Map of smoke from wildfires, June 6, 2011

Wildfire smoke map June 6 2011
Wildfire smoke map, updated at 12:15 p.m. MT, June 6, 2011. NOAA

The map shows smoke created by wildfires. It appears that the eastern two-thirds of the United States is affected by smoke, with most of it coming from the Wallow fire in Arizona. The states of New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and parts of Oklahoma and Texas are being hit the hardest.

The red dots are fires, while the smoke is green (thin), yellow (moderately dense), and purple (dense). The Wallow fire in southeast Arizona is responsible for much of the smoke in the central United States.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

31 thoughts on “Map of smoke from wildfires, June 6, 2011”

  1. We live in Kansas and were planning a trip to Taos New Mexico with our horses to go horseback riding. Would you advise against it right now until the smoke clears? How bad is the smoke?

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    1. Linda-

      That map was produced June 6 and a lot has changed since then. There are two things you can do. Check the web site for the fire on InciWeb. And you can call these numbers at the fire to ask them your questions:
      (877) 631-5241 – public and media
      (877) 631-5804 – public and media
      (877) 631-6497 – public and media

      I hope you enjoy your trip to Taos. It’s a beautiful area — I was there last summer.

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      1. Bill,
        Thank you so much for your reply and the numbers to call. We also were there last summer and wanted to go back.
        Thanks again
        Linda

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    2. Linda, it rained in Taos yesterday and there is no smoke. It is cool and clear, and the summer monsoons are developing. Visit and have a great ride.

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      1. Bob
        Thank you so much for replying. We just might take your advise. We want to escape the Kansas heat and humidity.
        Thanks again
        Linda

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  2. An abandoned campfire, started by a human, is responsible for the Wallow fire, not controlled burning or the lack of it, and not a natural cycle.

    “Remember only _you_ can prevent forest fires.”

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  3. Wow.. lots of science… and lack of science being discussed.

    Thinning (or excessive fire return intervals) is proven to cause INCREASED fire return to SOME fuel types. Thinning is also good for reducing fuel loads, BTUs and FLIs…but may increase risk and exposure.

    So much could be talked about and debated (discussed)… Fire Science is pretty complex, but it surely isn’t rocket science… Fire Science is FAR MORE COMPLEX than rocket science.

    IMHO

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  4. Hmm well a consequence of thinning trees is they tend to have a lot of thin weaker trees growing quicker, and they tend to be a lot easier to burn… We tried thinning forests, the US has a fraction of the great forests it once had, but less trees means dryer climates… You don’t see too many old growth forests flaming up. More vegetation means more moisture and less fires. Nuff said.

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  5. Fires will always happen and man made fires are tragic! However, if the enviornmentalists would allow thinning of these forests, these fire would not get to the size that they do. The federal govenment has done a good job of allowing these forests to over-grow. This is the same thing that happened in 2002 during the Rodeo-Chediski fire. If the forests were not so crowded with over growth these mega fires would not happen.

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  6. The earth may well be warming – as it has repeatedly through the millenia. Remember, it was a period of global warming that ended the last ice age. It’s part of the natural cycle. Most of these warming periods occurred long before mankind was doing anything to contribute. We can debate endlessly whether it’s man-made, and what role government may or may not play in “fixing” this natural cycle, but to blame this early fire season’s activity on it seems ill-advised. The last two years we were in the same long term climactic cycle we’re in now, in terms of warming, and they were pretty slow years. This year, nationwide, is projected to be roughly average, though the southwest is expected to be busy ( http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf, covered elsewhere on wildfiretoday.com) Fire seasons ebb and flow, much like global temperature. It’s the cycle of nature. Some years are hot, dry, and windy, some are cooler and damper, and even regional variations exist. This year it seems to be the southwest’s turn, next year it’ll likely be somewhere else. Just how it works.

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    1. Thank you for the most intelligent comment on this issure I’ve heard in a long time. We are had much cooler and wetter weather that usual this spring in MI. The last time this happened we were having a La Nina year which checking the internet found it reported in several places which basically boils down to a year of extreme, unpredictable weather patterns where the averages are higher or lower than usual which certainly seems to be the case all across the nation. I totally agree with your summarizing statement “It’s the cycle of nature.” Nothing is static and totally predictable in this everchanging world.

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  7. I live in Mesa AZ. It’s east of phoenix. We are aware of the fires but are not seeing the effects like those located east of the blaze and smoke. The skies were clear and blue here today and the only foul odor in the air is the one I smell when I pass the dairy farm on my way home from work. I hope those affected will soon be able to enjoy the weather as I have.

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  8. Due to my severe asthma, I’m leaving Albuquerque to stay with my eldest daughter in Illinois… went out with my pups last nite…almost died!

