Day 3 - Zero Containment

We have changed our plans - again.  We were going to Bryce Canyon National Park but as of 15 minutes ago, the fire reports said that smoke has filled the canyon.  So we cross off Bryce to go see, no problem.  We watch this enormous fire from our campground, thanking God that we are south of the fire, but terrified for those in the destructive path of the Shingle Fire.  It has moved north and east and has grown to 5,440 acres as of 9am this morning.  And ZERO containment.  That means they can't get any headway in extinguishing this fire.  We, for now, are in no danger, so we wait and watch and get caught up here at the campground.  We may head south for the day back into Kanab, to go to the Coral Pink Sandunes. Maybe.  As of 9am no one has been hurt in this fire.  The owner's son, Jason, spends his day with his horse and 2 dogs, herding and rounding cattle around in the mountain above the fire.  The Sheriff wants Jason out and Jason's dad, Doug (owner of the campground) told the Sheriff to leave him alone - he grew up in those mountains and he knows the terrain and knows what he's doing - he'll stay out of the way, but if you send your people in to get him - they will be in trouble, not knowing the land.  Just leave him alone, which the Sheriff does.  This morning about 6am we heard Jason go out after coming back here to get supplies, etc.  He and his 2 dogs and his horse will be on the mountain all day.

View from the road in front of campground, looking north to fire

We watch the big tanker planes fly in and out of Kanab, reloading with fire retardant, fire helicopters dropping chemical on the fire, and the roads leading north to the fire - traffic bringing in equipment.  This fire has now been upgraded to bring in the national wildfire crews, they came on board yesterday morning.  Just terrible to watch.  Why don't we leave?  We are not in harms way, eventually we will head north, but when this is contained.

About 4am we have to close all windows because the wind has brought the stench of the fire down into our valley.  We wait until about 11am when the wind changes course and blows the smoke away.  Terrible for all.  And it has been confirmed, was started by humans.