Sunday 23 April 2017 was an amazing day. I took off with family to go into Tucson and visit the Air and Space Museum. As we headed north into Tucson I saw a relatively large cloud of what looked like dust. I thought it looked a bit strange but figured it was mining trucks on the dirt roads.
I was alarmed as we started home that evening. It looked as though Madera Highlands, my community, was on fire. As we approached my house I thought I’d better run in get my stuff and leave.
Then I went into my backyard and realized the mountain near Sawmill Canyon was on fire. This is a good 10 miles from my home so I felt relatively safe.
I had a front row seat to the fire here in Madera Highlands. My lot faces the mountain so makes for an awesome place to snap photos.
In the days that followed I learned a guy sparked the fire target practicing. It sounds horrible but would be easy to do. It’s vital you check the fire danger and weather reports before you go out into the National Forest or even light up the fire pit at your home.
Hats off to our fantastic fire services, Green Valley Fire, who responded to the fire. A firefighter who worked this fire told me how to double check the fire risk HERE. Type in your zip code and look at the reports before you go camping or shooting.