A Few Anniversaries We Don't Want to Repeat

When I was growing up, summertime meant swim meets and banana popsicles . . .but working in emergency management has changed all that.

This is the time of year that I hold my breath . . .wildland fire season. A spark from someone welding, an abandoned campfire or a dry lightning strike coupled with some strong winds could change my weekend plans.

There are some out there that may argue we don’t really have a season since we are at risk year round. OK, that is true. But what I am thinking about how many of the big Arizona fires of the last 10 years that have occurred mid-June through early-July.

The Rodeo-Chediski fire of 2002 (Arizona’s largest wildland fire burning almost 500,000 acres) and the Brins fire (2006) both had an ignition date of June 18th. The Aspen fire (2003) started on June 19th and the Cave Creek Complex of 2005 (Arizona’s second largest wildland fire burning almost 250,000 acres) began on June 21st.

We have a several fires burning in the State now, the Eagle Rock fire burning north of Williams and the Horseshoe fire in the southeastern part of the State.

Here is hoping we make it through the next couple weeks without a LARGE scale fire . . . and I can get back to what summer really means . . . banana popsicles and hanging out by the pool.