Wildfires taking a toll around the West

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Bob Berwyn
Whitewater-Baldy Fire photo

Nighttime burnout operations at the massive Whitewater-Baldy Fire complex in New Mexico.

Wildfire season totals still below average to date, at 995,000 acres

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — While media attention and firefighting resources have been focused on the High Park Fire, burning near the densely populated Colorado Front Range, the wildfire season is heating up elsewhere around the country.

The Little Bear Fire in New Mexico, burning on the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, is among the most destructive, having destroyed 224 homes and cabins.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported four new large fires Tuesday (June 12) for a total of 19 large fires burning around the country. To-date, the acreage affected by wildfires still remains about 50 percent below the 10-year average, with the NIFC reported a total of 995,000 acres burned so far this year. The average for the year to-date is 1.5 million acres. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Sunflower fire triples in size

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

The Sunflower fire.

Sunflower fire Payson Arizona

The Sunflower Fire.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Firefighters in Arizona reported “extreme” fire behavior in the rapidly growing Sunflower Fire, which tripled in size, to more than 12,000 acres in the past 24 hours.

Working beneath towering smoke plumes in steep canyons and rocky hillsides, abut 400 firefighters managed to achieve about 7 percent containment on the fire that’s been burning near Payson since May 12.

Most firefighting efforts will be focused on containing any new starts in the vicinity of the fire and establishing fire lines along forest roads and a powerline corridor in the area.

Winds are expected to shift to the north, potentially leading to growth of the fire in new areas. Temps Wednesday once again are forecast to be in the 90s, with relative humidity in single digits.

The fire is burning in grass, chaparral, pinyon pine and heavy Arizona cypress trees in the southwest corner and firefighters say the potential for growth is extreme.

Also in Arizona, the 1,900 Bull Flat Fire continues to burn in a remote area within the Chediski Fire scar.

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Grand Canyon fire managed for ecosystem benefits

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Small blaze no threat to national park facilities

Wildfire is part of the ecological landscape in the ponderosa pine forests along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —Not every wildfire is a catastrophe, and those that aren’t don’t tend to get much news coverage. National Park firefighters will carefully manage a 75-acre blaze on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to maintain the presence of fire in fire-adapted landscapes.

The recent push of monsoon moisture into the region has reduced the risk of fires growing quickly out-of-control, enabling National Park Service managers to allow the Point Fire to burn.

The fire is located is about 10 miles west of the North Rim developed area in the vicinity of Point Sublime and Walla Valley. It’s burning in ponderosa pine and occasional small patches of mixed conifer. According to a press release from Grand Canyon National Park, most of the area around the Point Fire has burned recently, including during the 2001 Tower Fire and the 2004 Grama Fire. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forest fires, forests, global warming, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Op-Ed: Don’t blame enviros for large fires

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A map showing the boundaries of the Four Forests restoration initiative.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — It’s hard to believe that anyone would want to score political points in the aftermath of a large and destructive wildfire.

But that’s exactly what happened as the massive Wallow Fire in Arizona waned, when several members of Arizona’s congressional delegation tried to blame damage caused by the Wallow fire on lawsuits filed by environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity.

Trying to place the blame externally is a typical, and in some cases understandable reaction in many situations, as it’s easier to quickly point fingers instead trying to understand somewhat complex topics like fire ecology, forest restoration and global warming science. But when it’s done cynically to win votes, it’s inexcusable.

It’s even more sad that some of the same politicians seeking to blame environmental groups are the same ones who refuse to acknowledge global climate change, and the same ones who repeatedly seek to slash public land agency budgets, further hampering efforts to restore national forests. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests, global warming, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Arizona’s Wallow wildfire 100 percent contained

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest re-opened; flash flood worries remain

Firefighters make a stand along a road during the peak of the Wallow Wildfire. PHOTO BY JAYSON COIL VIA INCIWEB.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Fire officials said July 8 that the 538,000-acre Wallow Fire is 100 percent contained and have re-opened the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to visitors.

The fire started May 29 and quickly grew to become Arizona’s largest ever wildfire, even spreading across 15,000 acres in New Mexico. The size of the fire footprint can be misleading, because the fire didn’t burn every single acre within that perimeter. In some areas, it burned around stands of trees, but in other places it left nothing but scorched earth and blackened stumps.

A recent article and discussion thread on NewWest.net addressed the way the size of wildfires is reported by the media, as writer George Wuerthner claimed that the acreage totals are often cited without context about the pattern of wildfires and their role in forest ecology.

