Tag: wildfire
Kitt Peak telescopes undamaged from wildfire
Firefighters have so far been able to protect the telescopes on Kitt Peak in Arizona from being damaged by a fast burning wildfire that began a week ago.
In a statement, NOIRLabs, which manages Kitt Peak Observatory for the National Science Foundation, said a crew of firefighters are working on the summit with multiple engines. Hydrants have been tested, and fire hoses deployed to defend the observatory’s buildings, they said, adding firefighters are dropping “large amounts” of fire retardant on the southern end of the observatory in an effort to slow the fire’s advance.
On Thursday, firefighters cleared a line of trees and brush below the peak’s southern ridge, an effort that was “mostly complete” by the evening, said NOIRLabs. Firefighters also cleared the area around individual domes, as well around “critical infrastructure,” and around flammable propane tanks. In some places, ground crews started backfires to create fuel breaks, officials said.
Firefighters are continuing to remove brush on the slopes, and have spotters watching for hot-spots.
That this point it appears the telescopes are safe, as the fire teams allow the fire to burn out.
Firefighters have so far been able to protect the telescopes on Kitt Peak in Arizona from being damaged by a fast burning wildfire that began a week ago.
In a statement, NOIRLabs, which manages Kitt Peak Observatory for the National Science Foundation, said a crew of firefighters are working on the summit with multiple engines. Hydrants have been tested, and fire hoses deployed to defend the observatory’s buildings, they said, adding firefighters are dropping “large amounts” of fire retardant on the southern end of the observatory in an effort to slow the fire’s advance.
On Thursday, firefighters cleared a line of trees and brush below the peak’s southern ridge, an effort that was “mostly complete” by the evening, said NOIRLabs. Firefighters also cleared the area around individual domes, as well around “critical infrastructure,” and around flammable propane tanks. In some places, ground crews started backfires to create fuel breaks, officials said.
Firefighters are continuing to remove brush on the slopes, and have spotters watching for hot-spots.
That this point it appears the telescopes are safe, as the fire teams allow the fire to burn out.
Wildfire reaches Kitt Peak National Observatory
A wildfire has crested the peak and reached the Kitt Peak National Observatory, threatening a number of telescopes there.
Around 2:00 a.m. MST Friday morning the fire, contrary to the expectations of the firecrews, crested the southwest ridge where the Hiltner 2.4-meter Telescope, McGraw-Hill 1.3-meter Telescope, Very Long Baseline Array Dish and UArizona 12-meter Telescope are located. Because of the ongoing nature of the situation, it is currently not possible to assess whether any damage to the structures has occurred. We will report any damage as soon as possible.
Based on this report, however, it does appear that officials expect several of these telescopes to be damaged by the fire.
A wildfire has crested the peak and reached the Kitt Peak National Observatory, threatening a number of telescopes there.
Around 2:00 a.m. MST Friday morning the fire, contrary to the expectations of the firecrews, crested the southwest ridge where the Hiltner 2.4-meter Telescope, McGraw-Hill 1.3-meter Telescope, Very Long Baseline Array Dish and UArizona 12-meter Telescope are located. Because of the ongoing nature of the situation, it is currently not possible to assess whether any damage to the structures has occurred. We will report any damage as soon as possible.
Based on this report, however, it does appear that officials expect several of these telescopes to be damaged by the fire.
Michael Martin Murphey & the Rio Grande Band – Wildfire
Fire at Vandenberg 70% contained
Firefighters have gained control of 70% of the wildfire that has been raging in the hills surrounding the launchpads at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
They hope to have the fire completely under control by Friday.
Firefighters have gained control of 70% of the wildfire that has been raging in the hills surrounding the launchpads at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
They hope to have the fire completely under control by Friday.
Vandenberg wildfire expands to 12,000 acres
The wildfire at Vandenberg Air Force Base that caused the cancellation of an Atlas 5 launch this past weekend has now grown to over 12,000 acres.
According to officials it is now 45% under control. This map, when compared to earlier maps, shows that the expansion has all been to the west and towards ULA’s Atlas 5 and Delta 4 and SpaceX’s Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy launchpads. Essentially, all of the hillsides behind and surrounding the launchpads shown below in a picture I took back in 2015 during my photo tour of Vandenberg are now in flames.
