# 2021 US West drought and wildfire thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 10, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991 "2021-06-10T18:17:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/81 "2021-06-22T02:39:17Z")
Backbone Fire evacuees have been told to expect to be displaced for at least one week.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDOPYL8lvaQ)
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/82 "2021-06-22T04:36:11Z")
[The Rafael fire was minor yesterday.](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2021/06/21/arizona-wildfires-updates/7770986002/) Today Flagstaff is looking at evacuations.
**Location:** North of Perkinsville, the Rafael Fire includes the Prescott, Kaibab, and Coconino National Forests and spans the Yavapai/Coconino County line, according to InciWeb.
**Evacuations and closures:** Evacuation orders have been issued for areas around Sycamore Canyon and south of Forest Service Road 535. Garland Prairie **,** Pine Aire Estates and residents in betweenare reminded to be prepared, in case an evacuation is ordered for the area, according to InciWeb.
All areas south of 1-40, west of I-17 including University Heights, Kachina Village, Forest Highlands, Pine Dell, and Woody Mountain Road are encouraged to be prepared for a pending evacuation order, according to the Coconino County Facebook [page](https://www.facebook.com/CoconinoCounty/).
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/83 "2021-06-22T11:40:47Z")
Had a small fire about 5 miles south of our house yesterday. They evacuated a subdivision. They let people back in except for people that live off of one road. It’s not on inciweb yet.
Seems that something also screwed up with the County’s wildfire alert system that does not make me happy.
Very, very smoky at our house.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/84 "2021-06-22T14:30:58Z")
Okay… lemme see if i can remember everything:
The Rafael Fire north of Cottonwood has burned 21k+ acres and has forced evacuations.
The Wyrick Fire near Heber and Antelope Valley has burned 5100 acres and has forced some evacs.
The Backbone Fire near Flagstaff has burned 33k+ acres and is 0% contained; it now begins to threaten Flagstaff. Pine, Hunts Ranch and Strawberry have all been evac’d.
The Coconino and Kaibab Forests will be closed to non-landowners starting today.
2 minute video presents it slicker than I did:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zvrUrNJWy8)
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/85 "2021-06-22T17:20:46Z")
My weather app was showing a forecast for Portland starting Friday with four days over 100 and a high of 115. Historically, we might get a day or two over 100 in late July or August, but not this early, and not this hot.
Fun fact - we had a few days last year with forecasts over 100, but the temperatures ended up topping out at 90 because all the smoke from forest fires blocked the sun.
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### Author:  [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/86 "2021-06-22T18:58:20Z")
> [@TroutMan](#):
>
> the temperatures ended up topping out at 90 because all the smoke from forest fires blocked the sun.
And you thought global warming was a bad thing.
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/87 "2021-06-22T20:08:56Z")
You missed a few fires. [There are also](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2021/06/22/arizona-wildfire-map-where-fires-burning-now-backbone-telegraph/5306012001/):
**Walnut Fire**
The Walnut Fire is burning southeast of Tucson, near Interstate 10. The fire is 7 miles northeast of Dragoon.
- **Start date:** June 20
- **Size:** 2,500 acres
- **Containment:** 0%
- **Fuels involved:** Grass, brush
- **Cause:** Under investigation
- **Total personnel:** 79
## Snake Fire
The fire is burning 7 miles west of Clint Wells on the northern edge of West Clear Creek in Coronado National Forest.
**Start date:** June 21
**Size:** 45 acres
**Containment:** 80%
**Fuels involved:** Brush, grass, ponderosa pine
**Cause:** Unknown
**Total personnel:** 30
## Rock Butte Fires
A thunderstorm ignited several fires north of Paulden and west of Highway 89, including Red Hat Fire, Limestone Fire, Spring Fire, Rock Butte Fire and Silent Fire.
**Start date:** June 17
**Size:** 802 acres
**Containment:** 0%
**Fuels involved:** Juniper, grass understory
**Cause:** Lightning
**Total personnel:** 148
**Cause:** Lightning
**Total personnel:** 442
## Horton Complex Fires
The Horton Complex consists of four fires burning in the Apaches-Sitgreaves National Forests, 5 miles northeast of Hannagan Meadow. The fires are burning within the Wallow Fire scar.
**Start date:** June 16
**Size:** 2,721 acres
**Containment:** 0%
**Fuels involved:** Heavy logging slash, timber
**Cause:** Lightning/natural causes
**Total personnel:** 124
## Bear Fire
The Bear Fire is burning 10 miles south of Hannagan Meadow in the Apaches-Sitgreaves National Forests, near U.S. Highway 191.
**Start date:** June 16
**Size:** 7,300 acres
**Containment:** 0%
**Fuels involved:** Ponderosa pine, grass, brush
**Cause:** Lightning
**Total personnel:** 20
## Moore Fire
The fire is burning near Clifton and 12 miles west of Alma, New Mexico, on Charlie Moore Mountain.
**Start date:** June 16
**Size:** 400 acres
**Containment:** 0%
**Fuels involved:** Pinyon juniper, grass, brush, ponderosa pine
**Cause:** Lightning
**Total personnel:** 10
## Pinnacle Fire
The Pinnacle Fire is burning in Coronado National Forest, approximately 18 miles south of Bylas.
**Start date:** June 10
**Size:** 34,192 acres
**Containment:** 42%
**Fuels involved:** Short grass, brush, timber
**Cause:** Under investigation
**Total personnel:** 409
## Heavy Fire
The Heavy Fire is burning in southeast Arizona near the Helvetia Mine on private land in Coronado National Forest.
