Forest Fire in my area

[GuglioLS]

About two and a half weeks ago, some moron started a fire in a remote are of the Manzano Mountains. Well it's grown to 5000+ acres encroaching several towns destroying homes and other structures along the way and getting closer to my place by the day. The winds are relentless and the drought severe with little snow this past winter and no moisture in at least 4 months. The only thing in the forecast is more wind. The smoke looms nearby. Here are a couple pics I took just hours ago before the sun set:





All the pics are from atop the hill at the back of my property. As with most fires here in New Mexico, there known as a "crown fires" meaning it burns the entire crown of the trees. The forests are so thick and trees so close together the fire consumes everything it it's path to total destruction. The ground gets so hot in some places the silica in the sandy soil fuses together like glass. Just yesterday this fire was considered "under control" and 85% contained. The winds picked up and now it's running rampant again and is getting close. I am planning what to do in the event it arrives at my front door. Most homes that are evacuated burn to the ground. The ones where the owner has stayed and hose down the roof are in many cases saved. Since I have lived here 30 years and have built our home with my own bare hands, I have decided to stay and fight or die trying. Some may think it foolish to stay, but for me, if I lost everything here I might as well be dead anyway. All the grasses are mowed short and our home is in the valley about 100 feet from the forest line, so I feel I'm in a defensible position. I've got generator power to operate the well and pump off grid from my 1800 gallon cistern tank. The hoses and ladders are ready to make my stand should the time come.

Larry

[biggkidd]

Damn Larry,

It sucks people can't be responsible for their fires. This careless action by some unknown is putting you in danger. Please try and be safe. I would do the same thing you are planning. I am sure you will let us know how it turns out.

I have heard in the past that fire was mans first power tool. But these days seems like it only destroys.

I wish you the best of luck.

Larry

[quikduk]

Good luck Larry. I know what you are feeling as we have been evacuated three times. It is a PITA for us to take everything that is either not insured or not replacable and then let the rest go.

We too built our house, at least part of it, and wouldn't want to start over either. Your clearances are a good start as is your water supply.

I have been thinking about adding a tank for us since a really big fire would tax our neighborhood supply and we would be on our own. All of the snow and rain we got this year only helped the brush and weeds sprout more vigorously and we will be doing weed and brush abatement all summer.

[GuglioLS]

Larry, Ken,

Thanks for the support. I just learned of a new member over on TBN, his name is Mike and his handle is mdietz39 Mikes TBN post He lives about 1/2 an hour from me, the first fellow NM Chinese tractor owner I have learned about, and now I find out his place and tractor are most likely up in flames. The little mountain community he lives in has been evacuated. He sent me an e-mail around 12:30 yesterday afternoon asking about his Jinma 284 tractor. I responded with my phone#, unfortunately he never replied or called back. I'm afraid he has been forced to flee the smoke and flames, he lives right in the middle of this disaster. So far we are lucky to be somewhat distant from the actual flames, but it's getting dangerously close, to close for comfort. The prevailing winds are from the west, the fire is to the south, so we might OK? Either way I have decided to make a stand if the time ever comes.

Larry

[stumpy]

Larry, I wish you the best of luck and pray that the fire won't come your way. I live in fire country and I know how you feel.

This was a fire that burned to the edge of my land last summer. My wife and I were there watching the fire crew fought that fire and serve the crew with coffee and tea. They took it very seriously and attached that fire so aggressively to prevent it from spreading.

www.mariposagazette.com/news/contentview.asp?c=221908

Tom

[red]

Larry- Good Luck Our hearts and prayers are with you! -Ed

[tjcarothers]

Larry,
I hope I am not too late. I was away from home the last two days.

Have you built a fire break? Looks like you have some open ground around you, but I can't tell how many trees. Run your plow arund the property on the open ground and turn over some clean (4 or 5") dirt. That will at least slow the advance of the leading edge of the fire there. Maybe take down some trees. A break at least as wide as the tallest tree will slow the crowning, although it won't do much if winds are high or if there is a lot of fuel just before your break.

Is your water supply "fire intact"? Well? Will the electricity still be there if the fire advances to your place? Please don't sacrifice your life for a folly. I agree with you, and would stay and fight for as long as was reasonably possible. But if I lost power, I would have no well, and it would all be for naught.

Good Luck, and be safe.

TJ.

[GuglioLS]

Tom, Ed, TJ,

Thanks for the support!

TJ - I have a 10K watt generator ready to go, the well fed 1800 gallon cistern tank is full and completely buried below ground level as are all the water lines. I have a 10 GPM pump, if my math is correct, I could pump water for 3 straight hours from the tank, after that, what ever the well will produce.



