What we can do

 by Rain Trueax

If the United States, we didn't have enough pain thrust onto us, fires have become a new attack on the West Coast. We got some of that early this summer when Tucson had the Catalina Mountains hit with lightning and then a long lasting fire that raced across the mountain and led to some evacuations-- as well as smoke that made being outside impossible.

Then came the California fires, also started by lightning to begin. That was followed to what is happening to Oregon with fires destroying small towns, homes and priceless  buildings that even if they can be rebuilt, it'll never be the same. And as I write this, the conflagration is not over. More after the break---

It comes from the skies

by Rain Trueax

looking toward the Strawberry full moon

As with last Saturday's blog, I had a plan for this one. Then, things changed. Instead I'll relate what's been going on at Casa Espiritu, our desert home. It was unexpected, but what hasn't been this last year. 

Tucson has entered the monsoon season. A week earlier, we'd had our first good storm. It hit us with all you can ask for with such storms-- wind, driving rain, thunder, and lightning. Storms that come with rain are the best as there is another kind-- dry lightning storms. Because this storm was intense, Ranch Boss filmed it and it's below. Such a giving storm means life to the land.

From Casa Espiritu May 29th

After that storm, they were spaced a few days apart. Most missed us. Sometimes, we'd see them travel up the Tucson Mountains, but we got nothing. Friday night, the 5th, the night of that full moon, we heard some rumblings of thunder, but they didn't seem close. We got a couple of sprinkles before bedtime.

Saturday morning, June 6th, we were sitting in our backyard, talking. It was our son's birthday and his present was it was the day the shearer could do the sheep. Not much of a birthday present, but he seemed okay with it. It's more troubling to us not to be there for what's been our life for over 40 years. Unplanned as this at this time due to life changes and the pandemic, we felt disturbed and yet understanding. One generation lets go and another takes over. We were lucky we had a son who can take over.

That afternoon, the temperature was about 96ºF, perfect for the patio misting cooling system to make it pleasant enough to be outside. As we watched the birds, good for de-stressing (and who doesn't need that these days), we saw jets fly surprisingly low. We thought they were headed to the airport. Never had we seen ones so big so low. Two of them. We watched to see where they went but lost them. I remember how blue the sky was, so pure of color.  Often, it's that way above Pusch Ridge, the mountain range that is part of the Catalinas and not many miles, as a crow flies, from our house.

Later that afternoon, Ranch Boss saw the smoke. That's when we realized the plane we'd seen was a fire fighting jet and had been dropping fire retardant to try to put an inflammable barrier between the fires and homes in a development called La Reserve. We looked for information on it and found the fire, called the Bighorn,  because this is part of their habitat was maybe 10 acres to begin but growing. That dry lightning storm had started two others, in the hills ringing Tucson.

Many photos followed, along with some videos as Ranch Boss took them that afternoon, after it got dark, and then again the next morning. We were happy that it was being fought but learned that the powers seemed to think letting it grow some was good for the mountain. Seeing the fire fighting plane reminded us how wonderful it was that there are those who are trained to help the rest of us. They give up their free time, face danger, and we count on them. I grew up in a time that was less true.

Living a rural life most of my years, wildfires are always a concern when it's been too dry, for too long. As a little girl, a fire came down over the mountain toward our farm. I remember walking down the farm road to catch the school bus and seeing that red glow on the horizon-- wondering what I'd come home to see. That fire got as far as my parents' back acres before my father and other local men set a backfire that turned it from homes back toward the wilderness. In those days, the kinds of crews and equipment that we take for granted today didn't exist.

Our farm in Oregon has twice had fires too close. One time we took our family photo albums, the Hopi pottery and our Navajo rugs into town to be at our daughter's in case we had to evacuate. Fortunately, fire crews put it out before that happened. When I've been away for a time, I always scan the horizon for that telltale red glow or smoke. 

One more firefighting story. It involves what has been called by numerous names but among them, the South Canyon or Storm King fire. It's been memorialized in a book Fire on the Mountain. It's important in my memory because I knew one of the girls killed in it. She had gone to school with my kids, went onto college as more acquaintances than close friends, but I had her in my car more than once to school events. Terri Hagen was in track, a strong girl and summers fighting fires as a hot shot to pay for college was a logical thing for her. There is also a memorial above Bear Creek in Montana put there by Don Mackey's father. I have a photo of that, but it's unfortunately in Oregon. These people, and many more, have given their lives for the good of the forest and the rest of us. I am reminded of it all with this newest fire to enter my life.

Well, back to my story, in the case of The Bighorn, as I said above, the firemen  concentrated on dropping fire retardant as well as water to suppress but not put it out since they felt it can be healthy for such rocky terrain by reducing cover for the predators that hunt the bighorns. In the beginning, they concentrated on protecting nearby homes. 

As the week went on, that decision seemed less wise as it grew to 7000+ acres. It got into Pima Canyon, a beautiful place for hiking and threatens the homes below as they changed the area that people might have to evacuate. This is one of Tucson's older and nicer neighborhoods with homes beautifully set into the desert around them. 

A second warning to prepare to evacuate is on the side of the mountain toward our home, but we are not at risk from it at this point. The thing could change if it gets into the big wash that comes down from the mountain. Hopefully, they are aware of that and will stop it before it gets that far. If it did, it could still be stopped back in the canyons with what they drop from the sky. It would be bad news for a lot of businesses if they can't get it under control at least there-- not to mention Catalina State Park. Today part of the area you see on the map is under mandatory evacuation now and part is to be ready-- called set.

map of potential evacuation area on the other side of Pusch Ridge from us

When those in charge realized the situation, they brought in more fire fighters, more professionals to run the operation, but if they had been more aggressive earlier, it would have been put out. Now, with the extreme heat and off and on winds, it's hard to say how long it'll take, and the smoke is leading to warnings to stay inside throughout at least this area of Tucson. These rugged hills aren't easy for fire fighting; so much has to come from the air. Catalina State Park closed as have most hiking trails on the south side of the Catalinas. 

One good thing is the homes asked to evacuate were told they could return home but still be ready. I had read that the hotshots were setting backfires, which consume the fuel before a fire can reach that region. Maybe that worked.

Still, there is the other concern that if it heads toward Mt. Lemmon, there are tall trees up there. It suffered a bad fire a few years ago. Fire, like storms and the sun, is part of the desert life.

So, about what i planned to write-- Maybe next blog what I had in mind will come again or maybe something new... Several ideas surface, claiming it should be them; then they disappear as another arises. I have strong opinions, but what I don't want to do is insult readers who come here-- from either side. I have seen too much of that from blogs I used to enjoy. People don't need lectures right now, but I think a reminder of life being about more than momentary hysteria (you know where we must do something anything, and right now). I believe that people need hope that there can be a better tomorrow, but it might take work to get there. Ranch living tends to teach that lesson as it's full of tragedies and rebuilding. 

Still, how can one ignore what's beyond ourselves??? For me, it's a time for having squirrels on my mental wheel, each trying for prominence. Too bad one isn't for the book I should be working on...

The photos above were all from our home here earlier in the week. The map came from KGUN 9. The photos below were taken when Ranch Boss had to go out to pick up an order. That's the smoke that is impacting the area and gives you an idea of the rugged country where they have to fight this fire.