The fire was human-caused but the exact ignition source remains under investigation. The fire destroyed 32 residences and four commercial properties, while many more structures were saved by firefighters. Sixteen were injured during the month-long campaign. Fire information is updated continuously at Inciweb.org. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests, global warming, pine beetles and wildfires, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Floods, mudslides a concern in Wallow Fire area

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Monsoons could bring unprecedented flows in scarred areas

Boise Hotshots do a burnout along Highway 260 at the Wallow Fire in east-central Arizona. Click for more photos. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. FOREST SERVICE.

Wallow Fire, Arizona.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Arizona’s massive Wallow Fire, the largest in the state’s recorded history, is now 77 percent contained, and while hundreds of structures were threatened, firefighters managed to protect all but 32 of the residences and businesses within the 538,000-acre footprint.

Officials say some of their biggest concerns are about flash flooding and debris flows when the monsoon rains start to fall in the rugged terrain of the White Mountains. According to the latest update from Inciweb, even moderate rains storms could trigger intense runoff in the scarred terrain.

From the update:

“Some area streams and rivers are likely to see flows beyond anything seen in decades if typical or above average rains occur. This summer, all residents near streams, rivers, or steep burned hillsides should be alert to flooding and debris flows. Residents should be aware that area roadways may become impassible due to mud, rock and debris slides or due to streams and washes overwhelming existing culverts and bridges.”

More info and numerous links online at Inciweb. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forest fires, forests, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Wildfires: Forest regeneration stymied by hot crown fires

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Arizona research calculates wildfire carbon-balance impacts

Intense crown fires in ponderosa pines are stunting forest regeneration. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. FOREST SERVICE.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Wildfires that have burned across almost 750,000 acres in Arizona are doing more than turning forests into charred stumps.

Researchers with Northern Arizona University say the fires, burning in unnaturally dense stands of ponderosa pine, are turning the forests from carbon sinks into net carbon producers — and, the fires have burned so hot that they aren’t finding many signs of regeneration.

Mike Stoddard, a forest ecologist with NAU’s  Ecological Restoration Institute, has been looking for a sign, any sign, of ponderosa pine seedlings 15 years after the 1996 Hochderffer Fire, a crown fire that burned hot through 16,000 acres west of the San Francisco Peaks, near Flagstaff. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Arizona Wallow wildfire grows to half-million acres

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Strong winds force evacuation of Luna, New Mexico

The Wallow Fire in Arizona. PHOTO COURTESY JAYSON COIL VIA INCIWEB.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Wallow Fire, burning in east-central Arizona, is already Arizona’s largest wildfire ever and has now grown to more than half a million acres in size. Click here to visit the Wallow Fire photo gallery on Inciweb.

Overall, the fire is 44 percent contained and residents of Alpine have been allowed to return home after a long evacuation period. But strong southwest winds Saturday (June 18) pushed the fire past containment lines along Highway 180 on the east side of the fire toward Luna, New Mexico, which was being evacuated late Saturday afternoon. (more…)

Filed under: air quality, climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests, global warming, La Niña, seasons | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Wildfires: Horseshoe 2 blaze looms at Buddhist center

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

The Horseshoe 2 Fire in Arizona is burning within a few miles of the Diamond Mountain Buddhist retreat center.

Wildfire burning within a couple of miles of Diamond Mountain retreat center

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A group of 40 American Buddhists in Arizona is hoping that the U.S. Forest Service will continue to hold the line on the Horseshoe 2 Fire to keep the flames away from the Diamond Mountain Retreat Center, near Bowie.

Along with retreat director Christie McNally, the Buddhists are six months into a three-year solitary and silent retreat focused on praying for world peace. McNally is one of the first women in the world to be recognized as a lama in the Tibetan tradition. She and the rest of the group believe that the power of prayer and meditation can help create peace in the world — but they’re concerned that the approaching fire could interrupt their meditation. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests, La Niña, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Summit Voice: Week in review

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Jenney Coberly

Wildfires once again dominated the headlines

Duckett fire, west flank 6/13/11 — photo courtesy USFS

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Stories about the Wallow Fire, now the largest wildfire in Arizona history, and the Duckett Fire, still raging in Colorado northwest of Westcliffe, got the most views this week.

Wildfires

Summit Voice editor Bob Berwyn is currently taking a road trip with his family and has been posting stories here and frequent updates on Twitter.

Road Trip USA

With the summer entertainment scene heating up, here are some stories about great things to do in Summit County this weekend:
Upcoming events in Summit County

(more…)

Filed under: blogs, Breckenridge, Breckenridge Peak 6 expansion, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Breckenridge town council, climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, forest fires, forests, Frisco, music and concerts, recreation, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, Summit Voice weekly headlines, Travel, US Forest Service, White River National Forest, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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