Fire fighters report progress on containing a fire threatening Canon City in Colorado. According to reports, "The carcass of a rabbit lay in front of a burned trailer home. "That shows you how fast the fire was moving," Forest Service spokesman Steve Segin said. Trees in the area had a moisture content of 10 percent, lower than in kiln-dried lumber, Segin said." Lower humidity and some light rain showers have helped with the containment efforts, as of Tuesday, June 4th. However the fire forecast in the West for Wednesday predicts "Mostly hot and dry weather ... Dry lightning is expected in western New Mexico ... Temperatures are expected to peak in southern California, along with low humidity and light winds. Alaska will receive scattered showers followed by a warming and drying trend."

According to reports, "near the New Mexico line, about 300 firefighters were en route to help battle an 11,000-acre blaze near Tercio. It moved away from a methane-gas field but threatened three communities that were evacuated Monday evening west of Trinidad." Earlier this week fires consumed 9.000 acres in California. In Los Padres National Forest, 2,500 acres burned on the weekend and forced the closure of an 18 mile stretch of highway due to reduced visibility caused by smoke. Several barns and other buildings on a ranch were destroyed, and campers were evacuated from Pine Mountain. Another fire scorched 23,000 acres on Mount Lemmon which overlooks Tucson, Arizona. In New Mexico, 12,850-acres burned in a wildfire in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. According to the current Wildfire news, "There are currently 26 large fires burning in 11 states for a total of more than 500,000 acres. So far this year about 1.2 million acres have burned throughout the nation, which is nearly half a million acres above the 10-year average."

The fire situation also remains serious in Canada due to the drought. According to a report by the CBC, Two more communities threatened by Alberta Wildfire, and have been put on evacuation alert. The huge fire continues to burn out of control. "And it looks like the fire will continue to rage, because there's no heavy rain in the forecast. That's what is needed to beat the fire, officials said." According to the CBC report, "The House River fire now covers 2,600 square kilometres, half the size of Prince Edward Island. It has been burning since late May." Fire officials have said that this out of control fire may continue to burn for months.

In an update on this story, the CBC reported that northern Alberta towns have been evacuated. According to the report, "Rick Strickland, spokesperson for Sustainable Resource Development, says the fire's behaviour is explosive and a large amount of dead growth is fuelling the flames. He says heavy rain is needed to get the fire under control, but no significant amount is forecast. " Soldiers have also been called in to join in on the fight against another fire burning northereast of the city of Edmonton. Three of the Alberta forest fires are 'burning out of control.'


Related pages...

      Wild Fire Watch

      Drought Watch

      Jeremiah's drought prophecy

      Dustbowl - Dirty 30s revisited

      Dust Storm snapshots May 29, 2002 - The return of Feudalism?
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