# 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:** 6
### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/101 "2021-06-27T06:02:39Z")
Oh yeah, fireworks are about the worse idea ever but idiots are idiots.
Three homes have burnt down in my small unincorporated rural area this year and none of them had “fire-wise” landscaping. (That means the weeds were knee high and drier than straw.) There is usually only one or two a year. I get so very angry at idiots who throw lit cigarette butts out their car windows.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/102 "2021-06-27T15:19:12Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Portland, Oregon, had the hottest day ever recorded – reaching 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 degrees Celsius) Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record for Oregon’s largest city was 107 F (41.7 C), a mark hit in 1965 and 1981.
>
> Seattle reached 101 F (38.3), making it the hottest June day on record and only the fourth time in recorded history the usually temperate city had topped 100 degrees.
> **[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:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/103 "2021-06-27T15:55:18Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> Portland, Oregon, had the hottest day ever recorded – reaching 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 degrees Celsius) Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record for Oregon’s largest city was 107 F (41.7 C), a mark hit in 1965 and 1981.
The forecast for today is 114 F and tomorrow, 113 F.
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### Author:  [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/104 "2021-06-28T12:05:11Z")
[Lytton, BC](https://bc.ctvnews.ca/lytton-b-c-just-broke-the-record-for-hottest-temperature-ever-recorded-in-canada-1.5487906) had the highest “ever” (OK - maybe in the last 125 years or so since recording started) recorded temperature in Canada yesterday at 46.1 C (around 115 F).
It’s forecast to be 47 C (almost 117 F) the next two days.
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/105 "2021-06-28T19:19:21Z")
Today’s fire update:
**Snake Fire**
The fire is burning 7 miles west of Clint Wells on the northern edge of West Clear Creek in Coconino National Forest.
- **Start date:** June 21
- **Size:** 130 acres
- **Containment:** 60%
- **Fuels involved:** Brush, grass, ponderosa pine
- **Cause:** Unknown
- **Total personnel:** 30
**Walnut Fire**
The Walnut Fire is burning southeast of Tucson, near Interstate 10. The fire is 7 miles northwest of Dragoon.
- **Start date:** June 20
- **Size:** 10,650 acres
- **Containment:** 56%
- **Fuels involved:** Grass, brush
- **Cause:** Lightning
- **Total personnel:** 202
**Alamo Fire**
The fire is burning 10 miles west of Nogales between Mexico, the Coronado National Forest and the Nogales Ranger District.
- **Start date:** June 20
- **Size:** 4,953 acres
- **Containment:** 90%
- **Fuels involved:** Short grass, brush
- **Cause:** Unknown
- **Total personnel:** 70
**West Chev Fire**
The West Chev Fire is burning 13 miles from the Forest Lakes community in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
- **Start date:** June 19
- **Size:** 1,170 acres
- **Containment:** 62%
- **Fuels involved:** Ponderosa pine, grass, brush
- **Cause:** Unknown
- **Total personnel:** 64
**Wyrick Fire**
The Wyrick Fire is burning 2 miles northwest of Heber in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
- **Start date:** June 19
- **Size:** 7,592 acres
- **Containment:** 56%
- **Fuels involved:** Timber, grass, chaparral
- **Cause:** Lightning
- **Total personnel:** 261
**Rafael Fire**
The fire is 4 miles north of Perkinsville, east of Highway 89. The fire is burning in Prescott National Forest, east of the Rock Butte Fires.
- **Start date:** June 18
- **Size:** 76,322 acres
- **Containment:** 48%
- **Fuels involved:** Grass, juniper, chaparral, ponderosa pine
- **Cause:** Lightning
- **Total personnel:** 633
**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. Red Hat Fire, Limestone Fire and Silent Fire have been 100% contained.
- **Start date:** June 17
- **Size:** 802 acres
- **Containment:** 80%
- **Fuels involved:** Juniper, grass understory
- **Cause:** Lightning
- **Total personnel:** 41
**Backbone Fire**
The Backbone fire is burning 11 miles west of Pine, south of Highway 260.
