azbackpackr Hi Tech Wizardess
Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 3639 Location: Needles CA
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Posted: 2/25/2007, 5:46 pm Post subject: Huge Wind-driven Grassfire in Eagar/Springerville Today |
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Today my hiking pal and I stood on top of Eagar's cemetery hill and watched as a big grassfire came down out of South Fork, hopped Hwy 260 by the laminating plant and just screamed across the grasslands, spreading out, heading toward Springerville Airport and also the new golf course. It died when it reached the little bluffs along the Little Colorado. We could see it go right down the cliffs in one place, right by a big house. It didn't appear that any homes were burnt--not sure about the bldgs. over by the laminating plant. The hwy. is still closed.
We watched as groups of horses ran this way and that, but I don't think any were hurt. You just would not believe how fast it ran! The wind was blowing at least 40 mph, with gusts probably at least to 50--a common occurrence here in the spring. The last fire like this one a couple years ago burned 9,000 acres in less than an hour. This one may have been a bit smaller, covered some of the same area, but the wind was pushing it toward Springerville.
When it was pretty much over we went hiking! We went in the muddy, snowy forest, out of the wind! |
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