[AZ-Observing] Telescope status in Catalinas
- From: Brian Skiff <Brian.Skiff@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 15:31:18 -0700 (MST)
Since there's been nothing specific on this list about the Aspen fire
in relation to the telescope facilities, here are some on-the-ground reports
posted originally to MPML (Minor Planet Mailing List) from Roy Tucker and
Steve Larson. The notes run over the weekend through Monday morning.
\Brian
===============================================================================
To: MPML <mpml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: RA Kowalski <bitnik@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 11:10:57 -0400
Subject: {MPML} [Fwd: Aspen fire]
From Roy Tucker
Subject: Aspen fire
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 07:42:35 -0700
From: "Roy Tucker" <tucker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: <tucker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Organization: University of Arizona
To: <bitnik@xxxxxxxxxx>
These reports were written by a U of A facilities support person:
Mt. Lemmon fire status 8:00 a.m. June 20.
Mt. Bigelow observatory site is 1.75 miles from the fireline and appears
not to threatened at this time. Mt. Lemmon observatory is .75 mi from
fireline and is not in immediate damager. The fire is moving north and
is heading towards Oracle. About 1/2 of Summerhaven has burned, the Post
Office and Mt. Lemmon Cafe still stand but the Alpine Lodge and Kimball
Springs are gone along with many cabins. Jim Grantham and a Forest
Service Hot Shot crew are working the Mt. Lemmon Observatory site. We
did a considerable amount of tree thinning around the Mt. Lemmon site
last month and it has a good chance of survival if the fire makes a run
at it.
-------------------------------------------
Aspen Fire update, June 21, 8 p.m.
Mt. Lemmon site: Fire came within 150 yds. of compound, fire is actively
burning on the north, east and south sides of the facility. The fire
crossed Radio Ridge east of the site, flames were at times 300ft. high,
a number of communication towers were damaged or destroyed. Currently
there are 4 Hot Shot and 2 type II crews working the site (120 people)
plus 10 type 3 and type 6 engines. Over a 1,000 ft. of hard line was dug
on the south side today plus more tree cutting and brush clearing.
Sprinkler systems have been installed. Helicopters were actively using
the two dip tanks in the compound. The firelines are holding with some
spotting. Plans are for more back burning tonight on the south side. Jim
reports no damage to facilities.
Mt. Bigelow site: Fire is 3/4 mile from site with heavy burning in the
Soldiers Camp area, a number of cabins were lost there today. From the
61" dome we saw a number of crown fires in that area. There was heavy
slurry bombing and helicopter activity. We were able to work the site
today, we removed 4 snow cats from the site. We also moved a road
grader, front end loader and 100kw generator to an area near the T.V.
transmitters on Mt. Bigelow - this should be a safe place as it is in
the burned area from the Bullock fire. We remove instruments and
computers, covered exhaust vents with sheet metal and turned off propane
tanks. We met with a structure fire specialist from the Forest Service
and worked out a defense plan and did a triage of the buildings. The
fact that our 2 observing sites are on the eastern and western fronts of
this fire and are being attacked almost simultaneously is mind boggling.
------------------------------------------
Fire update, June 22 8:00 a.m..
Last night at 12:00 a one acre spot fire was discovered burning less
than 100 yds. south of the Mt. Lemmon compound, it was very hot and
threw embers with some spotting into the compound. The Hot Shots had it
under control at 1:30 a.m. This morning I met with John McGee of the
Forest Service and reviewed the current I.R. map. The east line is
holding - much of it borders the Bullock burn. For now the Bigelow site
is not in immediate danger. There is no control on the west side. The
fire on the north side of the Mt. Lemmon site will be approaching a
number of vertical chutes which will cause problems. The wind forecast
today is favorable and there should be a lot of air support.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire update, June 23, 0700
Mt. Lemmon site: Fire has burned 2/3 around the perimeter and is
currently burning in the north and west chutes coming up from CDO. Jim
reports ash falling in the compound but no damage to structures. Spot
fires are burning west of the site. The next 2 days will be critical.
Mt. Bigelow site: Fire is actively burning 1/2 mile from the site.
Yesterday there was a slop over on the fire line in Upper Sabino Canyon
and Soldiers Camp, fire spread rapidly into Spencer Canyon and almost
made a run up Mt. Bigelow - with a huge effort by the Forest Service
they were able to keep the fire on the west side of the highway and out
of Bear Wallow. The next 2 days will be critical. The two hottest
burning areas on the mountain are near our observing sites.
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 16:05:09 -0700 (MST)
From: Steve Larson <slarson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mpml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Catalina fires
Cc: slarson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Aspen fire in the Catalinas are threatening both the Catalina
station (61" Kuiper Telescope and CSS Schmidt) and the Mt. Lemmon
Observatory on the summit (2-60", 2-40" telescopes, Astromony Camp).
Eric Christensen and I joined two from Steward Observatory who were
given permission to go up yesterday (Saturday) to retrieve what we
could and help secure the Catalina Site. At that time, the fire was
about a half-mile west with the wind blowing to the NNE. The fire was
mostly understory burning and giving off much smoke. The firefighters had
lit backfires around the Mt. Lemmon summit, and there is plenty of water
available in tanks and 60 "hot-shot" firefighters on-site. Biggest danger
would be if the fire came up the north slope. Catalina has a similar
danger of shifting winds, but there are sprinklers in place and a
short-term tree thinning planned. So we are at the mercy of the wind
and what the firefighters can do.
Monday update: a spot fire broke through the fire line at Soldiers
Camp, but was extinguished. IF it had progressed, it would have gone
up Bear Wallow with nothing to stop it to the Catalina Site. They are
hoping the Catalina Highway will be the firebreak to the West and
South.
The Mt. Lemmon Observatory on the summit is secure over 2/3 of it's
perimeter, but they are preparing for major fire activity from the N
and NW today. The next 24-48 hours will be critical.
-Steve
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