- **Start date:** June 16
- **Size:** 40,855 acres
- **Containment:** 43%
- **Fuels involved:** Pinyon juniper, chaparral, brush, grass, cactus
- **Cause:** Lightning
- **Total personnel:** 632
**Horton Fire**
The Horton Complex consisted of four fires burning in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, 5 miles northeast of Hannagan Meadow. On June 25, the fires merged and that is now referred to as the Horton Fire. The blaze is burning within the Wallow Fire scar.
- **Start date:** June 16
- **Size:** 11,399 acres
- **Containment:** 12%
- **Fuels involved:** Heavy logging slash, timber
- **Cause:** Lightning/natural causes
- **Total personnel:** 218
**Bear Fire**
The Bear Fire is burning 10 miles south of Hannagan Meadow in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, near U.S. Highway 191.
- **Start date:** June 16
- **Size:** 21,700 acres
- **Containment:** 0%
- **Fuels involved:** Ponderosa pine, grass, brush
- **Cause:** Lightning
- **Total personnel:** 22
**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 13 miles south of Bylas.
- **Start date:** June 10
- **Size:** 34,417 acres
- **Containment:** 60%
- **Fuels involved:** Short grass, brush, timber
- **Cause:** Under investigation
- **Total personnel:** 49
**Slate Fire**
The fire is burning approximately 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff, originating on Slate Mountain.
- **Start date:** June 7
- **Size:** 11,435 acres
- **Containment:** 90%
- **Fuels involved:** Pine, juniper, grass, brush
- **Cause:** Unknown
- **Total personnel:** 16
**Telegraph Fire**
The Telegraph Fire is burning a mile and a half southeast from Superior in Tonto National Forest. Fire crews are monitoring U.S. Route 60 and Forest Service Road 651. This fire has quickly become [one of the biggest wildfires in Arizona history](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2016/05/14/arizona-biggest-wildfires-since-2002/83921490/). Telegraph merged with [Mescal Fire](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2021/06/16/fast-moving-and-dynamic-telegraph-fire-has-merged-mescal-148-299-acres-burned/7712931002/) on June 16.
- **Start date:** June 4
- **Size:** 180,756 acres
- **Containment:** 91%
- **Fuels involved:** Short grass, brush, cacti, moderate load grass, short manzanita, mesquite
- **Cause:** Human cause under investigation
- **Total personnel:** 273
**Hobo Fire**
The fire is burning 13 miles west of Alma, New Mexico, in the Apache-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:** 5
_Republic reporter Monica D. Spencer contributed to this story._
The sky is still gray and I’m seeing ash falling.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/106 "2021-06-28T21:15:50Z")
jeebus; that’s a lot of fires and that’s just AZ
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### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2021, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/107 "2021-06-29T05:31:41Z")
I don’t know about the rest of the NW, but Portland is getting a bit of a break tomorrow (Tuesday). It’s only going to be 95 F, which is about 20 degrees cooler than today. We’re already getting somewhat cooler air tonight than the same time last night.
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### Author:  [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/108 "2021-06-29T15:02:54Z")
95 sounds dreamy. Enjoy the cool down. 🙂
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/109 "2021-06-29T18:48:32Z")
The fire season is just getting started. Bad as things are here, I am very much afraid that its going to be worse in California very shortly. If not this year, next year for sure.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/110 "2021-06-29T20:16:11Z")
The ruling blackouts have begun:
> **[Blackouts in US Northwest due to heat wave, deaths reported](https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-government-and-politics-business-environment-and-nature-6a66be20ed86ad18ed131156c9f7a517)**
>
> As the Pacific Northwest swelters in an unprecedented heat wave, an electrical utility in the Washington state city of Spokane has announced that more rolling blackouts have started that will cut off electricity and air conditioning to some...
Here’s my favorite part of the article:
> [@](#):
>
> In Portland, light rail and street car service was suspended on Monday as power cables melted and electricity demand spiked.
