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Wallow Fire – Things Are Improving — Why Now?
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Wallow Fire – Things Are Improving

by Bryan

Wallow FireWhile the fire has expanded into New Mexico, that is generally the result of intentional backfires to deprive the wildfire of fuel. There are now some areas that have been cleared for access by residents, but the air quality is so bad due to the smoke, people return “at their own risk” and it is recommended that they don’t stay for an extended period, especially if they have any respiratory problems.

Information from the current Wallow Fire InciWeb Page

  • Date Started: 5/29/2011
  • Location: Apache, Navajo, Graham, and Greenlee Counties, San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Reservations, Arizona; Catron County, New Mexico
  • Cause: Human – under investigation
  • Size: 452,155 acres [706 miles² 1830 km²] based on infrared data
  • Number of Personnel: Approximately 4,349 including 23 hotshot crews and 78 hand crews
  • Equipment: 22 dozers, 347 engines, 70 watertenders
  • Aircraft: 20 helicopters, 5 air tankers, DC-10
  • Percent Contained: 10%
  • Injuries to Date: 7
  • Residences: 2,714 threatened; 31 destroyed; 5 damaged
  • Commercial Property: 473 threatened; 4 destroyed
  • Outbuildings: 1,216 threatened; 36 destroyed; 1 damaged
  • Other: 1 truck destroyed
  • Incident Commander: Jim Loach, Area Command Team 3

Firefighters have achieved 10% containment on the Wallow fire. Winds are predicted to be light from the southwest at 14 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. However, humidity and fuel moisture remain low. The potential for spot fires outside containment lines from flying embers continues to be a serious concern.

Electricity was restored to Nutrioso, and portions of Alpine yesterday. Two summer cabins and 2 outbuildings were confirmed destroyed in the Milligan Valley, 3 miles south of Eagar. Mop-up continues on the fire’s north flank, south and east of Eagar. Mop-up of hot spots continues in the Tal Wi Wi community. Containment line along FR 220 and US 180 is being prepared for a burnout operation which will take place over the next two days weather permitting. Mop-up and widening of containment lines continues in the South Fork area. Fire is still active in the Greer area. Today’s activities include mop-up and hazard tree removal in the Alpine, Nutrioso and Greer areas.

Firefighters have had several successful days on the fire’s east flank. Night operations went well with structure protection, burnout operations, building of containment lines and mop-up. Today, crews will continue to mop-up from burnout operations and work to build and strengthen containment lines. Yesterday, firefighters made good progress on the fire’s southwest flank. Today, plans remain focused on widening and holding existing control lines and beginning mop-up in some areas. Eastward construction of 9 – 10 miles of indirect line along the south end of the fire continues. Firing operations are planned on the southwest flank of the fire to tie into the remaining indirect containment lines.

[For the latest information click on the Fire symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]