📌This is a follow-up from two previous posts: Fire and Lightning and Fire and Lightning (follow-up)
It has been a full week since the lightning struck the Catalina Mountain range igniting a small fire that initially impacted 10 acres. Seven days later, it has spread due to high winds, historically high temps and low night-time humidity. The impact is 10,000 acres and counting. It is only 10% contained.
The fire rapidly moved north yesterday and has been burning about 2.5 miles behind our property. Some homes were evacuated. The Sheriff uses a "Ready ... Set ...GO!" system. "Go" is evacuation. My property is currently on "Set".
There are over 400 professionals fighting these flames on the ground and in the air. They tirelessly work dusk to dawn. The community appreciation for them is not to be understated. So far, there have been no human casualties or property loss reported.
From an ecological standpoint: These mountains have not sustained a major fire in over 100 years so, in the long view, this is a good thing for wildlife. Much of the overgrowth will be gone, making way for new growth, more food, and less hiding places for predators which will balance nature's scales.
There are only so many ways you can capture the strange marvel of a burning mountain (although there are hundreds of people who drove here to witness this). Below are just a few updated pics from the past 24 hours.
