Hottest U.S. Spring on Record

U.S. experiencing record-breaking  temperatures: Report

Spring 2012 was the hottest spring on record. United States has also recorded both warmest year-to-date and twelve-month periods for lower 48, and 2nd warmest May: NOAA

March-May nationally-averaged temperature rose 5.2°F above the 1901-2000 long-term average of 57.1°F, breaking the record for warmest spring set in 1910 by 2.0°F, reported NOAA.

The 11 warmest 12-months periods ever recorded in the U.S.

The June 2011-May 2012 period was the warmest 12-month period of any 12 months on record for the contiguous United States.

These are the warmest 12-month periods on record for the contiguous United States. [All of these periods have occurred since June 1999. ] During the June 2011-May 2012 period, each of the 12 months ranked among the warmest third of their historical distribution for the first time in the 1895-present record. The odds of this occurring randomly is 1 in 531,441.  Source: NCDC/NOAA. Temp Departures Table.

The warmest year-to-date

“The January-May months were the warmest such period on record for the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 49.2°F, 5.0°F above the long-term average. Twenty-nine states, all east of the Rockies, were record warm for the five-month period and an additional 14 states had temperatures for the period among their ten warmest.”

• Click for similar supplemental information for about 150 U.S. cities

The second warmest May on record

May 2012 the second warmest May on record with the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. reaching 64.3°F, 3.3°F above the long-term average.

“The month’s high temperatures also contributed to the warmest spring, warmest year-to-date, and warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.”

Other significant climatic events during 2012 spring include

• 31 states east of Rockies experienced record warm.
• Gila National Forest Wildfire (Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire), aided by the ongoing drought and windy conditions, grew to 210,000 acres by the end of May, surpassing 2011’s Las Conchas Fire as the largest NM wildfire on record. [Currently reported at about 2670,000 and growing.]
• NW OR received record precipitation at 10.83 inches,  more than 69% above average.
• 3rd smallest snow cover extent across contiguous U.S.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Los Alamos Fire Grows by 20 percent in 2 Days

Las Conchas blaze has now consumed at least 121,248 acres

Las Conchas fire continues to grow despite higher relative humidity in the fire area

Las Conchas Fire Map, July 2-3, 2011. Click image to enlarge. Full Size.

Las Conchas Fire Summary of Details

• Size: 121,248 acres
• Percent Contained: 11%
• Fuels Involved: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine. Fuel moisture is extremely low.
• Date Started: 06/26/2011
• Location: On Santa Fe National Forest in Sandoval, Los Alamos, and Rio Arriba Counties; Santa Clara Reservation; Bandelier National Monument; Valles Caldera National Preserve and private in-holdings.
• Cause: Human – under investigation [The fire was reportedly ignited by a fallen power line] 
• Resources: 1,995 Personnel; 18 Helicopters; 72 Engines; 26 Water Tenders; 8 Dozers
• Residences: 450 threatened; 63 destroyed
• Outbuildings: 140 threatened; 32 destroyed
• Injuries to Date: 4

Photos:

Las Conchas Fire. Looking toward the caldera from fire camp. Credit: B. Stalter

Las Conchas Fire. A pyrocumulus cloud is visible from the Valles Caldera. Credit: J. Coil

Related Sites

• Santa Fe National Forest
• InciWeb
• Fire Photos

Related Links

• Los Alamos Fire Breaks NM Record
• Los Alamos fire explodes to nearly 100,000 acres

Los Alamos Fire Breaks NM Record

US Wildfires Consume 7.7 Million Acres in 6 Months

Massive Las Conchas Blaze Raging Near Los Alamos Now the Largest in New Mexico History

As of July 1, 2011 at 4:00 am MDT, Las Conchas Blaze had consumed at least 103,993 acres of Conifer and Ponderosa Pines in  Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico.

