Forest Fire

Carson National Forest (the one we live in) is burning. 12oo acres in less than 24 hours. Zero percent containment.
12 miles south of us, when you get out of the mountains, you can see the smoke pouring out of the forest on the horizon. As of right now the fire is 15 to 20 miles south of us and the only word we can get is that is possibly moving west, which would leave us safe.

With zero percent chance of rain and gusting winds up to 40 miles per hour the general scene is not looking good for the Taos area. There is no estimate for when the fire may be contained and they are expecting jumping and running of the fire as the winds increase today.

As you enter the forest toward our home there are signs with pictures of burning houses asking "Do you have defensible space?"... in other words... how far out of the trees is your house? Ours is farther out that most; sitting in a cleared bit of meadow, and yet, were the fire to make it's way here the chances that that would save the house are minimal. A good friend of ours had a long career in forest fire prevention and smoke jumping and when he came to walk the woods around our home last year he told us that they were in a dangerous state for fire. With no fire and no clearing in recent history the forest is unusually thick with many downed and dead trees and brush along with other signs of our high desert location.

The sky is covered with a thick, brownish white smoke haze and all we can do is wait for news of further evacuations and hope that it is, in fact, moving parallel to us rather than toward.

So far no structures have been lost to the fire and the Red Cross has shelter set up for the evacuated communities.

Please keep us and those more immediately affected in your thoughts.

xo