[chapter-communicator] Note from John Flicker on Fire at Research Ranch
- From: "BIANCHI, John" <JBIANCHI@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: #Audubon Staff <audstaff@xxxxxxxxxxx>,#Audubon Board of Directors <IMCEAEX-_O=AUDUBON_OU=NATIONAL_CN=RECIPIENTS_CN=BoardOfDirectors@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 17:22:50 -0400
To the Audubon Family -
As some of you may already be aware, yesterday a major brush
fire - which was started naturally and covered more than 30,000 acres -
swept through the grounds of our Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch Sanctuary
in Elgin, Arizona. Our earliest assessments indicate that all but a few
hundred acres of the 8,000-acre property were burned. We are extremely
thankful that no one was injured, although one of the Appleton homes on the
site was lost, as well as two storage barns.
However, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Linda
Kennedy, Research Ranch's assistant director, Freddie Gonzalez from the
maintenance team, and President of the Research Ranch Foundation Vista
Michael, president of the Research Ranch Foundation and other volunteers,
the main building was saved, as well as virtually all of the trees and most
of the shrubs on the property. While the grasslands were burned extensively
by the fire, which was fueled by 50 mile-per-hour winds, there is an up side
to the situation: many invasive plant species on the Ranch have been wiped
out for the time being, and there is tremendous opportunity to replant using
indigenous species. However, regeneration of the invasive species will be
swift, so the staff will be working around the clock to reseed.
Committed volunteers will be an important resource during
this time period, and anyone with available time and interest can contact
Sam Campana, executive director of Audubon Arizona to learn more about how
to help. I know you will all join me in sending best wishes to our staff in
Arizona as they go through this period of regrowth.
John Flicker
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