Las Conchas Fire Map for July 1. Map Created 06/30/2011 11:35:06. Click image to enlarge. Click HERE for PDF version

Fire Summary [details as of July 1, 2011, 4:00 am MDT]

• National Preparedness Level: 3
• Southern Area Preparedness Level: 5

• Name: Las Conchas Fire
  
• Date Started: 1 pm on  6/26/2011
• Location: Approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35
• Fuels: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine. Fuel moisture is extremely low.
• Cause: Unknown – under investigation [The fire was reportedly ignited by a fallen power line]
• Size: at least 103,993 acres   [FIRE-EARTH estimate: 112,000 acres]
• Percent Contained: 5%
• Residences: [Estimated dozens destroyed or damaged. Recent official data unavailable, as of posting.]
• Commercial Property : [About a dozen destroyed or damaged. Recent official data unavailable. ]
• Other structures: [About a dozen destroyed or damaged. Recent official data unavailable.]
• Humidity:  1%
• Weather: Critical fire weather conditions associated with strong winds of 25 to 40 mph and low relative humidity below 12 percent will develop across much of Colorado, northern New Mexico, west  Texas and southwestern Kansas. Isolated thunderstorms will form in southeastern Arizona and western New Mexico in the afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move across the northern Rockies into the northern Plains and the western Great Lakes. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop across Florida and south Texas.
• Fire Info. The Las Conchas and Donaldson fires in New Mexico were extremely active yesterday. Thousands of people who live near these fires remain evacuated. Fire managers are prepared for another day of critical fire weather conditions in several western states. Firefighters were able to reach containment goals on seven large fires yesterday.

The Dry Lakes Fire, which consumed about 94,000 acres of the Gila National Forest in 2003, was previously New Mexico’s largest recorded blaze.

US Wildfires by State [YTD]

• Alabama: 120,000 [Source: NIFC]
• Alaska: 262,621 acres [Source: Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Situation Report]
• Arizona: At least 1,000,000 acres [Source: InciWeb, others, some data may be missing]
• Arkansas: 155,000 acres [Source: NIFC]
• California: 37,000 acres [Source: InciWeb, others]
• Colorado: 150,000 acres [Source: InciWeb, others]
• Florida: About 400,000 [Source: fl-dof and others]
• Georgia: 409,207 acres [Source: Georgia Forestry Commission]
• Kansas: 112, 000 [Source: NIFC]
• Kentucky: 30,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• Louisiana: 160,000 acres [Source: NIFC]
• Minnesota: 90,000 acres [Source: NIFC]
• Mississippi: 55,000 acres [Source: NIFC]
• Missouri: 50,000 acres [Source: NIFC]
• Nebraska: 30,000  [Source: NIFC]
• New Mexico: 1,000,000 [Source: Various]
• North Carolina: 220,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• Oregon: 12,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• South Carolina: 75,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• South Dakota: 23,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• Tennessee: 22,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• Texas: 3,215,168 acres [Source: Texas Forest Service]
• Wisconsin: 25,000 acres  [Source: NIFC]
• Others: 70,000 [Source: Various]
• National Total: ~ 7.7 million acres

Texas: The Worst Hit State

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the entire state of Texas a disaster area with 213 of the states 254 counties declared as primary natural disaster areas following one of the worst droughts ever recorded. Since January 1, 2011, the drought, wildfires and other natural disasters have destroyed at least a third of the  corn, oats, wheat, pasture and forage crops in the Lone Star State.  The back-to-back disasters have also destroyed tens of thousands of cattle, horses and other farm animals, so far this year. Source: 2011 Disaster Calendar – June

A view of the Rock House wildfire seen from the McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains. Photo Source: InciWeb

Texas Fires

Since fire season began on Nov. 15, 2010, Texas Forest Service and local firefighters have responded to 13,467 fires that have burned a record-setting 3,292,070 acres. The largest fire burned 314,444 acres in Presidio county in West Texas in April. Six of the state’s largest wildfires occurred in a 19-day period during that month.

Currently 237 of 254 Texas counties have burn bans. More than two-thirds of Texas counties have experienced wildfire this season. More than 2,000 structures, including 554 homes, have been lost. Source: InciWeb

Related Links

• Los Alamos fire explodes to nearly 100,000 acres

Los Alamos fire explodes to nearly 100,000 acres

‘Unusual Fire’

Extreme fire behavior: Las Conchas Fire consumes Santa Clara Pueblo watershed

The Las Conchas Fire has consumed at least 6,000 acres of forest at the  Santa Clara Pueblo watershed.

