Tucson By Choice!

The company is named "Ironwood Hotshots."  That's one of their crew trucks to the left, coming out of Brown Canyon with a crew of tired, hungry firefighters.

As of 7:00 this evening (Tuesday) the Elkhorn Fire has grown to 17,000 acres, and is 35% contained.

Approximately 215 firefighters have been deployed from around the state, according to a report by Judy Wood, spokesperson for the Arizona State Forestry Division.

The Baboquivari (bab-oh-kee-VAR'-ee) Peak Wilderness area is rugged mountainous terrain. Helicopters have been used today to start grass fires on the ridges, which then burn slowly downhill through the grass and underbrush. 

What started as a human-caused wildfire has been tamed, (as much as you can tame fire,) and will be allowed to burn out as a slow moving, low intensity fire. 

This strategy, coordinated between the BLM and the Arizona State Forestry Division, provides protection to the wilderness area, preventing future canyon wildfires like those seen in suburban southern California in the past few years.

I had the opportunity this evening to visit the base camp, 15 miles south of Three Points, just as the Ironwood Hotshots were coming off the mountain for food and rest. 

Parking at the edge of base camp, I asked one of the men where I could find the Information Officer.

"That's her, over there," said the young man, pointing to a woman with long blond hair.  "She's helping serve dinner right now."

Kristen Lenhardt, Public Affairs Specialist for the Bureau of Land Management, is a newcomer to Tucson.  Her BLM business card still reads "Cheyenne, WY." 

Not all of the firefighters I saw tonight are of the younger generation, but most of them are, as is BLM SCEP Lenhardt.  I drove home thinking that with young people like these, the future of our Country is going to be in good hands!

In light of the present economy, and especially with respect to the real estate situation we're all dealing with, it's been awhile since I was this optimistic at the end of the day.

But I am!

 ___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

They're calling it the Elkhorn Fire.

What you can't see above (because it's directly behind that smoke plume) is the distinctive sharks' tooth shape of Baboquivari.  The mountain peak is sacred to the Tohono O'Odham Indian Nation.

You can see it more clearly in the photo on the right, at the very top of the photo.

The fire started yesterday, and is believed to have been caused by people. 

By seven last night, crews from as far north as Chandler, AZ were working out of a base camp near the entrance to the Elkhorn Ranch.

Last night, I drove 35 miles south to take photos of the fire, and sent them to KVOA-TV, Channel 4 in Tucson, where that one on top made the 10:00 news.

Today, reporter Tyler Wing of KVOA covered the story in detail, and included an interview with yours truly for the evening news. 

Weather yesterday and today has been dry, with wind gusts as high as 35 miles per hour.  Given the steep, rugged terrain, the primary concern in this sparsely inhabitated area is the safety of the firefighters.

The fire has grown in size to 2,400 acres, and is only 5% contained as of this evening.

We can see Baboquivari from our little community of Tucson Estates 2, here on the western flank of the Tucson Mountains.  That's it on the right, painted in purple at sunset from a distance of 40 miles or so.

EDIT:  Monday, June 15th  The fire has grown to 5,400 acres, and is only 8% contained as of 6:00 p.m.  Winds are blowing south to north, and the smoke plume has reached Phoenix.

EDIT: Tuesday, June 16th  I heard on the radio just now that the fire has doubled in size to more than 10,000 acres. 

Wildfire On A Sacred Mountain: Baboquivari, Southwest of Tucson, AZ (2 of 2)

 ___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson