The Silver Fire in New Mexico - Pictures I Took

Inciweb

At last update (3 hours ago) this fire had engulfed 36,500 acres and is only 5% contained. It started on June 7 by a lightening strike and has been destroying the Gila National Forest like a hungry bitch ever since.

We are safe at this time, from the reaches of this fire, because the wind almost always blows the opposite direction, but many nights we are choked by the smoke. On several nights when it first started, we could see the red flames on the ground in the middle of the night. And the sun was red as it rose and set...

Fortunately, the wind has shifted and the city of Kingston, NM has lifted its evacuation order today, so people will be able to return to their homes.

Here are three pictures I took today. The first two from high points about 1/4 mile from our house and the third, from our front porch. We'd see a lot more if it weren't for the trees on our property.





From our porch:

Star and Flag for you, sir!

When I saw "Kingston," I ran for a map, living in NM as I do. We've had fires around here too...

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Thanks for sharing... I'd say "nice pics", but the sight is all too familiar for me. I lived near the largest (Hayman) and now live near the 2 most destructive (Waldo Canyon and Black Forest) fires in Colorado's history so I have had my fill of monstrous smoke plumes. And just last night my area was choked with smoke from some other fires.

Maybe I just didn't hear about it when I was younger, but it seems like it has been an insane decade or so for Colorado and New Mexico for wildfires.

Stay safe down there!

reply to post by xenthuin


And you stay safe up there. It's the worst fire season in 100 years in California. I imagine it's similar for you and I...

Wind and Dry Air Feed Fires in Southwest

This fire season is especially bad for areas like New Mexico and Colorado as well as parts of California. Moore said drought-like conditions and a minimal chance of rain in the area make it just right for more dangerous fires.

“This problem is going to get a whole lot worse,” he said. “The conditions are so prone to having fires start and then all you need is windy conditions to have them spread. I think we’re going to be dealing with this all summer long in this region.”

Blazes have already destroyed thousands of acres, forced hundreds of families to evacuate their homes and hospitalized some people for heat-related illnesses.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Hey those are some good pics Ben~ I'm glad to hear you are safe and the wind is "almost" always blowing in the other direction.

Stay safe and let us know if this get's any worse...

It's always sad to hear of a National Forest being taken by fire... Not like we as humanity is doing any better to the earth... Just sad to hear.

Anyway

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Inciweb

Lightning is a curse, especially when all the last seasons scrub is on the forest floor all the dead needles and gorse, deciduous leaf and so on, they are a tinder. What managed forest services need is a huge sucker with tentacles to sweep the forest floors of all this stuff, instead they go for controlled burning, and clearance which makes no difference if those surrounding areas not clear felled still have all the years of debris piled up. It's just like the dust in a silo, waiting for a source of ignition.

The picture taken from the NASA satellite is really kind of cool...

Silver Fire From Space

ahh new mexico, the land of enchantment...

Just a couple more pictures from today. There's a dark blanket of smoke over most of our town...

The fire has burned over 92,000 acres and is 20% contained.