Posted: 7/30/2006 1:48:11 PM EDT
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Hey, bros-- what's with the fires in the panhandle? the media in Ohio wants you to believe the whole state is on fire. What's the straight dope? Thanx, Woody |
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It's not good... First, we are extremely dry and extremely hot right now. This part of the state is in its eighth year of drought so there is a huge amount of combustible material that is kindling dry. I live in Scottsbluff, NE and we have had two fires to the south of town within the past week, but both were brought under control fairly quickly. Forty miles north of us is a large fire that is burning across the prairie and possibly threatening the town of Harrison. I believe that it has burned approximately 22,000 acres so far and is completely out of control thanks to the wind and high temperatures. The most concerning one is the Chadron, NE fires. Last time I knew there were three fires up there burning under little or no control with the largest consuming about 15,000 acres. They evacuated the southern part of the town on Friday night, but the firefighters apparently made a stand and got some help from the wind and the town was saved. About 10 miles south of Chadron is a larger fire in the Nebraska National Forest and Chadron State Park, commonly known as the "pine ridge". The terrain there is comprised of steep canyons and pine forests. It is my understanding that approximately 300 people have been evacuated from this area (including my former in-laws) as they have no control over that fire. While I have personally seen larger fires, these are very concerning because most of these fires pose some threat to the towns and developed ares, of which there are few in the Nebraska panhandle. If things don't improve tomorrow I may run up to Chadron and Harrison after work to get some pictures. I'll post them if I do. SBG ETA -- For those who don't know your acres to square miles, 640 acres = 1 Square Mile |
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Thanky, SBG! My doc just moved from Akron, OH, to up near you so I was worried about the guy. Found out he's o.k. Daggone drought is bad. Here, in central Ohio, (I am between Columbus and Cleveland), in the hilly part of Ohio, we have been getting drowned with rain. The prevailing west winds bring continous "lines" of thunder poppers in that keep over your place for hours. They call it a "rain train." We picked up six inches of rain in a few hours! First time I ever seen a flash flood here. A wall of water at least 5 foot high came roaring down the valley, grabbing everything not nailed down. Days earlier I had chainsawed up a 42 inch diameter pine tree in chunks about 4-5 feet long. They each weighed a few hundred pounds each. I saw these down the road a bit, bobbing around like corks! The whole valley was "scoured" like if you took a rasp or sandpaper to it! Thank the Lord my farmhouse built in 1854 was on a little knoll; kept us dry. Those oldtimers back then knew how and where to build 'em! "Mighty peculiar weather we're havin." The Cowardly Lion---Wizard of Oz 1939 P.S. Mighty fine Boxer you have there! We are partial to Beagles. Got a pack of 'em. P.P.S. You a lawyer too? I been one here for 30 years, and I have never seen the economy or people's affairs in a worst shape here in Ohio. Foreclosures through the roof, no jobs, crime up, pretty bad. |
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man its gonna be a bitch fighting fires up there in those buttes I must be living in a vacuum First i heard of this was had a customer from Florida call today wanting to know if we were in operation and if the fires are gonna hinder his shipment we are clear in the other end of the state I guess the national news must be making it look bad |