Arizona Wildfires Threaten Border Towns (VIDEO)

Correction - In the clip above, the fire is stated to be burning over 389 acres. The correct figure is 389,000 acres.

Comments

[prescottlucy]

02:24 PM on 06/13/2011

There's not a more beautiful forest than the one that is currently burning up here in Arizona. I'm a retired non-native transplant to AZ and can vouch for the sadness that this fire has created in the hearts of those who live here. As much as I deplore the political atmosphere and the hatred, racism & corrupt politicians who lie their way into office in this state in order to benefit their corporate cronies, I did fall in love with those mountains and trees that are burning down right now. It breaks my heart to know that so many hardworking people who have tried to protect the endangered species that lived within the forest now watch their efforts and the lives of many innocent creatures going up in smoke.

Also realize that there are those among us who are not pleased that at the same time that our state is burning up that we are also about to claim another disaster inherited from the state of Alaska...Sarah Palin. (Introduced by another has-been Presidential nominee, Sen. McCain.) She might now be actually regretting her move here knowing that this fire may have consumed the last of the few remaining endangered Mexican wolves and left her with nothing more exciting to use her famous hunting skills on.

[jspbeef]

06:22 AM on 06/10/2011

Alabama's Governor just signed into law an Immigration bill tougher and more extensive than Arizona's and, let's see, Utah, Nebraska, Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma, etc,etc,etc, what is it, something like 23 states now. have either passed or will pass similar laws regarding immigration so for a lot of you out there the country is closing in around you. Will you have similar vile comments for them also? I guess if you haven't hiked a trail in your state lately that was pristine, but, now looks like a garbage dump, full of discarded clothes, water bottles, cans, toilet paper, smoldering campfires, even dead decaying bodies from exposure, you wouldn't know why it's better for everyone to keep things legal. So smoke another joint, have a "Weiner" and fire away.

[Anne McCauley]

07:19 PM on 06/09/2011

So much for the millions of $ spent in the White Mountain Stewardship Project. All the cleaning, thinning of trees & burns of the Urban Wildland Interface of Show Low, Eager, Springerville, Greer, didn't prevent any of this. Maybe Future Forest, LLC, the recipient of the WMSP contract in 2004 who was in charge of the stewardship project could shed some light on what happened. Or maybe the six White Mountains-based businesses, each of whom received a $250K grant to invest in wood milling & treating equipment to process the wood being removed from the forest? We're told that these projects minimize the impact of wildfires in forested areas, yet we have little to no information about the effectiveness of these projects which have been conducted throughout the West on millions of acres of public lands since the passage of GWB's "Healthy Forest Act," other than the obvious financial impact for the private timber cos.

[NoboyukiMasaki]

07:11 AM on 06/09/2011

A natural disaster can reveal the true spirit of the community. Katrina and Joplin showed the true spirit of the people affected.

I wonder what will be revealed here...

[khorton56]

02:04 AM on 06/09/2011

I have been reading some of the comments on this blog about the second largest fire in Arizona history and it does nothing but confirm my thoughts. Some people in this world are nothing but human garbage. I hope the good people in this world (as I have also read good comments too in this blog and I thank those of you for that.).

First, not all of Az is desert, these beautiful pine trees in Northern AZ where this Wallow fire is burning have been there for hundreds of years. There are many wild animals that live in these forests as well as animals living on farms and ranches in the area. People are losing their homes, for something that was caused by a human. So far the dollars spent fighting this fire is in the millions and I commend and thank these firefighters and their families. I really hope the person that started this is shaking in their boots as they WILL catch them. They always do. If they don't stop it not only Arizona will be effected, and I know MN is already prepared and I am am sure CO and UT are concerned.

Just remember all of your with your nasty comments, (And you know who you are) what goes around comes around and one day you will be faced with some sort of disaster in your world whatever it is, Let me get out my violin for you because then who will be crying.

[bdaved]

10:39 PM on 06/08/2011

Is this the right video, or does HP just think everything in Arizona must be a "border town"?

[dennisc443]

09:13 PM on 06/09/2011

I think they thought it was Minnesota!!!!

