Has Kitt Peak been destroyed?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Has Kitt Peak been destroyed?

Posted: 6/17/2022 6:54:24 PM EDT

Conflicting reports. Anyone in the know?

Posted: 6/17/2022 8:40:34 PM EDT

[#1]

News says as of 3:30 they were in active fire mode and some damage had been done.

Posted: 6/17/2022 8:50:47 PM EDT

[#2]

Posted: 6/17/2022 10:56:35 PM EDT

[#3]

I do not know. The latest map on Inciweb definitely shows the fire is in the compound.

Attached File

There were at least 7 hot shot crews up there and engines for structure protection.

Kitt Peak & Structure Groups: Scout, triage, and prep all structures or associated values at risk. Identify water sources and routes of ingress/egress. Locate and triage all structures and values at risk to reduce damage from fire.

View Quote

Hopefully, they were able to save all of the structures and equipment.

Posted: 6/17/2022 11:56:33 PM EDT

[#4]

https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/contreras-fire-moves-through-kitt-peak-observatory

Posted: 6/18/2022 12:41:22 AM EDT

[#5]

Every summer I am perplexed as to why the US Gov doesn't own a massive fleet of air assets for fire fighting. California has 60 aircraft, and they are constantly busy all year. The US Forest Service has a few, but usually ends up contracting with aviation companies as they are needed...which is always. Why doesn't the Air National Guard operate a very large fleet of aircraft? Of course, the answer is money and politics, but it seems like it would be less expensive in the long run to have a fleet on standby during the summer months to help out across the country.

Posted: 6/18/2022 1:25:04 AM EDT

[#6]

Two Hueys and a Sky Crane were operating out of Ryan today. Pretty cool to watch them carrying buckets back and forth.

Posted: 6/18/2022 3:18:54 PM EDT

[#7]

From Inciweb about an hour ago:

Structure protection crews remain in the Kitt Peak Observatory and Pan Tak areas. Assessments of the Kitt Peak Observatory will commence today if conditions allow for safe entry into the area. Initial assessment indicates that all the domes and other scientific facilities have been protected from the worst part of the fire to date. Four non-scientific buildings on the west side of the Observatory property were lost in the fire. Structure protection crews have successfully placed defensible lines around all remaining structures.

View Quote

It appears, as expected, the fire fighters did a great job, considering the conditions and terrain.

Posted: 6/18/2022 4:02:44 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Every summer I am perplexed as to why the US Gov doesn't own a massive fleet of air assets for fire fighting. California has 60 aircraft, and they are constantly busy all year. The US Forest Service has a few, but usually ends up contracting with aviation companies as they are needed...which is always. Why doesn't the Air National Guard operate a very large fleet of aircraft? Of course, the answer is money and politics, but it seems like it would be less expensive in the long run to have a fleet on standby during the summer months to help out across the country.

View Quote

Seems like it would be fantastic for training aircrews, maybe even JTACs and the like. Gubment or contracted, we're paying for the fire response capability anyway.

Posted: 6/21/2022 6:28:06 PM EDT

[#9]

Don’t worry they still had funding for Juneteenth and Pride celebrations. I loved Kitts Peak. Hope it survived.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Has Kitt Peak been destroyed?

Hometown » Arizona

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