Unfortunately

Today was epic. Words used by those fighting this fire today were: war zone, apocalyptic, powerful, wild.

I have never dedicated much time to listening to a police scanner or anything resembling monitoring of law enforcement air waves. However, the past couple of days I literally feel comforted hearing the squelches, pops, tones, and chatter. Today has been an even more intense need.

This fire scorching the mountain and the surrounding areas reached new heights today. A landmark restaurant burned to the ground. A yard ornament familiar to all who have lived here is now rubble. The church that seared the side of Ash Canyon looks like ruins you’d find in Ireland or Scotland.

Amid the familiar sites the mountain offered, are the homes still we as a community are unaware of their condition. We have been told for certainty 47 homes, thus far, have been lost. After today, I fear the new total the Monument Fire has consumed.

Listening to the scanner today, sweat formed along my hairline as I heard fighters scramble to prevent this torrid fire from crossing the highway, away from the mountain, and rip through the thousands of homes on the other side. My skin crawled as I heard one say, “We can’t keep it anymore. We have to let it go. The wind gust are over 50 mph. We can’t fight it.” Time stood still as I listened to what they were going to next.

I pulled up maps as street names were used as rallying points. I gained my bearings as to where all the units were fighting. All this week we’ve been scared of this exact event. Earlier this week they were unable to contain the beast and it jumped the highway. That day, black smoke filled the air. Those of us in town were left to assume the black smoke was the evidence of another home casualty. At the end of that day, the town was awestruck to learn no homes were lost. I find it difficult to believe we will be given such relief tomorrow.

At tonight’s town meeting and update, the information officers were equally frustrated as the citizens. Hundreds of people gathered to find out if they had a home to return to. People wanted to know where the fire was exactly. There were so many questions and whether it be political ass-covering or genuine ignorance, no one was granted the satisfaction of knowing anything more than what they’d been reading and hearing all day long.

I’m certain the officers at that meeting wished they had more to say. They rattled through the facts of the day, gave out the redundant information about evacuation stations, phones numbers and the typical rhetoric you’d expect to hear. At no point were they able to say, “The fire is right here. We expect it to do this tonight. You’re home is gone. You’re home is fine.” It was an unfortunate attempt at public pandering. But it had to be done. If they didn’t show up and act as if they had any news, they’d be crucified.

Here’s what I find to be odd. There wasn’t a single shred of information they delivered I didn’t already know because of my absurd addiction to the scanner feed. I knew what structures had burned. I knew where the fire was and what was being done. There were a few gaps, but not enough to make me afraid. Incidentally I became somewhat of a hub for information. I get that a lot of people don’t want to sit around all day glued to a stupid computer. So, they’ll wait a bit, call/text me, and find out what they want to know in a few minutes. Easy enough.

Having worked in broadcasting for what I would consider to be a significant amount of time (six years), I know a little bit about getting information to the public. Radio is the EASIEST way to get information to the masses quickly and efficiently. Today I heard some frustrating things specifically regarding that. “Why isn’t the radio covering this better? Why aren’t the news channels in Tucson getting their facts straight before reporting?” So on and so on. I thinks it’s a sad, sad day when a social networking site becomes the best source for up to date information. The general public has been the reporters all week. Some of the information...wait...most of the information is unsubstantiated rumor. But when the information was valid and true, it was golden.

I have been asked so many times when I plan on returning to the radio station. I don’t. I haven’t heard a word from them indicating I’m even wanted. This isn’t a pity party. It’s fact. But, there’s been the journalist in me that has yearned to stomp back in their and do the work. Anyone can read off a press release form from the sheriff’s office. It takes a person with a little more dedication to dig and get the information themselves. Phone calls have been moot. Emails, hit and miss. Listening to that scanner? News.

We all think we can do things better than someone else. It’s the ego in us all. But there are undoubtedly things I’d be doing better if I were the one operating the dissemination of information as this fire has grown into the vicious monster it has become in the last 24 hours.

*Steps off soap box. Exits stage left.

Tonight, I hope with all my heart the calmer winds will give the fighters the chance to really get some of this contained. Looking out the back of my house, I see the glowing red flames and pink smoke looming over my city with intent. No air attacks at night. Just boots on the ground, in the war zone that used to be the Huachuca Mountains. Tomorrow I will reposition myself in front of my computer and listen to the scanner. Hopefully tomorrow night will bring a brighter optimism. Over 2000 people are away from their homes and unable to return. Over 2000 people are anxious to know what the fate of their future entails.

Tomorrow I hope the information is more easily obtained. If not, I know how to get it and I will. In the meantime, we wait.