Severe Fire Risk! Fire Takes Home on Cresta Pequena!

Hi neighbors:

Some of you may not be aware that we lost a house on Cresta Pequena this evening. As of 9:30pm, there are still some firetrucks at the entrance to CP and hopefully they will stay for a good while to be sure there are no hotspots left. My understanding is that some kind of unattended outdoor fire—possibly candles or a still-hot firepit—were the source of the blaze, which destroyed the house and also jumped into the arroyo. We were blessed with little wind, which slowed the growth of this fire considerably.

While our hearts are saddened for our neighbors, Paul and Cara at 24 CP, who (along with their pets) were apparently not at home when the fire started, we can not stress enough the danger the entire neighborhood was put in. Because the fire jumped into the arroyo and began igniting trees there, several neighbors jumped in with garden hoses and other tools to tamp that down while the firefighters worked on the house.

At this point in time, it bears repeating: we are in a severe risk situation, and ANY flame, be it a cigarette, a spark from a chainsaw, or outdoor firepits, puts the ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD at risk. One resident recalled a time a few years ago when practicing his golf swing ignited a grass fire in his yard, due to the club hitting a rock, which sent a spark into the crispy grasses. PLEASE: NO OPEN FIRES, NO CANDLES, NO FIRE-PITS OR BACKYARD TORCHES AND USE EXTREME CARE WITH YOUR CHAIN-SAWS IF YOU MUST USE THEM AT ALL.

Special thanks to the Hondo Fire Department and the other departments that came en masse to Apache Ridge this evening, including Santa Fe, Eldorado and Pecos: truly a fast and impressive response. Also to the residents of CP who actively fought the fire in the arroyo, including Dale Gentsch, Dawn Chandler and others. And also to neighbor/board member Kristin Ryan, who got on the phone and relayed information between neighbors and eye-witnesses.

Don't forget our all-neighbors meeting on June 13th at the Hondo firestation. Let's hope we don't have any more fires before we get our phone tree put together! IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE PHONE NOTIFICATION OF EVACUATION OR SERIOUS EMERGENCY, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR PHONE NUMBER(S) !!! Our database is incomplete, and we should have your home, cell and work numbers for the phone tree.

Thanks again for your diligence at clearing hazardous fuels--dead trees, piles of branches and brush--off your property and especially along the road!!!



Candelora Versace, Apache Ridge Property Owners Association
ARPOAboard@gmail.com ~www.arpoa.blogspot.com
2011 Board: Candelora Versace, Kristin Ryan, Gustav Kocsis, Michael Jerry, Tim Davis and Booth Gallett
ARPOA, 44 Apache Ridge Rd, SF NM 87505