Only you can prevent forest fires!

[Desert Rose]

Mt Lemmon is located 25 miles north of Tucson, Arizona in the Catalina Mountains. It is still recovering from the devastating ‘Aspen Fire’ that started June 17, 2003. The fire burned out of control until July 15 when the summer monsoon rain helped the heroic firefighters extinguish the flames. The fire raged for approximately 30 days and was attacked by land and by air by the forest service, fire fighters and Hot Shot Teams. A constant reminder of the forest fire was visible from every street in Tucson at any time of day or night. Thick clouds of smoke smothered the mountain top day after day. At night the burning outline of the mountain glowed orange from the burning forest. The smell of the smoke and layers of ash reminded us daily that the fire was not yet contained. The Aspen Fire consumed over 85,000 acres of beautiful forest and destroyed 325 out of 450 structures in the community of Summerhaven atop the Catalina Mountains. The fire was said to be human caused. Six years later, the forest still has not fully recovered from the devastation.

Areas have been fenced from public use to allow the forest to recover.


The radio control towers on the highest peak of the Catalina Mountains were saved from the fire.


You can see the areas that were not completely burned on the distant hillside.


View through the trees to the valley below. Once the forest was so thick with trees you could not see the desert floor.

[Lespaulstandard]

I cant stand it when carelessness causes such damage. I literally cringe everytime I see someone throw a cig out the window.

Nice photos, hopefully they serve their purpose and make people think more about their actions.

[butch3r]

Very good set! Carelessness is just a small thing if you know that ppl is still chopping down rain forest everyday around the world! Nice title!
Thanks for sharing!

[NetG]

I'm so glad you got over here and posted these!

I'll never forget those week - I was going out of town on vacation and they thought they had the fires under control. I wasn't in the middle of a forest in NH so didn't catch the news, and on the flight in saw the fire line almost on the valley floor. It was devastating.

These pictures provide a great reminder.

[Desert Rose]

Originally Posted by Lespaulstandard

I cant stand it when carelessness causes such damage. I literally cringe everytime I see someone throw a cig out the window.

Nice photos, hopefully they serve their purpose and make people think more about their actions.

Originally Posted by butch3r

Very good set! Carelessness is just a small thing if you know that ppl is still chopping down rain forest everyday around the world! Nice title!
Thanks for sharing!

Thank you both. It has been a while since I've gone up the mountain. I was hoping to find more evidence of new growth. The forest service has done an excellent job reseeding the landscape but it will be many more years to recovery.

[Desert Rose]

Originally Posted by NetG

I'm so glad you got over here and posted these!

I'll never forget those week - I was going out of town on vacation and they thought they had the fires under control. I wasn't in the middle of a forest in NH so didn't catch the news, and on the flight in saw the fire line almost on the valley floor. It was devastating.

These pictures provide a great reminder.

Thank you Net. I sat in silence looking at the burned areas of the forest and new grow trying to emerge from the ash. I remember those weeks watching the mountain as I drove to work and home every day praying that it would be contained soon. When I was looking at these trees last week, it reminded me of the cartoon character Smokey the Bear and the burned forest behind him. I hope we never have to go through that devastation again.

BTW... I finally got more of the Mt Lemmon Fall color photos on flickr!

[equilution]

Congrats on making Senior Member, DR!! Boy I remember those fires! There was smoke in the air for weeks! Some friends of mine lost a cabin up there. I've only been back up there once, and that was last winter when I rented a plane and flew over ski valley! Here's an aerial shot I took out of the window of the Cessna I was flying...albeit covered in snow!. Congrats again!

Jim

[leonaashlee]

I watched this fire day or night from my back patio. It was a very sad event, and it still looks sad up there even though there are so many new buildings and homes. The lack of foliage is still so easy to see.

[Ella1267]

I remember these fires very well....I was almost fascinated by them. The smoke was horrible. I have gone back a couple times, the houses they are building are beautiful and go with the whole mountain scenery.
Very clear telling photos....

I love the signs that the cookie shack hung after the fires....outside on a huge banner..
"State Farm is not a good neighbor"..
and the one inside said....
"any unsupervised children will be given a shot of expresso and a free puppy"...This is one way of making sure people keep their kids on hand...

[kgb224]

It is sad to see such devastation caused by Humans.
Outstanding series of pictures.