[Lark817]

10:37 PM on 06/08/2011

I remember after Katrina some Conservatives m0r0ns telling us that it was their fault and that God was mad at them. So who is God mad at in Arizona, Cons?

[dennisc443]

09:14 PM on 06/09/2011

expats in mexico probably

[Paulie21]

10:36 PM on 06/08/2011

heart breaking for this racist, bigoted state. NOT.

[bdaved]

11:09 PM on 06/08/2011

You sure there's no bigotry in that comment?

[Lark817]

12:24 PM on 06/09/2011

The irony! Too funny. Do you even see it? lol

[bdaved]

01:54 PM on 06/09/2011

Apparently, there's a new, improved hate that's superior to others.

[Paulie21]

06:49 PM on 06/09/2011

of course I do, duh!but if you've escaped and are living the sweet life in Mexico, why do you care? You've obviously escaped from AZ!

[biggulp64]

09:16 PM on 06/08/2011

lol people can be rude and some of you are showing it...lets pray nobody gets hurt,,and firefighters go home safely can care less how big or what news reporter says..pray for them and yourself for thinking in idiot ways...GOD BLESS US ALL...

[itzfatcat]

08:51 PM on 06/08/2011

AZ has a Republican Gov so there probably won't be any gov aid. Remember Iowa floods and no gov aid.

[miltjones65]

08:47 PM on 06/08/2011

It was probably started by ultraconservatives trying to get rid of illegal immigrants and other undesirables, like democrats and liberals.

[mgemo]

08:47 PM on 06/08/2011

As an Arizonan, I am certainly not proud of many of the things our state has recently become known for. I am, however, proud of the residents of Eastern Arizona and those fighting the fire for their bravery. Let's all gather up our humanity and wish these families well.

[Paulie21]

10:36 PM on 06/08/2011

trying but really difficult...

[jspbeef]

08:41 PM on 06/08/2011

There are more than one fire in Arizona. The fire most referred to is the Wallow fire in NE Arizona approximately 200 miles from the border with Mexico. No one knows exactly who started it, only that it was an unattended campfire. There are two fires in southern Arizona one just north of the border within 25 miles near Tubac and Rio Rico. Another fire is in the Southeastern area near Portal and Paradise within just a few miles of the border. Both of these areas are heavily used by illegal crossers of unknown origin and also for drug smuggling routes. No one knows exactly who or what caused these two fires, however campers use these areas as well as illegal crossers who start fires to cook and keep warm at night. I hope this helps to explain for all the people who post some ridiculous comments, like, oh the same per, nevermind.

[mgemo]

08:48 PM on 06/08/2011

Thank you for the clarification. And for the perspective.

[alilpersianpapi7]

08:40 PM on 06/08/2011

i initially made a typo.. i meant 389 and not 389,000
the lady in the report says 389 acres..
yet NEW YORK CITY is nearly 200,000 (two hundred THOUSAND) acres!!

obviously i wish for everybody's safety..
but why are reporters exploiting this tragedy just for more viewers and clicks??
equating 389 acres to 200,000 is a bit of a STRETCH!!

[lklauschie]

09:23 PM on 06/08/2011

Well NYC would definitely be gone if this fire were there. 389,000 acres is the correct number. I live in Albuquerque, NM (200 miles away) and the winds have been so high that we are getting smoke and ash here. Two evenings ago, the air was relatively clear when I walked into a store, but by the time I walked out to go to my car, it seemed like Albuquerque was on fire. The smoke was so thick that it burned my eyes and it smelled like a campfire. There was also ash on my car yesterday morning.

[dc2nm]

11:43 AM on 06/09/2011

It was 389,000 acres. The fire is now over 600,000 acres. Dense smoke in Albuquerque, 200 miles away...blocking out the son every afternoon.

[alilpersianpapi7]

08:38 PM on 06/08/2011

NYC IS ABOUT 200,000 ACRES...
THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY 389 ACRES????????
THEREFORE THE FIRE IS BIGGER THAN NYC????????
WOW NICE PLAY W/ WORDS...
389?? VS 200,000??

[bdaved]

10:44 PM on 06/08/2011

http://www.hulu.com/watch/2364/saturday-night-live-weekend-update-emily-litella-on-violins-on-tv