Mounted search and rescue

[<horsedriver54@woh.rr.com>]

Una, I have read all the emails and since I live in Ohio, I have no clue as 
to what you are going through. But am very relieved to here all seems to be 
ok.  Please keep us informed.  Even though I have never met you, since we are 
all MSAR people we have that in common and I believe you have ALOT of friends 
out here!  Take Care and God is Blessing you each and every day.  Lisa Sites  
Clark County Ohio MSAR
---- una.smith@att.net wrote: 
> Everything is cool.  I started this thread after reaching our safe 
> location.  Here we have a landline phone and DSL, but no cell coverage, so 
> I am making only essential calls.  This Las Conchas wildfire grew much 
> faster than the catastrophic Cerro Grande wildfire in 2000 and due to the 
> severe drought this year Las Conchas has far higher risk of spotting (ie, 
> new fires started by burning debris that is blown as far as 0.5 or even 1 
> mile down wind).  However, after Cerro Grande the Los Alamos townsite has 
> been made far more defensible against fire, on every level.  Infrastructure 
> is better, houses are more fire resistant with more defensible space around 
> them, properties have less fuels and less clutter, and residents are more 
> prepared to evacuate.  Previously many houses had wood siding and roofing.  
> Now many have stucco siding and metal or fiberglass or slate roofing.
> 
> The few horses remaining in Los Alamos are being looked after and are in an 
> area with scant fuels.  The area is bordered by two canyons with heavy 
> vegetation on steep side walls, which does present a risk of severe smoke 
> conditions in the event those canyons burn.  However, the area is 2 miles 
> east of the west edge of town and the fire is west of town.  In retrospect 
> it would have been better to evacuate all the horses out so that no one 
> would feel compelled to remain in Los Alamos to look after them.
> 
> Few people believed another wildfire here could be this bad.  I was one of 
> those who believed, and I planned and prepared for it, but I did not expect 
> it to actually happen.
> 
> Una Smith
> New Mexico