Scoop Images: Still Razing Arizona

Saturday, 29 June 2002, 7:29 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Monster Arizona wildfire Rodeo/Chediski is still burning brightly in this satellite image fresh off the NASA MODIS imaging satellite system. The image shows the fire as of 18.25hrs UTC on June 28th. The fire – Arizona’s largest ever - has now burned an area of forest roughly the size of Greater Auckland or Los Angeles.

FULL SATELLITE IMAGE US WEST COAST– CLICK IMAGE FOR BIG VERSION

Note: The fire is can be seen as a plume of smoke near the center of the image.

CLOSEUP SHOWING THE FIRE AND PHEONIX – CLICK IMAGE FOR BIG VERSION

Note: Arizona’s Capital Pheonix is the grey area to the South West (left and down) of the fire area.

CLOSEUP OF THE FIRE – CLICK IMAGE FOR BIG VERSION

Latest Bulletin On The Fire From Southwest Area Wildland Fire Operations
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/swainfo/swainfo.htm

FIRE PROGESSION MAP– CLICK IMAGE FOR BIG VERSION

RODEO/CHEDISKI COMPLEX is 417,000 acres. Rapid increase in fire behavior occurred after 1100 yesterday following lifting of an inversion. Although the majority of the fire behavior was very aggressive downhill, against the wind, back, and flanking, gusty afternoon winds challenged containment lines along the southern and northwest flanks. Initial containment lines were lost along the southern portion of the fire in the Cibecue and Carrizo areas. Resources were re-deployed and planning a major burnout today. Along the western/northwestern side, fire spotted over planned control line. Crews pulled back to Highway 260 and Young Road to burnout. Fire will continue to spread below the Rim within Canyon Creek, south of Forest Lakes, with potential to cross the Rim and threaten Highway 260. Structure threat remains high in the Forest Lakes area. Due to the loss of containment line in this area, significant perimeter growth is expected. In the southwestern portion, secondary control line north and west of Cibecue was completed and conducted overnight. On the southeast side, crews were able to hold the line in Cottonwood Canyon and along Highway 60 to Carrizo, preventing fire spread toward Lakeside, Pinetop, and east of Highway 60. In the northeast, control line continue to hold. Over 30,000 persons continue to be evacuated from the communities of Pinedale, Linden, Clay Springs, Heber, Overgaard, Show Low, Pinetop, Lakeside, Hon Dah, and nearby areas. Although firefighters have been able to save thousands of structures including residential and commercial, a total of 423 structures have been destroyed. Plans are to allow some evacuees to return to the east communities beginning Saturday, 6/29.

NEWS LINKS

YAHOO FULL COVERAGE
Comprehensive breaking news coverage
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Wildfires_and_Forest_Fires/

Real Video, graphics and heaps more
The Arizona Republic Newspaper
http://www.azcentral.com/#

For earlier satellite imagery on Scoop see…
26 June - Razing Arizona (2)
25 June - Razing Arizona (1)

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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