Greetings From Alpine, TX - Fires

[princer7]

Made it to Alpine tonight on my way to Big Bend for 6 fun filled days. The fires made it all the way to edge of the city. Was suprised to see that what I originally thought were sillouetts of the hills outside town were in fact burnt black earth. They were really luky....

From what I was told by the hotel manager, the fire was started at the Ag Center nearby - cigarette used by a teen. When he and his friends tried to put out the small fire it started, the winds took it to a whole new level. They decided to not report it when it got out of hand.

There were @ 30 fire trucks to put out the fire that threatened the entire town. The fire that made its way to Fort Davis only took @ 4 hours to travel 25 miles... They have 300 trucks and have it 60% contained.

[I have internet tonight but the rest of the trip is not certain. Please forgive me for any late replies]

[danchez]

[princer7]

Not the best photo.... I'll try and get some daytime shots. This was on the way to Alpine.... The burn can start to be seen closer towards the horizon. The sunset was blocked by the smoke in the air.

[Hanky]

Careful the mountain lions, cool pic hehe.

[jeffclow]

That is a nice shot showing the effect of the smoke, Jennifer.....travel safe and enjoy your trip to Big Bend.

I am envious.

[princer7]

There is a real hightened risk of fires in the park. The sunsets are different... no long vistas but good color with the smoke. I decided to focus my time on macro and see the Indian hyroglyphs in Terlingua today and get oriented with what the skies will look like.

Here is one I took this morning of Alpine as you enter town from Fort Stockton...

[princer7]

On a happier note, the cactus blooms sure were nice today...