The wildfire at Vandenberg Air Force Base that caused the cancellation of an Atlas 5 launch this past weekend has now grown to over 12,000 acres.
According to officials it is now 45% under control. This map, when compared to earlier maps, shows that the expansion has all been to the west and towards ULA’s Atlas 5 and Delta 4 and SpaceX’s Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy launchpads. Essentially, all of the hillsides behind and surrounding the launchpads shown below in a picture I took back in 2015 during my photo tour of Vandenberg are now in flames.
Update on wildfire at Vandenberg
Despite efforts to be rein it in, the wildfire at Vandenberg continues to burn and spread.
It has grown to include at least 5,000 acres.
The overhead image of the burn area at the link shows three launch sites. The SLC-3E site is ULA’s launchpad for the Atlas 5. The SLC-4E site is SpaceX’s launchpad at Vandenberg. The SLC-6 site was the site originally built for the space shuttle, never used, and has now been redesigned for ULA’s Delta rockets as well as payloads that need to be integrated vertically. For some close-up pictures, see my Vandenberg photo tour from 2015.
Despite efforts to be rein it in, the wildfire at Vandenberg continues to burn and spread.
It has grown to include at least 5,000 acres.
The overhead image of the burn area at the link shows three launch sites. The SLC-3E site is ULA’s launchpad for the Atlas 5. The SLC-4E site is SpaceX’s launchpad at Vandenberg. The SLC-6 site was the site originally built for the space shuttle, never used, and has now been redesigned for ULA’s Delta rockets as well as payloads that need to be integrated vertically. For some close-up pictures, see my Vandenberg photo tour from 2015.
Vandenberg wildfire spreads
The wildfire at Vandenberg Air Force Base that caused the cancellation of Sunday’s Atlas 5 launch has spread and remains out of control.
Zaniboni said the fire is burning north to northwest toward two launch pads — Space Launch Complex-4, the SpaceX launch site, and SLC-3, where base officials scrubbed Sunday’s launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying the WorldView 4 satellite. Although the fire did not pose an immediate threat to SLC-3 at the time, Col. Paul Nosek said it required the base to redeploy firefighters from stand-by at the launch site.
The wildfire at Vandenberg Air Force Base that caused the cancellation of Sunday’s Atlas 5 launch has spread and remains out of control.
Zaniboni said the fire is burning north to northwest toward two launch pads — Space Launch Complex-4, the SpaceX launch site, and SLC-3, where base officials scrubbed Sunday’s launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying the WorldView 4 satellite. Although the fire did not pose an immediate threat to SLC-3 at the time, Col. Paul Nosek said it required the base to redeploy firefighters from stand-by at the launch site.
A wildfire has damaged an astronomical observatory in Australia.
A wildfire has damaged an astronomical observatory in Australia.
The telescopes mostly appear unharmed, though some support facilities and a lot of nearby homes have been destoryed.
A wildfire has damaged an astronomical observatory in Australia.
The telescopes mostly appear unharmed, though some support facilities and a lot of nearby homes have been destoryed.
More than thirty thousand people have been ordered to flee the growing wildfire in Colorado.
More than thirty thousand people have been ordered to flee the growing wildfire in Colorado.
More than thirty thousand people have been ordered to flee the growing wildfire in Colorado.
The Whitewater-Baldy wildfire in New Mexico is now the largest in that state’s history, covering 266 square miles.
The Whitewater-Baldy wildfire in New Mexico is now the largest in that state’s history, covering 266 square miles.
I flew over this fire on my way from Tucson to Chicago on Tuesday. The smoke cloud itself was astonishingly large, extending eastward far beyond the fire itself.
The Whitewater-Baldy wildfire in New Mexico is now the largest in that state’s history, covering 266 square miles.
I flew over this fire on my way from Tucson to Chicago on Tuesday. The smoke cloud itself was astonishingly large, extending eastward far beyond the fire itself.
Arizona wildfire grows to cover 389,000 acres
Arizona wildfire grows to cover 389,000 acres.
Arizona wildfire grows to cover 389,000 acres.