Massive Arizona Wildfires Merge, Move Toward East Arizona Town

Written by Alison Beanan, RedCross.org Intern Staff Writer, with news reports

June 23, 2002 — Firefighters outside the evacuated town of Show Low, Arizona, continued to battle a monster blaze that formed when the Rodeo and Chediski wildfires joined together Sunday. The combined fire was at first expected to hit Show Low Sunday evening, but as of Monday morning it still had not reached the town of about 7,700.

The massive Rodeo Fire in Arizona threatens the town of Show Low.

Fire incident commander Larry Humphrey, however, is not optimistic about the delay. "It's definitely still going to get into Show Low. There's no doubt," he told reporters. "Sometimes these fires make a big run, then rest a day, then make another run the next."

Show Low residents left their homes late Saturday after uncontrollable flames jumped a fire line that crews were building about eight miles west of town; the 3,500 residents of neighboring Pinetop-Lakeside followed Sunday.

According to fire information spokeswoman Carrie Templin, 115 homes had been lost in the Rodeo fire and 80 in the Chediski blaze, but fire officials also say more homes have been saved than lost, much to the relief of hundreds of area residents.

Wildfire... Are You Prepared        Practice Wildfire Safety        Protect Your Home        When Wildfire Threatens        Family Disaster Plan

"Many homes up here have been built board by board. We didn't just walk into a subdivision where a home was already built. We built from scratch," said 61-year-old Sue Aldrete, who was evacuated from her Pinetop-Lakeside home Saturday. "It was a labor of love." In response to the fires, the Red Cross has opened evacuation shelters in the Eagar, Holbrook, Globe and Payson communities. More than 1,000 evacuees have found safe haven with the Red Cross, and additional shelters remain on stand-by as the fire continually grows and changes course.

Volunteers and residents alike are overwhelmed by the strength of the fire. “The smoke fills the entire horizon,” said Mai Lindstrom, American Red Cross Rapid Response team member working in Show Low. “This is the most devastating and dramatic fire these firefighters and residents have ever seen. Everywhere you look you see the smoke bearing down.”

Arizona Gov. Jane Dee Hull expects President Bush to declare the area a federal disaster area, a move he made last Wednesday in response to the Colorado fires. "This fire is the worst fire that anyone has ever seen," she said. By declaring the site a disaster area, relief funds would be freed up for residents affected by a disaster that Fire Information Officer Jim Paxon estimates is costing $1 million a day.

The Red Cross is also working with hundreds of residents whose homes have already been destroyed by the blaze to help with their disaster-caused needs, and disaster relief volunteers will continue to be there for others whose homes are in the path of current fires.

Evacuees of the Arizona and Colorado wildfires are encouraged to register with the Red Cross by calling (888) 853-5001; Red Cross call center operators will notify family members of evacuee status and well-being. All information provided will be kept confidential.

Evacuation Preparation:

• If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.
• Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
• Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the threatened area. Activate your evacuation plan for your pets as well.
• If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Take your Disaster Supplies Kit. Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.

Take these items with you when evacuating:

• Prescription medications and medical supplies;
• Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
• Bottled water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
• Car keys and maps
• Documents, including driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Also be sure to wear protective clothing--sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face. When you leave, don’t forget to lock your home and also tell someone that you have left and where you are going.