Las Conchas Fire map for June 30, 2011. Click image to enlarge. Original Map (PDF)

It’s Like a Sad Déjà vu

Las Conchas Fire is burning areas that were previously consumed by the Cerro Grande in May 2000.

“We’re seeing fire behavior we’ve never seen down here, and it’s really aggressive,” Los Alamos County Fire Chief Doug Tucker said.

“The burn scars are burning, and that is unusual. The dead and downs are less than 3 percent [in moisture content.]

“It doesn’t get drier than that. If there is any fire they are torching off on us, that is unusual fire behavior.”

Carnage in Santa Clara’s forest

“[The fire] continues to destroy cultural sites, forest resources, plants and animals that the people of Santa Clara depend upon for their livelihood and culture,” said a report.

“Wildfires have burned two-thirds of Santa Clara’s forest over the past 13 years, including 8,300 acres burned by the 1998 Oso Complex Fire and the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire. In response, Santa Clara Pueblo Governor Walter Dasheno has issued a Declaration of Emergency.”

“We are devastated to witness the destruction of our precious homeland,” said Governor Dasheno. “From time immemorial to this day our community has been stewards of this land, have fought to regain portions taken from us and have invested millions of dollars in restoring the forest and resources.”

“Our canyon is the source of our Santa Clara Creek that we rely upon for irrigation but, more than that, it was a beautiful place of abundance in wildlife, clean water, culturally-significant trees and medicinal plants. […] This is the fourth fire that has impacted our homelands and all of them have begun outside our reservation. Santa Clara alone cannot bear the extreme costs to help Mother Nature restore herself.”

Fire Summary [details as of June 30, 2011, 8:30 am local time]

• Name: Las Conchas Fire
  
• Date Started: 1 pm on  6/26/2011
• Location: Approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35
• Fuels: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine. Fuel moisture is extremely low.
• Cause: Unknown – under investigation [The fire was reportedly ignited by a fallen power line]
• Size: at least 92,735 acres acres
• Percent Contained: 3%
• Residences: 13 destroyed and 3 damaged
• Commercial Property : 3 damaged
• Other structures: 2 destroyed

Pacheco Fire

Pacheco Fire. The 10,000+ acre fire is burning 2 miles north of Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Donaldson Complex Fire

Donaldson Complex Fire, located about 150 miles to the south of Los Alamos, is also raging out of control. The fire, which was started by lightning, is burning in and around the Mescalero Apache Reservation about 10 miles South of Hondo, NM.

As of yesterday evening the fire had consumed about 73,000 acres, about 10 percent of it on tribal land. The humidity in the area is about 1%. (Source: Inciweb.)

Currently about 760,000 acres of New Mexico are on fire. (Figure includes a section of Wallow Fire in Catron County.)

New Mexico’s largest recorded fire was the Dry Lakes Fire, which consumed about 94,000 acres of the Gila National Forest in 2003.

Related Sites

• http://www.inciweb.org/
• Las Conchas Fire Information
• Pacheco Fire Information
• http://www.nmfireinfo.com/
• http://www.twitter.com/T1SWIMT

Related Links:

• Fire Surrounds Los Alamos Nuke Lab
• Las Conchas Fire Approaching Plutonium Dump Site
• Los Alamos Fire Explodes to 50,000 acres
• Fire Near Los Alamos Grows to 6,000 Acres
• U.S. Drought Getting Deadlier
• WARNING: Global Disasters to Intensify

Fire Surrounds Los Alamos Nuke Lab

LANL shuts down supercomputers as fire advances

Las Conchas fire explodes to more than 70,000 acres, attacking south and west of Los Alamos

The massive blaze has destroyed at least a dozen homes in Los Alamos County so far, officials said.

Meantime,  The Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) said it had shut down two of its largest supercomputers, as the massive blaze continued to burn nearby.

A team of Los Alamos employees have reportedly conducted preliminary analysis on air samples taken near the nuke lab on Tuesday.

