Northern NM blaze now approaching 100,000 acres

[SouthBayDem]

Source: Albuquerque Journal

The team battling the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire has come to dread Fridays, and for good reason.

A week ago Friday, massive winds set off explosive growth as the Calf Canyon Fire merged with the Hermits Peak Fire into what was then a 42,000-acre blaze.

Over much of the following week, crews began getting their arms around the raging beast — and then came another Friday when extreme winds again caused the fire to explode and burn another 30,000 acres in the course of a day.

Fire officials say the blaze has grown to more than 97,000 acres.

Read more: https://www.abqjournal.com/2494527/northern-nm-blaze-now-approaching-100000-acres.html

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. I live in Santa Fe, NM,

and I've been seeing lots of smoke the past few days. I took a wonderful picture yesterday of what the sun looked like around this time, but don't have it saved in a way that I can repost here. Just saying that the sunlight is VERY orange from the smoke. And I'm about 50 miles from any of the fires, and essentially in no danger from them, lucky me.

[TygrBright]

2. Yup. It's interesting to look at. But not to breathe.

Here on the South Side we had Cerro Pelado blowing right over us yesterday afternoon... sky gray and white, sunset dark orange.

But we're keeping the windows closed.

philosophically,
Bright

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Yes, I am keeping my windows closed

[alittlelark]

4. Here in Jemez it is smoky in the morning.

The winds are blowing the smoke away from us, but at night there is no wind and the smoke settles into the valley.

[Warpy]

7. We're even getting some drift smoke from time to time in the big city

The air looks a bit foggy and it stinks and I wheeze. My windows are adamantly closed, which makes it feel stuffy. This time of year I want to fling everything open and eliminate the winter housitosis.

Drift smoke is cold, heavy particulate smoke. Usually we get it from AZ, rarely from CA. It's nasty.

I love the southwest but I really, really hate fire season. Yes, it's necessary for healthier forests, but it's been bad for the last few years.

[abqtommy]

5. ...

...

[lambchopp59]

6. I'm so frightened this year

The entire western US is such an explosive tinderbox. I have cancer now probably due to extensivd smoke exposure 3 years ago. I wish I could go back and tell myself that being such a trooper for my job isn't worth it.
I only hope I can survive long enough for my dog.

[marie999]

8. I hope you get better. I know what you mean about your dog,

I'm 78 and I have 2 dogs. My yellow lab is 16 and my beagle mix is 8.

[RussBLib]

9. we drove thru northern NM on the 22nd

Scary. Some parts of I-25 had visibility down to maybe 100', and that's dangerous. And the smell.....

Got a little taste of what California has been going thru.

I guess these droughts are climate changing. damn.

[electric_blue68]

10. I've taken the bus straight up through NM from Alburquerque to Denver (and beyond)...

(also AZ) Such gorgeous countrysides

Just wanted to let you know this NYC'r is thinking of
you out SW, W, and hoping you'll be alright.

(I remember the photos of those orange skies from the CAL fires)