**Start date:** June 16
**Size:** 104 acres
**Containment:** 75%
**Fuels involved:** Unspecified
**Cause:** Unknown
**Total personnel:** 65
## Hobo Fire
The fire is burning 13 miles west of Alma, New Mexico, in the Apaches-Sitgreaves National Forests. The fire is 2 miles west of Charlie Moore Mountain.
**Start date:** June 4
**Size:** 600 acres
**Containment:** 50%
**Fuels involved:** Unspecified
**Cause:** Lightning
**Total personnel:** 6
All forests in Yavapai county are closed, heavy fire restrictions are in force.
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### Author:  [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/88 "2021-06-22T21:34:24Z")
Here in the Armpit of Puget Sound — which tends to be somewhat cooler because of more water — I’m seeing 95F projected for Saturday and 98F for Sunday. Temps rarely seen even in August.
No fires on InciWeb (yet), so no haze offset.
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### Author:  [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/89 "2021-06-22T23:57:50Z")
"In the last 20 years, 2002, 2008, and 2012 are the only previous fire years when the National Preparedness Level has been increased to PL4 in the month of the June. Since 1990, today is the second earliest we have increased to PL4.
Currently, 47 large fires have burned 519,761 acres across the country. More than 8,700 wildland firefighters and 16 Incident Management Teams are assigned to incidents."
[https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn](https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn)
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/90 "2021-06-25T17:02:24Z")
Colorado (from 8 June 2021): [Due To Continuing Drought On The Western Slope Rivers Are Running Lower Than Usual](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCgv6pA2mK4) (2 minute video)
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCgv6pA2mK4)
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/91 "2021-06-25T19:57:11Z")
After last year’s disaster here in Oregon, we’re really hoping to dodge the bullet this year. The biggest fire came within about ten miles of us, and we had a lot of smoky air. We’re still going to make sure the RV is ready to roll in case of an emergency, stocked with shelf-stable foods, water, etc.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/92 "2021-06-25T20:42:25Z")
Yeah… about that:
> **[Portland records hottest day ever amid Northwest scorcher](https://apnews.com/article/heat-waves-fires-wildfires-environment-and-nature-2d15c637c00e15862b592cf0d26638cd)**
>
> PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Utility workers and wildlife managers across the Pacific Northwest were trying to keep people and animals safe Saturday as a historic heat wave scorched the region, toppling records and sending residents searching for relief.
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### Author:  [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/93 "2021-06-25T20:46:03Z")
Believe me. We know.
I’m presently stuck at home with no car (in the shop for an unexpected noise issue emanating from the brake system, don’t get me started) in the middle of a forest. Let’s just say wildfire risk is top of mind at the mo’.
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/94 "2021-06-25T22:09:40Z")
I-84 is closed about 80 miles east of Portland due to smoke from a fire, and there are small-scale mandatory evacuations for the area. Hopefully this is something relatively small.
ETA: and evidently it was small, the highway was reopened after an hour.
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### Author:  [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/95 "2021-06-26T19:42:55Z")
This has me concerned:
> **[These are the hotshot firefighters leading attacks against California...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/26/us/california-wildfires-hotshot-firefighter-shortage/index.html)**
>
> A swirling tornado of flames reaching 40,000 feet into the sky tore through a California city in 2018, leaving a veteran hotshot firefighter horrified.
Key points:
• Federal hotshot firefighters are paid just over half as much as state and local ones.
• Low pay and physical and mental stress are leading them to quit, leaving a shortage of hotshot crews.
• With fewer hotshot crews, more homes will burn, particularly in California, where the 7 biggest wildfires in state history have happened in the last 4 years.
• Climate change/drought lead experts to expect an even worse fire season this year than 2020.
I’m in Washington state. There were weeks at a time last summer when smoke wouldn’t let me outside for more than a few minutes. I don’t want to think about a worse fire season here.
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### Author:  [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/96 "2021-06-26T20:43:57Z")
At the risk of sounding like I’m trying to make light of the situation, I thought this is appropriate (especially for those of us in the PNW).
[ ](https://imgur.com/qOrYMmK)
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/97 "2021-06-26T21:03:40Z")
> [@nelliebly](#):
>
> I’m in Washington state. There were weeks at a time last summer when smoke wouldn’t let me outside for more than a few minutes. I don’t want to think about a worse fire season here.
I’ve lived here in Arizona for over thirty years. I’ve never seen anything like this before, despite being evacuated due to fire 6 or 7 years ago.
I don’t enjoy my time outside because of the smoke and I haven’t seen blue sky in over a week.
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### Author:  [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/98 "2021-06-27T00:18:22Z")
You have my sympathy. A former student who lives in Arizona is worried about fireworks. I can understand why.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/99 "2021-06-27T00:28:32Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#):
>
> At the risk of sounding like I’m trying to make light of the situation, I thought this is appropriate (especially for those of us in the PNW).
>
> [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](https://imgur.com/qOrYMmK)
Tongue-in-cheek but _very_ accurate nonetheless:
> **[Portland records hottest day ever amid Northwest scorcher](https://apnews.com/article/heat-waves-fires-wildfires-environment-and-nature-2d15c637c00e15862b592cf0d26638cd)**
>
> Utility workers and wildlife managers across the Pacific Northwest were trying to keep people and animals safe as a historic heat wave scorched the region and sent residents searching for relief.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/100 "2021-06-27T00:39:38Z")
In my part of northern California, sane people are greatly concerned about fireworks.
The sane appear to be in the minority. (sigh)
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