“There is no additional material in the samples from lab activities or from our waste-management activities.”Said the lab director Charles McMillan.

In 2000, after Cerro Grande fire broke out, Los Alamos employees detected elevated levels of radioactive radon gas.

Las Conchas Fire map

Las Conchas Fire map June 29, 2011. Click image to enlarge. Original Map (PDF)

Las Conchas Fire Progression Map June 28, 2011. Click image to enlarge.

Flames above Los Alamos. Photo taken by Los Alamos National Laboratory on June 28, 2011. Some rights reserved

Volcanic Like Smoke Billowing out of Santa Fe National Forest. This image showing the Las Conchas wildfire raging in the Jemez Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest in north-central New Mexico the was taken by a crew member aboard the ISS on June 27. The fire is  burning just southwest of LANL. Source: NASA.

Fire Summary:

• Name: Las Conchas Fire
  
• Date Started: 1 p.m., 6/26/2011
• Location: Approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35
• Fuels: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine. Fuel moisture is extremely low.
• Cause: Unknown – under investigation [The fire was reportedly ignited by a fallen power line]
• Size: 69,555 acres based on 06/29 infrared data
• Percent Contained: 3%
• Residences Destroyed: 12

Fire Update [from InciWeb]

Area Command Team 1 (Dan Oltrogge, Area Commander) and an additional Type 1 Incident Management Team (Dugger Hughes, Incident Commander) in-briefed with host agencies late yesterday. Firefighting efforts were broken in two zones. Rienarz’s Type 1 Incident Management Team will manage the north zone of the fire and Hughes’s Incident Management Team will manage the south zone. Crews are dealing with extremely dry fuels and potential threats from thunderstorms and dry lightning strikes.

Northwest – Firefighters scouted a potential fireline and burnout opportunities, including opportunities for aerial ignition on peaks to help moderate fire intensity along Valles Caldera 2 Road and Valles Caldera 9 Road. Firefighters will also continue to maintain a fire line using mop up methods along 4 Road to prevent the fire from spreading within the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Fire line construction will also continue toward the Cerro Pelado area.

East – Firefighters will be working along SR 501 and Ski Area Road on through Highway 4 to curb the fire from spreading east. Structural protection continues in Bandelier National Monument. Crews will also be working spot fires along Ski Area Road. A structure implementation plan was set in place for the Pajarito Ski Area. The Los Alamos Fire Department was brought in to provide added resources in the area.

A Sandoval County Assessment team is completing a post fire damage assessment. Their current assessment has documented twelve residences destroyed.

South side – The fire is backing down several drainages. Firefighters are scouting for potential fireline south of the fire and monitor the Alamo and Hondo Canyons, as well as the Sanchez and Capulin Canyon.

Current Evacuations:

City of Los Alamos – The acting Los Alamos County Administrator issued an evacuation order for the city of Los Alamos. The Cities of Gold hotel in Pojoaque is offering shelter services for evacuating residents of Los Alamos. Los Alamos evacuees are advised against sheltering in White Rock, although White Rock is not at risk. White Rock is currently under a voluntary evacuation.

The Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society and the Espanola Valley Humane Society will be taking in dogs, cats and other small household pets to help those displaced by the Las Conches Fire. They are also collecting names for those willing to host animals. For more information, please contact: Santa Fe (503) 983-4309, or Espanola (505) 753-8662.

The American Red Cross in New Mexico activated two official shelters in northern New Mexico: the Santa Claran Hotel & Casino in Espanola and the Cities of Gold Casino near Santa Fe. The American Red Cross (505) 265-8514 or 800-560-2302.

Pre-Evacuation Alert

If you live near the fire or near the Forest, you should always be ready for emergencies including evacuations, the three-step process is easy to remember and implement:

· Ready – Take personal responsibility and prepare before the threat of a wildland fire so your home is ready in case of a fire. Create defensible space by clearing brush away from your home. Use fire-resistant landscaping and harden your home with fire-safe construction measures. Assemble emergency supplies and belongings in a safe spot. Plan escapes routes. Make sure all those residing within the home know the plan of action.

