As I mentioned in a previous post, we are having a particularly dry year here in Southern NM. Wildfires are happening nearly daily since we have some thunderstorms blowing through and lightening strikes are common. I wish those same storms would drop some rain. To be safe the national forests nearest to us are closed to the public, big signs plaster the stores on the way out of town that leads up to the mountains. Lincoln National Forest Closed, NO Campfires, NO picnics, NO offroading, Trails closed.
This is a picture of the Organ Mountains in Las Cruces, my other hometown, burning last week.The fire is now contained.We had planned on taking a camping trip this summer, escaping the desert heat, but we will have to wait and see if they are open after the monsoons. We even thought of "camping" at our house, but I am fearful of having a fire here. We are surrounded by 100+ acres of dry brush and a plenty of things to burn. A stray ember or spark could be pretty dangerous. I guess I could have my dad standby with a fire truck.
My dad and brother are both volunteer fireman and have been very busy the past few weeks. Last week they responded to a call and ended up staying at a ranch for a few days with the Rocky Fire. Out of cell phone range, and "requested" to stay there by a government entity to protect that line if the wind blew the fire their way, it gave us a little consternation about their safety. My mom felt better once they took some of my dads medicines out to him. I think he has been to brush fire every day since they came back from that fire.
When I hear the world wildfire, I tend to think of three things, California, a Michael Martin Murphy song (also a New Mexican by the way) and Smokey Bear.
Did you know that Smokey Bear is a New Mexican? Just in case you are wondering his official title is Smokey Bear, not Smokey the Bear. He was found as a cub in 1950 in Capitan, NM after a wildfire. Burned badly he was taken to Santa Fe and treated and then was offered as symbol of fire prevention to the Forest Service and spent his life at the National Zoo. You can read the story here.