>
> Heat-related expansion caused road pavement to buckle or pop loose in many areas, including a Seattle highway. Workers in tanker trucks hosed down drawbridges with water twice daily prevent the steel from expanding in the heat and interfering with their opening and closing mechanisms.
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### Author:  [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/111 "2021-06-29T20:26:39Z")
They actually started yesterday in Spokane, but they were not well planned like they hope to do today. Oddly, the poorer parts of town are the ones losing power.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/112 "2021-06-29T20:43:56Z")
“Oddly”?
🤨
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/113 "2021-06-30T19:00:17Z")
The heat is killing people:
> **[Hundreds of deaths could be linked to Northwest heat wave](https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-heat-waves-government-and-politics-business-environment-and-nature-12e7ce9fab90b237d565357d2e121c17)**
>
> SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The grim toll of the historic heat wave in the Pacific Northwest became more apparent as authorities in Canada, Oregon and Washington state said Wednesday they were investigating hundreds of deaths likely caused by scorching...
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### Author:  [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/114 "2021-07-02T00:24:26Z")
Lytton, British Columbia, described variously as a town or a village, earlier this week set the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada (something like 120 F, nearly 50 C), beat that record a day later, and now has burned to the ground.
> **[Two Reported Dead After British Columbia Town Burns; More Than 100 Fires...](https://weather.com/news/news/2021-07-01-canadian-town-burns-to-the-ground-in-heat-wave-lytton-british-columbia)**
>
> The weather is challenging firefighters working to control dozens of wildfires in western Canada. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/115 "2021-07-02T00:29:30Z")
I came in to post the AP story:
> **[Wildfire consumes small British Columbia town that hit 121 F](https://apnews.com/article/canada-british-columbia-wildfires-fires-70a0140f8cf48d33bff92081214b3dbd)**
>
> LILLOOET, British Columbia (AP) — A wildfire that forced people to flee a small town in British Columbia that had set record high temperatures for Canada on three consecutive days burned out of control Thursday as relatives desperately sought...
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/116 "2021-07-02T00:36:42Z")
I can’t find a link, but Maricopa county (where Phoenix is) is reporting almost 70 heat deaths this year.
June beat the heat records for Phoenix. Not only were the high temps higher than normal, the low temps were also higher than normal.
This sort of heat is killing cactus state wide. Just let that sink in for a while.
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### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2021, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/117 "2021-07-02T04:46:23Z")
> **[Heat-related death toll rises to 79 in Oregon](https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2021/07/heat-related-death-toll-rises-in-multnomah-county.html)**
>
> Seven counties have reported deaths tied to the extreme temperatures that hit the state, with Multnomah County recording the most at 52.
There may be more heat-caused deaths reported in the next few days. It’s no longer that hot, at least not here in the Portland area, but late reports may add to the total.
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/118 "2021-07-03T18:35:35Z")
“[State forestry and fire officials say more than 1,100 blazes so far this year have charred over 453,000 acres of Arizona](https://arizonarepublic-az.newsmemory.com/?token=d5a9db37057ee7911cc06029d33f60fe&cnum=cf5f07f9-9a77-4704-a737-35dc23ca1a49&fod=1111111-0&selDate=20210703&licenseType=paid_subscriber&)”
That’s probably paywalled, but it goes on to say that things are going from bad to worse with no end in sight.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/119 "2021-07-04T14:55:45Z")
This happened two weeks ago; I just found out about it: the city of Lemoore, CA (pop. 26,107) had an accident last week that resulted in 1 death, 1 injury and a shitload of damage including the loss of a 1,500,000 gallon water tank and all the water inside it.
2 minute video:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0tKDTVmwFQ)
Local news story as they prepare to restore some service:
> **[Lemoore looks to turn on equipment at tank explosion site soon](https://abc30.com/lemoore-explosion-equipment-water-tank/10848555/)**
>
> Soon, its pieces will be trucked away from Lemoore's Station 7 Water Facility, where crews have worked quickly to make repairs and restore power.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/120 "2021-07-04T16:11:35Z")
Huh. How the hell did that happen? Too much water coming in and no way for it to get out? That’s crazy.
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