that I just don't understand people deliberately rebuilding where they know tornadoes seem to seek them out year after year (week after week this spring). But here I am in fire country. And you know what? I have been looking at house plans, just in case I get to build my dream house on the burned out foundation of this 1949 government-built "Single-family Group-11" house. That's a really romantic name for a house style, isn't it? It's essentially a Post-WWII Cottage (yes, that is a style, too) but with a flat roof.

But now that I'm looking at plans, that will be the magic that keeps mine from burning down.

Catherine

[celticquetzel]

Wow! I'm a newbee from the "Eastern" side of town. Watching the smoke. And the updates. Been evacuated twice with kids and pets. We're prepping as well. Despite the reason, I'm sooooo excited to find other locals and New Mexican`s involved here. Getting inspired with the creative approaches that people have come up with. Going to have fun on the design this winter. I need a new creative project and I really want to put some unique touches in my build.
-Caro

[celticquetzel]

Oh, and I`ve got ideas for a rebuild of my 1955 govt house as well. For the same reasons. Take care.

[Shadow Catcher]

Having grown up in California I am well familiar with wild fires, living in the northern mid west (in the eastern time zone) we have been having toad drowneder thunder storms. The predictions of extreme weather and severity of said extreme weather are well, more extreme, the hurricane season is likely to be a dozy and the tornado season already is.

[wagondude]

Hope they get it under control before it gets to you. Stay safe.

[Catherine+twins]

Wow! I'm a newbee from the "Eastern" side of town. Watching the smoke. And the updates. Been evacuated twice with kids and pets. We're prepping as well. Despite the reason, I'm sooooo excited to find other locals and New Mexican`s involved here. Getting inspired with the creative approaches that people have come up with. Going to have fun on the design this winter. I need a new creative project and I really want to put some unique touches in my build.
-Caro

Hi, Caro/celtiquetzel!

Good to hear from a local, too!

I see Bandelier just went to Stage II fire restrictions (gas stoves allowed, no camp fires even in improved campgrounds now). At least they are still open. The Thompson fire was at 1200 acres yesterday afternoon at the 3:00 public meeting. That's actually pretty good. Los Conchas moved MUCH faster. But today has been windy again, so who knows what we will hear tonight!

Catherine

[PKCSPT]

Hope everyone is still safe.

Living in Mn we get tornadoes from time to time, I have my next home in mind if this one ever goes with the wind. Not that I WANT that but never hurts to be prepared right?

[Catherine+twins]

The Thompson Ridge fire is up to about 5000 acres today, although that number will probably jump when they do their infra-red survey tonight. Here's a picture from the local hospital looking west (just a convenient parking lot to take a shot). To the left in this picture is the bridge I cross every day going to work. In the canyon below this bridge is the day-camp my kids are attending this summer while I work, work, work. After the fire two years ago, the summer rains washed down into the canyon and flooded the day-camp location and the kids spent the rest of that summer and last summer in the aging (rotting) gym of an old school here in town. This week is their first time back in the canyon since then. They ARE NOT HAPPY about this new fire. In fact, today they had to stay inside the building because of the smoke in the air and ashes raining down on them.

Oh, and here is a picture of the ashes raining down on us. The black sticks are burned pine needles. The bigger piece is an aspen leaf, still intact with its little stem still there. I didn't compose this picture, this was on my construction foam when I got home tonight. More was falling on me as I took the picture.



Not liking this at all!

Catherine

[Catherine+twins]

We're up to 14,400 acres, but the winds have calmed down so the air quality in town has been better for the last couple of days. There were thunderstorms in the area last night which helped some, but also hurt. Lightning sparked 4 small fires. I haven't heard if they have all been put out yet.

When I was in Santa Fe yesterday for car service, I stopped at Goodwill and picked up a pet taxi. That means I have one for the two cats, and one for the two chickens, IF we need to evacuate. But that's looking less likely now. If the fire does reach the edge of town now, it would be smack into the firebreak burned by the last fire (2 years ago), and wouldn't have anything more fuel. Not so good if it goes a bit north, but that's not where the winds are pushing it right now.

Catherine

[Rainier70]

It looks like it's growth is slowing down. Hope the weather cooperates and the winds stay calm.

[Catherine+twins]

Ah, breathe deeply (cough! oops, not a good idea with the smoke), count to ten.

Yesterday the fire fighters set back fires, trying to create ground-creeping fires to clear the undergrowth and limit the ability of the wildfire to crown.

Last night the back fires jumped the fire lines.


We're up to 19,000 acres and State 4 through the Jemez Mountains is closed. The smoke has been present, if not thick, all day. My aunt's brother, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, is in the hospital and on oxygen as of this morning, he just couldn't breathe.

There are thunderclouds in the area, but so far only dry lightning. We need us some !!!

Catherine

[Rainier70]

Dang, I was hoping for a quick end this time for you. It isn't just the fire, that smoke can be deadly for some too. Praying for ya all.