· Set – Act immediately. Pack your vehicle with your emergency items. Remember your six P’s: people, personal computers, pets, pills, papers and pictures. Stay aware of the latest news and information on the fire from local media and your local fire department.

· Go – Leave early! Follow your personal action plan. Doing so will not only support your safety, but will allow firefighters to best maneuver resources to combat the fire.

Closures

NM 4 is closed at Jemez Falls Campground and at NM 501. NM 502 westbound into Los Alamos is now closed to all motorists. Access is controlled and limited to official traffic until further notification.

For a recorded update on evacuations and road closures, call a Santa Fe National Forest toll-free line: 877-971-FIRE.

Bureau of Land Management: The Bureau of Land Management’s Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument will close to the public. The monument isn’t currently threatened, but the road to the monument will be used by firefighters to access the southern flank of the fire.

Bandelier National Monument: The Bandelier National Monument will be closed indefinitely.

Los Alamos National Labs: The Los Alamos National Laboratory will be closed due to the fire. All laboratory facilities will be closed for all activities, and nonessential employees are directed to remain off site. Employees that are considered nonessential should not report to work unless specifically directed by their line managers. Employees should check local news sources, the LANL Update Hotline (505) 667-6622 and the LANL web page http://www.lanl.gov for updates. All radioactive and hazardous material is appropriately accounted for and protected. LANL staff is coordinating the on-site response and supporting the county and federal fire response.

Safety Message

The wildfire and burnout operations will continue to produce heavy smoke. Residents with respiratory problems in the path of smoke may want to consider relocating temporarily until smoke dissipates. Motorists should exercise caution due to reduced visibility.

Related Sites

• http://www.inciweb.org/
• http://www.nmfireinfo.com/
• http://www.twitter.com/T1SWIMT

Related Links:

• Las Conchas Fire Approaching Plutonium Dump Site

• Los Alamos Fire Explodes to 50,000 acres
• Fire Near Los Alamos Grows to 6,000 Acres
• U.S. Drought Getting Deadlier
• WARNING: Global Disasters to Intensify

Las Conchas Fire Approaching Plutonium Dump Site

Massive Los Alamos blaze has consumed at least 61,000 acres, threatening plutonium waste storage

The blaze may have already reached the grounds of the LANL complex, and could reach a toxic dump site where 30,000 drums (6.25 million liters) of plutonium-contaminated waste are stored.

“Carl Beard, director of operations for the lab, said there has been no release of radioactive or hazardous materials into the environment and there was no immediate threat to public safety, ‘even in these extreme conditions.'” Said a report.

“The concern is that these drums will get so hot that they’ll burst,” Joni Arends, executive director of the Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, told the AP news agency.

“That would put this toxic material into the plume,” she added.

Looking northwest from southern edge of municpal airport in Los Alamos. June 27, 2011. Photo by LANL phot-stream on Flickr

Volcanic-like plumes of smoke have blackened the sky over the Los Alamos forcing the evacuation of the entire city of about 12,000.

The communities of Cochiti Mesa, and Las Conchas have been evacuated.

On June 27, the fire breached the grounds of Los Alamos National Laboratory and a one-acre spot fire reportedly burned on the lab complex before firefighters extinguished it.

Las Conchas Fire Map

Las Conchas Fire map June 28, 2011. Click image to enlarge.

What People Have Said:

“I seriously believe it could go to 100,000 acres … We have fire all around the lab. It’s a road away.” Doug Tucker, Los Alamos fire chief said.

“We’re doing our best to keep it off the lab,” He added.

“We are throwing absolutely everything at this that we got,” Sen. Tom Udall of N.M. said.

Fire Summary:

• Name: Las Conchas Fire
  
• Date Started: 1 p.m., 6/26/2011
• Location: Approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35
• Fuels: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine. Fuel moisture is extremely low.
• Cause: Unknown – under investigation [The fire was reportedly ignited by a fallen power line]
• Size: 60,741 acres based on infrared data [as of latest available data posted on the Internet on June 28, 2011, 11:30 am local time]
• Percent Contained: 0%

Fire Update: [from InciWeb]

East – Crews are working to protect structures near Bandelier, as well as working to contain the fire along the Frijole Canyon.

