Wallow Fire
Encyclopedia
The Wallow Fire, named for the Bear Wallow Wilderness
area where the fire originated, was a wildfire
located in eastern Arizona
and western New Mexico
, United States
, in the White Mountains
near Alpine
. As of 26 June 2011, it had burned about 841 square miles (2,178.2 km²) in Apache
, Greenlee
, Graham
, and Navajo
counties in Arizona and Catron County
in New Mexico. On 14 June 2011, the Wallow fire was "upgraded" to the largest fire in Arizona history, passing the Rodeo-Chediski Fire
which burned 732 square miles (1,895.9 km²) in 2002. Nearly 6,000 people were evacuated. In addition to other air assets, 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
. Two individuals were being questioned on June 15 as persons of interest who may have abandoned a campfire that started the blaze. On July 3rd, the fire was 95% contained. The Wallow Fire was declared 100 percent contained as of 6 p.m., Friday, July 8
, Blue River
, Greer
, Nutrioso
, Sunrise, Springerville
, Eagar
in Arizona, and Luna
in New Mexico
were evacuated. On June 11, 2011, the leading edge of the fire advanced into Catron County, New Mexico
. On June 12th, evacuations were lifted for Eagar, Springerville and South Fork. On June 18th and 20th, evacuations were lifted for Alpine and Greer and on June 21st, the evacuation for Luna
, NM was lifted. Additionally, the Apache National Forest
was closed to the public.
Bear Wallow Wilderness
The Bear Wallow Wilderness is an 11,080 acre wilderness area in eastern Arizona, United States. The wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.-See also:*Wilderness*Wilderness Act*List of U.S. Wilderness Areas...
area where the fire originated, was a wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
located in eastern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and western New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in the White Mountains
White Mountains (Arizona)
The White Mountains of Arizona are a mountain range and mountainous region in the eastern part of the state, near the border with New Mexico; it is a continuation from the west of the Arizona transition zone–Mogollon Rim, with the Rim ending in western New Mexico...
near Alpine
Alpine, Arizona
Alpine is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States, in Bush Valley in the east central part of the state. Alpine was settled in 1876 by Anderson Bush who built a log house originally known as "Fort Bush". Bush sold his holdings in 1879 to William Maxwell and Fred...
. As of 26 June 2011, it had burned about 841 square miles (2,178.2 km²) in Apache
Apache County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*23.3% White*0.2% Black*72.9% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Greenlee
Greenlee County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*77.2% White*1.1% Black*2.3% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*15.0% Other races*47.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Graham
Graham County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*1.8% Black*14.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.3% Other races*30.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and Navajo
Navajo County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*49.3% White*0.9% Black*43.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*3.3% Other races*10.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
counties in Arizona and Catron County
Catron County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.8% White*0.4% Black*2.7% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*3.7% Other races*19.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in New Mexico. On 14 June 2011, the Wallow fire was "upgraded" to the largest fire in Arizona history, passing the Rodeo-Chediski Fire
Rodeo-Chediski fire
The Rodeo–Chediski Fire was a wildfire that burned in east-central Arizona beginning on June 18, 2002, and was not controlled until July 7. It was the worst forest fire in Arizona's recorded history until June 14th, 2011 when the Wallow Fire surpassed Rodeo-Chediski as the largest fire in Arizona...
which burned 732 square miles (1,895.9 km²) in 2002. Nearly 6,000 people were evacuated. In addition to other air assets, a converted DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
Very Large Air Tanker ("VLAT"
Tanker 910
Tanker 910 is the call-sign of a wide-body jet air tanker currently in fire service. The aircraft, operated by 10 Tanker Air Carrier, is a converted McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft used for fighting wildfires, typically in rural areas...
), capable of dropping up to 12,000 gallons of fire retardant
Fire retardant
A fire retardant is a substance other than water that reduces flammability of fuels or delays their combustion. This typically refers to chemical retardants but may also include substances that work by physical action, such as cooling the fuels; examples of these include fire-fighting foams and...
in seconds, was deployed to help fight the fire
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
. Two individuals were being questioned on June 15 as persons of interest who may have abandoned a campfire that started the blaze. On July 3rd, the fire was 95% contained. The Wallow Fire was declared 100 percent contained as of 6 p.m., Friday, July 8
Preparations
The communities of AlpineAlpine, Arizona
Alpine is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States, in Bush Valley in the east central part of the state. Alpine was settled in 1876 by Anderson Bush who built a log house originally known as "Fort Bush". Bush sold his holdings in 1879 to William Maxwell and Fred...
, Blue River
Blue River, Arizona
The Blue River is a stream that runs through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. It arises near Alpine and flows south into the San Francisco River just upstream from Clifton. The Blue River varies in altitude from .- External links :* * *...
, Greer
Greer, Arizona
Greer is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States. It lies at an elevation of approximately 8,500 feet in the White Mountains of Arizona, and is surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Greer was founded around 1879 by Mormon settlers from Utah...
, Nutrioso
Nutrioso, Arizona
Nutrioso is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States. Nutrioso is located on U.S. Route 180 and U.S. Route 191 south-southeast of Eagar. Nutrioso has a post office with ZIP code 85932....
, Sunrise, Springerville
Springerville, Arizona
Springerville is a town in Apache County, Arizona, United States within the White Mountains. Its postal ZIP code is 85938. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 1,956.Springerville sits at an elevation of 6,974 feet...
, Eagar
Eagar, Arizona
Eagar is a town in Apache County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 4,126.Eagar was first settled in 1871.-Geography:Eagar is located at ....
in Arizona, and Luna
Luna, New Mexico
Luna is an unincorporated village in northwestern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. It is seven miles from the Arizona border and twentyone miles from Reserve on the San Francisco River and U.S. Route 180.-History:...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
were evacuated. On June 11, 2011, the leading edge of the fire advanced into Catron County, New Mexico
Catron County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.8% White*0.4% Black*2.7% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*3.7% Other races*19.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. On June 12th, evacuations were lifted for Eagar, Springerville and South Fork. On June 18th and 20th, evacuations were lifted for Alpine and Greer and on June 21st, the evacuation for Luna
Luna, New Mexico
Luna is an unincorporated village in northwestern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. It is seven miles from the Arizona border and twentyone miles from Reserve on the San Francisco River and U.S. Route 180.-History:...
, NM was lifted. Additionally, the Apache National Forest
Apache National Forest
Apache National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico on July 1, 1908 with from portions of Black Mesa National Forest. In 1974 entire forest was administratively combined with Sitgreaves National Forest to create Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest...
was closed to the public.
Damage
The Wallow Fire consumed 817 square miles (522,900) across eastern Arizona and 24 square miles (15,000 acres) in western New Mexico. More than 30 structures were destroyed. Commercial Property: 4 destroyed Outbuildings: 36 destroyed; 1 damaged Residences: 32 destroyed; 5 damaged The estimated cost of $109 million.Widespread smoke plume
The thick smoke in the NASA satelite image at right 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 to the Great Lakes region, affecting air quality for large areas east of the Rocky Mountains.External links
- Wallow - InciWebInciWebInciWeb is an interagency all-risk incident web information management system provided by the United States Forest Service released in 2004. It was originally developed for wildland fire emergencies, but can be also used for other emergency incidents .-Introduction:It was developed with two primary...
Incident Information System - U.S. Air Quality “Smog Blog” at University of MarylandUniversity of MarylandWhen the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
- Image gallery of the Wallow Fire by the U.S. Forest Service at Flickr.com
- Wallow Fire Information