Los Alamos-- Mandatory evacuation just ordered.

[TygrBright]

Wind shifted and drove the fire back up the Valle Caldera and they fear that it may shift back and threaten the town. No immediate threat. I'm listening to podcast from KRSN (local Los Alamos radio.)

This wildfire blew up to between 40K and 50K acres within less than 24 hours, fueled by tinder-dry conditions from the worst drought in recorded history of the region.

The Bandelier National Monument trailhead area is not threatened at the moment but the wilderness area is afire, and the fire is erratic and fast moving, with gusty, changing winds playing a large part in making it unpredictable and hard to fight.

LANL safety people are practically herniating themselves trying to reassure everyone that there is no danger of anything Nasty From the Lab getting into the mix.

Here in Santa Fe it is snowing ash. The sky darkens and lightens alternately as the wind blows the smoke plume around, but the air is not pleasant.

Pray for rain for us, please.

wearily,
Bright

[KT2000]

1. Not good -

definitely praying for rain!

[TygrBright]

5. Thanks. We are very lucky so far, no injuries, and just a few dozen structures lost.

Between the erratic winds and the terrible drought it could get worse fast.

But NONE of this has anything to do with human impact on climate, so stop saying that.

tiredly,
Bright

[likesmountains 52]

2. So sorry, up here in Durango I'm holding my breath that we're not next...dry and windy everyday.

[redwitch]

3. How awful!

I am sorry. Come on rain!

[SpiralHawk]

4. Valle Caldera is sooo beautiful

a shame to think of it going up in flames...It is the caldera of a Monster Volcano that, scientists say is dead -- but that the Native elders say is only sleeping...

[Generic Other]

6. Are there nuke reactors or waste in the area that pose dangers?

I assume there are some hazardous materials left from all the cold war weapons development there.

[TygrBright]

10. Not according to LANL safety people for what it's worth.

To do them justice, they did learn a lot from Cerro Grande eleven years ago, and have probably prepared much better. And the drought and fire conditions have been no secret for weeks; presumably they have taken precautionary measures.

reassuringly,
Bright

[TygrBright]

7. Link to truly amazing video of the fire blowing up...

(will also post separately)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mju9oYwI36c

The town is evacuating in an orderly manner, according to KRSN local radio.

respectfully,
Bright

[nmbluesky]

9. oh damn...

very sad to see beautiful Jemez Mountain

[nmbluesky]

8. over again happen in 2000

I remember happen in 2000, the Cerro Grande Fire burn 250 houses in Los Alamos.
11 years later. it is happen again. I watch a huge smoke from Santa Fe. it's very sad!!

[TygrBright]

11. They are evacuating because they are worried the wind will again push fire...

...over the top of Cerro Grande.

So far, however, it's still several miles away.

The wind has abated enough so that they can get the airborne equipment up and working. They're dropping retardant, etc., now.

concernedly,
Bright

[TygrBright]

12. Update- Fire has reached LANL property

LosAlamosNationalLab
#NMfire update: 1-acre spot fire was reported in Water Canyon within Lab's Technical Area 49. Fire has jumped north across NM State Route 4.
23 minutes ago

Important to note here that we are talking about an enormous area, so it was inevitable that some spot fires would reach parts of it.

(on edit)

Currently, the Laboratory's Hazardous Devices Team uses the site as a training area and as an isolated location for blowing up suspect packages. The site is also the location of the Laboratory's Antenna and Pulse Power Outdoor Range User Facility, where a spectrum of outdoor tests is carried out on materials and equipment components that involve generating and receiving short bursts of high-energy, broad-spectrum microwaves. TA-49 is surrounded by a locked security fence, which prevents accidental intrusion. When experiments are conducted, personnel install barriers that exclude any individuals from access to areas where unsafe levels of energy could be encountered. In 1960 and 1961, a series of experiments involving high explosives and radioactive materials was conducted at the site. (source:http://www.lasg.org/maps/pages/contents/ta49.htm)

I'll continue to update for anyone who's interested as I pull information off various streams.

observantly,
Bright

[Overseas]

13. Sad K&R.

[TygrBright]

14. Reports of rain in the Los Alamos area! Yippeee!!!

Many, many thanks to all who sent Good Intention Vibes to the Rain Deity(ies)or otherwise devoted positive energy to the cause...

Senator Udall's Twitter Stream:

SenatorTomUdall Tom Udall
Great news! RT @gadiroget: good news coming out of los alamos... rain is startng to fall! #nmfire #kob4 #lanl #miracle


Senator Udall reports that he is on his way to the Santa Claran evacuation shelter to meet evacuees and discuss the situation.

I'm so proud to have a Senator like Tom!

appreciatively,
Bright

[nmbluesky]

15. great news to hear..

Tom Udall is great Senator

question... Where is our governor Susana Martinez?