The Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon has grown to 4500 acres and is now heading up Pumphouse Draw towards Kachina Village south of Flagstaff. RMNP Members Adam Schallau and Doug Koepsel, who live there, have been told by firefighters to be ready to evacuate. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers!
Thanks Phillip for letting us know about this. It's going to be a long summer. My prayers to both Adam and Doug and their families may you all be safe and your homes and communities as well. Blessings, Deb
Thanks Phil and Debbie. We are still under pre-evacuation this morning, but not mandatory. The fire movement has been north and west through Oak Creek Canyon. It has topped out at the head of OCC by the switchbacks. Adam and I are still here in Kachina Village. I feel more hopeful this morning that the fire will not head our way, but remain to the west. It grew from 450 to 4500 acres yesterday. We both have been posting updates on our facebook pages.
Glad to hear things may be looking more positive for you and Adam, my thoughts are with you. I'm praying the residents and firefighters all remain safe.
From reports I've seen today along with a few photos, it looks like the fire in West Fork was a low intensity ground fire which is very good news. There may be a few places that were burned with more intensity but overall it might have been a beneficial fire in the canyon. Time will tell. Perhaps in a few years the West Fork will regain its beauty.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on May 28, 2014 at 12:33 PM
There is a facebook page "Slide Fire Information" that has 12 images of the area around the mouth of West Fork. I read where those in helicopters have seen green areas along the creek further up the canyon and it may not be that badly burned.
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