Wallow fire in Arizona spots 3 miles ahead

Wallow fire large smoke column carried by wind in the late afternoon June 1

Updated at 3:25 p.m. June 3, 2011

Wallow fire map 0930 6-3-2011
Map of Wallow fire, showing new heat detected by satellites within a 6-hour period sometime prior to 9:30 a.m. June 3. An earlier perimeter, mapped at 12:13 a.m. 6-2-2011, is in red. MODIS/Google

The Wallow and the Horseshoe 2 fires in southeast Arizona appear to be competing for the position of 4th largest fire in Arizona history; the Wallow fire just became the 4th largest fire ever recorded in the state. As you can see from the map above, the Wallow fire has grown substantially over the last day and a half.  On June 1 the fire was 6,699 acres in size. Today, according to a report on InciWeb, where additional information about the fire can be obtained, it has burned 106,000 acres. Much of this fire growth can be attributed to the fact that it was spotting three miles ahead, that is, burning embers being carried up into the smoke column are landing and starting new fires three miles ahead of the main fire. There is no way firefighters can suppress the head of a fire when it is exhibiting that kind of extreme fire behavior.

Wallow fire large smoke column carried by wind in the late afternoon June 1
Smoke column over the Wallow fire carried by wind in the late afternoon of June 1. Photo: Kay Dyson

The Incident Management Team working on the fire has enough problems dealing with a fire that has burned 100,000 acres in two days, but adding to that is the lack of electrical power and phone service that went out on Friday at the Incident Command post.

Large smoke column over Wallow Fire on June 1
Large smoke column over Wallow Fire on June 1. Photo: Chris Haese

Some areas have been evacuated, including Alpine, Arizona. More information can be found at InciWeb and the web site for the Apache and Sitgreaves National Forest. However, those sites may not be current due to the lack of power and phone service at the Incident Command Post.

The weather is not helping the firefighters. A RAWS weather station near Alpine, AZ (elevation 8,209′) at 1:16 MT on Friday recorded 71 degrees, 17% humidity, with southwest winds of 9 gusting to 21. A weather camera at Springerville about 20 miles north of the fire occasionally has a view of the smoke.

Below is a map that shows the relative positions of several fires in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico.

 

Vicinity map of fires in Arizona and New Mexico

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Update: read the June 4, 2011 article about the Wallow fire.

June 5 article about the Wallow and Horseshoe 2 fires

June 6 article about the Wallow and Horseshoe 2 fires

Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment.

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.

12 thoughts on “Wallow fire in Arizona spots 3 miles ahead”

  1. This is just ripping my heart out. Friends, family and neighbors my prayers are with you all Here is a site i have found to be updated with current information. http://www.wesmcb.com/ it is a from a local RV blogger who has dedicated there blog to the fire.

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  2. My parents and I have a place in Jackson Springs and I have checked the inciweb’s site to see were they have the fire perimeter. So far the fire is just south of us but the bad news is that the fire has made it to 180 on the east (right across the street is Luna Lake). I think the Fire fighters are trying to keep the fire out of Alpine and are trying to protect the homes in the subdivisions. The only problem is that the wind has been really bad (25 to 55 MPH gusts). I loved this area of AZ and now I fear that it is ruined for the next 100 years. THe meadows will come back but the trees will take along time to grow as tall as the ones that were there. It is so sad because the KP trail burned a few years back and that was the best place to see mushrooms. Now were losing the best place in AZ.

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  3. my uncle and aunt ….jim and jo rex have a cabin close to alpine country club….can anyone give an update on this area. thank you!

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    1. Robyn, we got word yesterday that most everything in the area of the Rex’s is ok. Fires burned mostly grass and trash. They also stated at that time there were no known burnouts in the Country Club area, but there is conflicting info on that now so we will just have to wait until better info comes out. We have had a home there for over 50 years.

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  4. The blaze is roaring through the country club area this evening. Firefighters have had to evacuate the area. Tomorrow we’ll have to see what is left.

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    1. Thanks Bernardo, I appreciate the info. Could you be more specific and tell us where this country club is, and the source of the information?

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    2. Bernardo,
      We would appreciate knowing more about the fire at the Alpine Country Club. Are all homes affected or did it only affect certain area(s). Thanks so much for your help…

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  5. Our family Cabin is on the hill just up from the water treatment plant, and the transfer station, just above the main town of Alpine, does anyone know if the fire is there?

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  6. My name is Blake Harms, and my family owns a cabin not far from luna lake, we are all very worried and worried for all the brave men and women risking their lives for fighting this battle. We hope all of them come back safe and we will be praying for all of them to come home safely. If you could give me any news or updates about the current conditions on the vacinity of my cabin. It is directly across from luna lake, it is near the country club on the way to the town of Blue by the national forest. If you could please give me any news or information you have have it would be greatly apprettiated by my entire family.

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    1. When I checked about 10 pm lastnight with the sherriff department they said no structures within the country club have burned. My cabin is also located in there. E-mail me so I will have your e-mail address and we can help keep each other updated.

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