West – Crews are building direct lines to prevent fire movement to the west.

Northeast – Crews are working to contain the fire using burnout methods to prevent the fire from spreading north of Pajarito Road and east of Highway 501.

South – North of Cochiti fire progression is being slowed by lighter fuel types. Firefighters are evaluating methods to stop the fire from spreading south.

Current Evacuations:

City of Los Alamos – The acting Los Alamos County Administrator issued an evacuation order for the city of Los Alamos. The Cities of Gold hotel in Pojoaque is offering shelter services for evacuating residents of Los Alamos. Los Alamos evacuees are advised against sheltering in White Rock, although White Rock is not at risk. White Rock is currently under a voluntary evacuation.The Cities of Gold hotel in Pojoaque offers shelter services for evacuating residents of the Los Alamos townsite. Cities of Gold also accepts pets. Many residents remain in White Rock following voluntary evacuations which began Sunday. Los Alamos townsite evacuees are advised against sheltering in White Rock, although White Rock is not at risk. The Cities of Gold hotel in Pojoaque offers shelter services for evacuating residents of the Los Alamos townsite. Cities of Gold also accepts pets. Many residents remain in White Rock following voluntary evacuations which began Sunday. Los Alamos townsite evacuees are advised against sheltering in White Rock, although White Rock is not at risk. The Cities of Gold hotel in Pojoaque offers shelter services for evacuating residents of the Los Alamos townsite. Cities of Gold also accepts pets. Many residents remain in White Rock following voluntary evacuations which began Sunday. Los Alamos townsite evacuees are advised against sheltering in White Rock, although White Rock is not at risk.

Pre-Evacuation Alert

If you live near the fire or near the Forest, you should always be ready for emergencies including evacuations, the three-step process is easy to remember and implement:

· Ready – Take personal responsibility and prepare before the threat of a wildland fire so your home is ready in case of a fire. Create defensible space by clearing brush away from your home. Use fire-resistant landscaping and harden your home with fire-safe construction measures. Assemble emergency supplies and belongings in a safe spot. Plan escapes routes. Make sure all those residing within the home know the plan of action.

· Set – Act immediately. Pack your vehicle with your emergency items. Remember your six P’s: people, personal computers, pets, pills, papers and pictures. Stay aware of the latest news and information on the fire from local media and your local fire department.

· Go – Leave early! Follow your personal action plan. Doing so will not only support your safety, but will allow firefighters to best maneuver resources to combat the fire.

Closures

NM 4 is closed at Jemez Falls Campground and at NM 501. NM 502 westbound into Los Alamos is now closed to all motorists. Access is controlled and limited to official traffic until further notification.NM 502 westbound into Los Alamos is now closed to all motorists. Access is controlled and limited to official traffic until further notification.NM 502 westbound into Los Alamos is now closed to all motorists. Access is controlled and limited to official traffic until further notification.

Bandelier National Monument: The Bandelier National Monument will be closed indefinitely.

Los Alamos National Labs: The Los Alamos National Laboratory will be closed due to the fire. All laboratory facilities will be closed for all activities, and nonessential employees are directed to remain off site. Employees that are considered nonessential should not report to work unless specifically directed by their line managers. Employees should check local news sources, the LANL Update Hotline (505) 667-6622 and the LANL web page http://www.lanl.gov for updates. All radioactive and hazardous material is appropriately accounted for and protected. LANL staff is coordinating the on-site response and supporting the county and federal fire response.

Safety Message

The wildfire and burnout operations will continue to produce heavy smoke. Residents with respiratory problems in the path of smoke may want to consider relocating temporarily until smoke dissipates. Motorists should exercise caution due to reduced visibility.

Related Sites

• http://www.inciweb.org/
• http://www.nmfireinfo.com/
• http://www.twitter.com/T1SWIMT

Related Links

• Los Alamos Fire Explodes to 50,000 acres
• Fire Near Los Alamos Grows to 6,000 Acres
• U.S. Drought Getting Deadlier
• WARNING: Global Disasters to Intensify