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  9. Global warming. If you do reading in journals and other scientific (not spin) papers, you’ll see that IF there’s any warming going on, it’s natural. The earth goes through phases of warming and cooling. If you really want to believe in global warming, know that one – just one – volcanic explosion puts more greenhouse gases into the air than all the factories and vehicles ever built. How many volcanoes world-wide are active right now?
    As far as the fires – tragic for those of us who are human, but this will clear huge amounts of dead wood that were waiting for something to set them afire. People will move back, rebuild and replant, and there will be life renewal. There always is.

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  10. Global warming is a hoax. Get over it. The sun is what warms the earth. Without it there wouldn’t be much warming.

    Yes, tragic for not just wild life but humans. Few people realize how toxic this smoke is to breathe. It’s much worse than smoking.

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    1. Hmm Perhaps you dont have all your facts straight…. The moon is the same distance from the sun as us, how come its not as warm as we are? Oh thats right.. the atmosphere keeps the heat in. How? by using green ouse gasses…. now what happens if theirs more of those gasses? perhaps an increase in heat, thus creating a warmer, dryer atmosphere, and making it easier to burn things. Maybe the Hoax is on you.

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  11. Julia,
    Save your breath- I’ve talked with other firefighters over the years about the matter and it’s surprising how many are adamantly opposed to the belief that our climate may be changing- (some got downright angry at the mere mention of the subject!) Unfortunately, when they pull their heads out of the sand, it’ll be too late.

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    1. Climate change
      Y2K
      Killer bees

      Try reading this – Then you might figure out WHY we’re angry.

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      1. Satellites are causing the sea levels to rise? Give me a friggin break! Wrench included a link to a site that I don’t want to promote with an html link, but you can figure it out: www dot icecap dot us

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        1. Bill –

          If you read quite a few of the articles and not just the headlines, there could be a portal moment for you. I had mine in February of 2009 and have been angry ever since over the AGW hype.

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  12. Terrific concise reporting from the front lines. I live in Taos, New Mexico and the smoke is so thick you can’t even see the neighbors house 1/4 mile up the road. Taos Mountain is completely covered in smoke and invisible from 1/3 mile away. Taos Mountain is 13,000 feet. We are about 900 miles from your area.

    I feel sorry for the wildlife. They must be terrified. They are the real victims of manmade Global Warming. So is the health of the Earth and all life that depends on healthy watersheds, clean-air and healthy thriving trees, our source of oxygen for Planet Earth.

    I also feel for the safety and health of townspeople and firefighters that live near these fires.

    I want to thank all the crews that are working around the clock to contain these powerful blazes.

    We all absolutely need to get out of denial and integrate the elevated extreme weather of 2011 and their direct result from Global Warming. Expect more fires as the season wears on, the destruction, the expense, the dangers to firefighters, the danger of not having enough crews and enough money to fight these national fires to protect and preserve all life that lives near these blazes.

    We also need to take into consideration the respiratory health of people and wildlife living hundreds and thousands of miles from the epicenter.

    Global Warming is real,it’s here to stay, and our government needs to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions. Not tomorrow, now. How much more destruction do people need to experience before the truth about global warming stikes home as reality.

    Thank you all for your great reporting. I will tune in to keep posted. PS: The Weather Channel is not even covering this fire? How come? It sure is effecting all of us in the Southwest. Best to you all and God Bless everyone. Julia Taos, NM

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    1. Julia,
      We live in Colorado and we were planning to come to a friend’s vacation home on the 12th for a few days. We can cancel our trip if the smoke is too bad and come another time. What would you advise?
      Thanks for any help you can give us as your new’s stations and chamber of commerce are no help.
      Good luck down there!
      Th from Colorado

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      1. I live in Coloraado Springs and the smoke is MUCH better today. it really depends on the weather pattern and the winds. If your family has any asthmatics, you might want to check specifically with someone where you are going to see if it has cleared up. our weathercasters are predicting that overall it should be better at least the rest of this week.

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      1. not so much “global warming ” as climate change, but, were experiencing a huge drought that has been a lot worse than others, and idk… i think heat and droughts have a lot to do with each other… no?

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      2. Exactly. These are fires that most likely are due to the enviro-whackos who won’t permit the deforestation that might prevent these horrific fires from spreading all the time. If one is truly concerned about the wildlife, then stop the eco-tyrants from standing in the way of proactive fire management!!!

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        1. proactive fire management and deforestation are no where near the same thing. Deforestation has just as many problems as no forest management.

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  13. What a mess!. We’re still smelling smoke very clearly here on the Front Range of Colorado. Looks like there’s no real end in sight. About the only good thing from this is the spectacular sunsets we’ve had the past few evenings. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be much good about it.

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