Day Three – Sunday, March 12 - Albuquerque to Oklahoma City
Our band of nomads woke up to 23-degree temps in sunny, but snowy, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The mountains that we battled through the day before, as well as those east of us, were also covered with snow, making it an incredibly scenic morning.
At our stop at Reliable Chevrolet, we were interviewed by KOB/KASA – the local Fox Affiliate.
As we started to drive east on Interstate 40, we were relieved that the weather conditions had improved and anticipated an uneventful drive. We were wrong!
Wild fires had erupted in Northern Texas and we were headed right toward them. Nearing Amarillo, we could see huge clouds of white smoke. Then, east of town, we were diverted off the 40, which had been closed because of a fatal traffic pile-up, caused by dense smoke from the fires.
After consulting with a Texas Ranger and reviewing the navigation system in our Chevy Tahoe, we charted a bypass around the closed section of hwy 40. This took us north to eastbound State Highway 60 and then to Highway 152.
There, we encountered the most dangerous and horrifying part of our trip.
The Lake McClellan National Grasslands were ablaze all around us. We were nearly surrounded by one of the worst fires that Northern Texas has ever endured. Ranches were in flames just southwest of us, and the fire was closing in on us.
At one time I radioed Charlie Anderson who was following me in the Tahoe. “Are you at all nervous about how close the flames are?” I asked.
Charlie’s response: “Well, you know, at least your fuel won’t explode.”
With flames within ¼ mile of us, and strong 50+ mph winds pushing the fire ever closer, I was more concern than Charlie let on. I knew we had to push ahead quickly to outrun the flames that threaten not only our journey, but our very lives.
When we finally outran the flames, we were engulfed by thick smoke and ash. We still weren’t out of danger. Ash overwhelmed our windshield wipers. It was dark and terrifying.
Nearing Wheeler and the intersection of Interstate 40, our vision cleared only to reveal a 5-mile backup of westbound traffic being diverted off the highway. The highway patrol wasn’t going to allow anyone to endure the flames we narrowly outran.
Later we were informed that the flames had taken the lives of at least 4 people. And, traffic accidents caused by the smoke caused the death of at least 8 people and innumerable livestock.
Our prayers go out to the families of Northern Texas who are affected by this tragedy.
More tomorrow ...
Our band of nomads woke up to 23-degree temps in sunny, but snowy, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The mountains that we battled through the day before, as well as those east of us, were also covered with snow, making it an incredibly scenic morning.
At our stop at Reliable Chevrolet, we were interviewed by KOB/KASA – the local Fox Affiliate.
As we started to drive east on Interstate 40, we were relieved that the weather conditions had improved and anticipated an uneventful drive. We were wrong!
Wild fires had erupted in Northern Texas and we were headed right toward them. Nearing Amarillo, we could see huge clouds of white smoke. Then, east of town, we were diverted off the 40, which had been closed because of a fatal traffic pile-up, caused by dense smoke from the fires.
After consulting with a Texas Ranger and reviewing the navigation system in our Chevy Tahoe, we charted a bypass around the closed section of hwy 40. This took us north to eastbound State Highway 60 and then to Highway 152.
There, we encountered the most dangerous and horrifying part of our trip.
The Lake McClellan National Grasslands were ablaze all around us. We were nearly surrounded by one of the worst fires that Northern Texas has ever endured. Ranches were in flames just southwest of us, and the fire was closing in on us.
At one time I radioed Charlie Anderson who was following me in the Tahoe. “Are you at all nervous about how close the flames are?” I asked.
Charlie’s response: “Well, you know, at least your fuel won’t explode.”
With flames within ¼ mile of us, and strong 50+ mph winds pushing the fire ever closer, I was more concern than Charlie let on. I knew we had to push ahead quickly to outrun the flames that threaten not only our journey, but our very lives.
When we finally outran the flames, we were engulfed by thick smoke and ash. We still weren’t out of danger. Ash overwhelmed our windshield wipers. It was dark and terrifying.
Nearing Wheeler and the intersection of Interstate 40, our vision cleared only to reveal a 5-mile backup of westbound traffic being diverted off the highway. The highway patrol wasn’t going to allow anyone to endure the flames we narrowly outran.
Later we were informed that the flames had taken the lives of at least 4 people. And, traffic accidents caused by the smoke caused the death of at least 8 people and innumerable livestock.
Our prayers go out to the families of Northern Texas who are affected by this tragedy.
More tomorrow ...
posted by Tom Holm at 3/20/2006 08:05:00 AM
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