I'm no expert but I think I have a good fire break? Please give me your assessment, it's ~ 100 + feet from the forest line north and 200+ feet from the south, the winds are ~ 90% from the west and ~ 10% from the east, which means any theoretical fire would be moving parallel to me to the north or south most likely traveling west and never directly in the path of crown flames, I have the grass/weeds cut down to the nubs. Very few trees near the house, I built in the clear for that very reason, many love to have there homes nestled in the woods for privacy, but it's indefensible during a fire.

Here's a space photo of our home site layout:



And one a little further out:



Update as I write - the fire is now 15,000 + acres and growing, US forest service is sending 500 more hotshots to the already 400 in position, The governor, has activated all state resources and pleas for assistance for an all out assault. The winds continue to howl, so air support is limited or not possible.

Larry

[gerifalte]

Oh my!! I am very sorry to hear about this Larry. We will keep our fingers crossed for you!

I am no fire expert, but from your aerial pictures it seems pretty obvious to me that your property is very well protected from any potential fire coming from the woods. You have that 10' deep arroyo separating you from the woods, plus you don't have trees creating a potential connection to the woods. Maybe one thing that you could do if the fire gets closer is to get rid of the weeds/brush bordering your side of the creek, to break a potential connection to your house? I think between the arroyo; your pump and cistern; the power of Goldie Locks; and more importantly, your perseverance, you will be safe!

Again, good luck and keep us posted!!!

G

[tjcarothers]

Hey, Larry.
Everything looks good there. I think if it were me, I would still have my dozer ready to build more break. Also, a hose run on the roof with some good sprinklers would be a help. Spraying from the ground with only 10 gpm will be difficult if an ember jumps. Also, do you have a sprayer - even a ag-type ATV sprayer can put out hot spots.

I think you are in good shape. Alot better than the ones in the trees!!!! I am praying for you and your family and neighbors. Wildland fire is like nothing in the world. It is alive, and kills quickly and indiscriminately. Be safe, and don't be a hero just to save a building.

Take Care,

TJ.

[bradblazer]

Larry,
It looks like you are pretty well protected. Like TJ says when it comes down to life vs. stuff the decision is easy for me.
I'm no expert but does it make sense to have a means of starting a back burn if the fire is imminent?

Hope it passes you by & hope Mike's okay.
Brad

[GuglioLS]

G, TJ, Brad -

I appreciate the comeback with your well wishes and fire break assessments. Those areal photos are at least 18 months old, the dried grasses are gone, some areas mowed down, others stripped to bare dirt with the dozer when I took fill dirt for the new road.

I'm no expert but does it make sense to have a means of starting a back burn if the fire is imminent
Me neither, don't think I have a need to do that? I'd be afraid to purposely start a fire like that unless I saw an immediate benefit.

I once saw a PBS special about a fire in Montana? in the 1940's ? I don't remember exactly when or where, but what impressed me the most - a crew was fighting a grass fire in high winds, they suddenly found themselves up hill and down wind of the fire, it was approaching rapidly with no escape. One crew member lit the field ablaze right where he stood to burn out an escape route in front of his group, all they had to do was let the fire burn up hill and down wind, then stand in the ashes while the approaching fire burned around them, they survived, a distant crew did not think of the concept starting a back fire, they perished.

Update - estimates are ~ 100 homes or other structures have burned. The winds have finally died down, a cold front has moved in, and the forecast for temperatures are in the low 20's. Tomorrow they should be able to finally get slurry tankers and helicopters in the air. Wanting to do something, this morning I called the command center and offered to push dirt with my dozer, the response was "It would take allot of paperwork" I responded they better fax it to me right away so I could start filling it out. I gave my name and number, he said he would forward it on for consideration, they never called back.

I just heard the precipitation stats since Jan 1, Albuquerque has received .9", normal accumulation by this time is 2". Roswell, NM has received .1" (yes point 1") normal by this time is 2.5" Talk about dry!

Larry

[red]

Wow Larry thanks for the update! It is amazing how much water is taken for granted out here on the East coast. It's only recently that the southeast has started having droughts. Not surprised on the paperword answer sure they don't know you and I could see where an untrained firefighter could make things worse or a field day for the attorneys. -Ed

[stumpy]

May 2, 2008 9:55:16 GMT -5 GuglioLS said:

Tom, Ed, TJ,


Larry

Larry, Looks like you are in pretty good shape. Just make sure you seal all the ventilation openings to prevent hot ember from getting into any of your structures. Also if possible, cover that fire wood stack with non-combusible material (metal roofing or welding blanket or even a sheet of plywood is better than nothing)

Tom

[ewal]

Larry, I'm hoping that you will get a break and the fire will miss. I wonder if you might have a lawn waterer that could be placed on the roof to protect the shingles. If so you could set it so the most vulnerable area could be soaked only when you need it . The roof pitch looks shallow enough to allow a setup like that.
Hoping your sfe, Elton