Fire on the Mountain

The Organ Mountains on fire

The Abrams fire has been burning in the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces, New Mexico for over a week.  Heavy winds have impeded fire-fighting efforts.  Also, there's no precipitation in sight.  We now have gone 84 days without rain.  From our vantage point--about eight miles from the mountains--the fire was clearly visible, and the smell of smoke was heavy in the air.

Smoke and haze from the Abrams Fire

Slurry helicopter over the mountains



The fire has crested from east to west



Rugged mountains, wind and fire:  bad combination