Wallow Fire Explained

Wallow Fire
Injuries:16
Reference:[1]
Date: –
Location:Arizona
New Mexico
Coordinates:33.602°N -109.449°W
Pushpin Map:USA Arizona
Area:538049acres
  • 522642acres in Arizona
  • 15407acres in New Mexico
Buildings:72
Cause:Campfire

The Wallow Fire was a wildfire that started in the White Mountains near Alpine, Arizona on May 29, 2011. It was named for the Bear Wallow Wilderness area where the fire originated, The fire eventually spread across the stateline into western New Mexico, United States.[2] [3] By the time the fire was contained on July 8, it had consumed 538049acres of land, 522642acres in Arizona and 15407acres in New Mexico.[1] It was the largest wildfire in Arizona history.

Cause

The fire was started accidentally by two men who were camping. They cooperated with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges relating to mismanagement of their campfire.[4] In November, 2012 they were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3.7 million.[5] [6]

Response

The communities of Alpine,[1] Blue River, Greer, Nutrioso, Sunrise, Springerville, Eagar in Arizona,[7] [8] and Luna in New Mexico were evacuated. In addition to other aircraft, a converted DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker ("VLAT"), capable of dropping up to 12,000 gallons of fire retardant in seconds, was deployed to help fight the fire.[9] [10] On June 11, 2011, the leading edge of the fire advanced into Catron County, New Mexico.[11]

On June 12, evacuations were lifted for Eagar, Springerville and South Fork.[12] On June 14, the Wallow Fire became the largest fire in Arizona history, passing the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, which burned 732sqmi in 2002. On June 18 and 20, evacuations were lifted for Alpine[13] and Greer[14] and on June 21, the evacuation for Luna, NM was lifted.[15] Additionally, the Apache National Forest was closed to the public.[16]

On July 3, the fire was 95% contained. The Wallow Fire was declared 100% contained as of 6 p.m., July 8.[1]

Damage

Four commercial buildings were destroyed; 36 outbuildings were destroyed and one damaged; 32 residences were destroyed and 5 damaged. The estimated cost was $109 million.

Widespread smoke plume

The thick smoke in the NASA satellite image was only part of the smoky haze plaguing the continental United States in early June 2011. According to the U.S. Air Quality "Smog Blog ", smoke from fires in Arizona and New Mexico extended through Texas and Oklahoma up into the Great Lakes region, affecting air quality for large areas east of the Rocky Mountains.[17] [18] [19]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: InciWeb: Wallow Fire. InciWeb. 20 October 2016.
  2. News: Arizona fire: Residents forced to flee as winds fuel blaze. Lindsey Collom . William Hermann . Ofelia Madrid . . John Zidich . . June 7, 2011 . October 20, 2011 .
  3. News: Lacey. Marc. Frosch. Dan. Wallow Fire in Arizona Threatens Electrical Grid. 20 October 2016. The New York Times. 9 June 2011.
  4. News: Fonseca . Felicia . March 28, 2012 . UPDATED: Cousins Plead Guilty to Ariz. Fire Charges . The Albuquerque Journal . 2012-08-02.
  5. News: November 20, 2012 . Payment schedule for Wallow Fire restitution . Arizona Capitol Times . 2013-02-05.
  6. News: Morales . Laurel . November 8, 2012 . Wallow Fire Starters Ordered To Pay Victims $3.7 Million . Fronteras Desk . 2020-02-10.
  7. Web site: Emergency bulletins: "Crews prepare roads, dozer lines last night on Wallow fire" . Azein.gov . 2011-10-22.
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425083025/http://www.azein.gov/azein/Lists/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=1670&Source=http:%2F%2Fwww.azein.gov%2Fazein%2Fdefault.aspx Query results
  9. http://wildfiretoday.com/2011/06/09/wallow-fire-burns-through-greer-arizona/ "Wallow fire burns through Greer, Arizona"
  10. Web site: Holland . Catherine . June 10, 2011 . Wallow Fire: DC-10 tanker pilot calls fire 'impressive' . azfamily.com . 2012-08-02.
  11. Web site: Firefighters Brace For Winds as Fire Crosses into New Mexico ABC News, June 11, 2011 . Abcnews.go.com . 2011-06-11 . 2011-10-22.
  12. Web site: Wallow fire update: Evacuations lifted for Eagar, Springerville and South Fork. . Azfamily.com . 2011-10-22.
  13. Web site: Alpine residents allowed to return home. . Wmicentral.com . 2011-06-18 . 2011-10-22.
  14. Web site: Greer residents to return home . Wmicentral.com . 20 June 2011. 2011-10-22.
  15. Web site: "Wallow Fire PM Update 6-22-2011" InciWeb . Inciweb.org . 2011-05-29 . 2011-10-22.
  16. Web site: Emergency Closure Order, Apache National Forest. 2011-06-07. United States Forest Service. United States Forest Service. 2011-06-03.
  17. News: Wallow Fire Continues to burn. . Holli Riebeek . Michon Scott . NASA . . June 2011 . October 21, 2011 .
  18. Audi, Tamara (9 June 2011) "Arizona Fires Worsen: Authorities Say Biggest Blaze Covers 389,000 Acres; 2 Towns Ordered to Evacuate" Wall Street Journal
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20110611005024/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304259304576373532245771012.html Query results

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