N.I.M.B.Y.

A phrase that is frequently used in my line of work (environmental engineering) is often referred to as "N.I.M.B.Y." or "Not In My Back Yard." Basically when it comes time to site a new water or wastewater plant, a new landfill, or some other type of "environmental" infrastructure, well, frankly, no one wants it around or NIMBY. Sure, we all NEED drinking water, wastewater treatment, etc. But please, NIMBY!

Today, however, I'm using NIMBY to describe the fires that are currently burning around the state of New Mexico. I don't want ANY of these in MY backyard! NIMBY! NIMBY! NIMBY!

Starting around 2 yesterday afternoon, a fire started near the town of Los Alamos, NM. By the time I went to bed, it had grown to nearly 5000 acres. When I woke up, it was almost 10,000 acres. 24 hours later, officials called for mandatory evacuations for the area since it had grown to nearly 50,000 acres!!! [And just so you know, that's bigger than their last fire, the El Cerro Grande Fire in 2000 - it was only 47,000 acres...]

I have friends that live there, I have co-workers who grew up there, and I have projects currently underway in Los Alamos. I swiped this photo from MSNBC so you can see the view from last night. You can google to find more horrific imagery of this Las Conchas fire. HORRIBLE...
While Los Alamos (or "LA" as some of us say) is still an hour and half north of Albuquerque, the smoke is very visible here. With the crazy winds we keep getting, the voracious heat, it's horrible. The air will be putrid and smoky; it already is. I can't imagine even being NEAR LA at this time...ick!

Here's another photo from KRQE news so you can see some of the smoke (just to the left of this picture, around the corner from the hospital, is the entrance to Los Alamos National Labs):
As of June 27, 2011, I can name a dozen cities that have wildfires burning in New Mexico without even looking it up on the local news. It's a total change of pace for me, since I grew up in the flooding town of Shawnee, Kansas.

With that said, can we please start our monsoon season now?! That'd be great, Mother Nature, thanks!

Stay safe out there and please, please don't light any stupid fireworks in the middle of a tinderbox! I'd like to keep my house in one, standing piece, thank you.

Seriously, be safe this fourth of July!
~kerrie