Smoke gets in your Eyes

The Cave Creek Complex fire, as it is being called, is still raging to the North-Northeast of town. It began last week in the Tonto National Forest a day before we left town for California. I haven't mentioned it because, well, I'm not exactly sure how you blog a fire.

Since we got back and resumed life-as-normal there's been no escaping it. In the Northwest Valley you can't get away from the smell of wildfire. Each day this week it's intensity has grown. Smoke has been billowing up north of the city, and from our vantage point even to the west as we've caught part of the Buckeye fire as well.

This morning was different however. The view to the west from our backyard was nothing but brown haze far as you could see. From the front of the house you could see the smoke and haze from Cave Creek to the North. Due North from our house is a small peak on the North side of the 101. You could hardly see it--less than 1/2-a mile away--because of the smoke hanging in the air.

There was no breeze at all this morning which I'm sure accounts at least in part for the way that haze and smoke were just hanging in the air. There's something disconcerting about seeing the world shrouded in brown smoke and the sunlight reflected orange on the ground through it. Even when you know the fire is miles away.

"Highlights" of the Cave Creek Fire include:

Total Acres: 172,788
Start Date: June 21, 2005; 4:45 p.m.
Cause: Lightning
Location: 5 miles NE of Carefree, AZ and 12 miles SW of Pine/Strawberry
Containment: South: 40% North: 0%
Expected Full Containment: Unknown
Threatened Resources: Pine, Strawberry, Camp Verde; Pine Mountain and Cedar Bench Wilderness; critical high voltage power lines; cultural and historic resources.
Fuels: Oak & Chaparral brush & grass
Terrain: Step topography, extremely flashy fuels, & poor access.
Cost: $3,443,052
Total Personnel: 835
Crews: 15 Type 1; 8 Type 2 crews
Equipment: 26 engines; 7 dozers
Air Support: Helicopters: 4 Type 3; 4 Type 2 ; 4 Type 1
Evacuations & Closures: There are NO Evacuations in place on private lands near the fire.
The entire Cave Creek Ranger District is closed except for Bartlett Lake area and the Mazatzal Wilderness area. The Agua Fria National Monument is also closed for public safety.
Damage: 11 residences, 3 out buildings in Camp Creek