I do agree with you in general terms about USFS policy of forest mangement over the decades and present lack of funding. However I tend to disagree with the assessment that firewood cutting and grazing would serve as a deterrant to fires of this magnitude. That analysis would be true in the lower elevations or in areas accessable by existing roads.

The ecosystem in these mountain ranges of oak, juniper, pine are fire dependent for their survival. Fire plays a necessary role in ecosystem survival, but us humans want to live in these ecosystems and want to have control over our enviornment. And no one can control the weather. More could be done to mitigate the growth you mention and explosive fire behavior with prescribed fire or less reaction to suppressing all small fires.

I do hope that all is well with you and are safe from the damage to those living in the urban / wildland interface. Remain safe and fire wise.

Thanks for the feedback Bubba.  Please understand I was in no way ranting against USFS workers.  They are fine people who work hard to maintain our treasured forests and natural resources.  But I do question some of the misguided USFS policies when it comes to forest management.  The forests in the southern mountains have been choked with undergrowth for years, and this should not have been allowed to happen.  I do understand that the USFS has been starved for funding by the Feds for the last two decades, and that the goals of local USFS staff to manage the forests more efffectively have been hindered by lack of money and manpower; but I think some of the undergrowth could have been alleviated by allowing more firewood cutting and more generous grazing leases to ranchers to promote more suppression of grasses and undergrowth by livestock.   

I am glad to here your positive take on the situation.  Animals are indeed resilient, I just hope they can continue to survive in these lands that beureaucrats back east seem to be bent on screwing up. 

I agree with you in some of your assessments of why these fires are of such large magnitude. However, the Huachuca Mountains and the Chiricahua Mountains are not "destroyed". Very few animals are killed by the fire effects - they’re smart - they vacate the area (think of the movie "Bambi") 

Wildlife will move back in once the fire races thru even while trees are still burning and the smoke is still out there. Large game move into the area because their predators cannot smell them since their scent is masked by the smoke and ash. And animals lick the ash for nutrients and roll around in it to rid themselves of ticks and fleas. And when the forest regrow, it provides fresh green growth for foraging animals.

Having worked for the USFS for many years involved in fire suppression I’ve seen many small critters and large game carrying on while the fire is still active as if nothing occured. And one gentleman complained much as you have about fires, but later thanked us because he shot the biggest bull elk in his life in the area of the burn. So you and your son are sure to enjoy a successful hunt next time you go into the Huachuca or Chiricahua Mountains. So keep that dream alive.

I grew up in the area, and even though I live elsewhere now, it kills me to see the destruction that has been wrought in the Coronado Forest by the Horseshoe 2 and Memorial fires.  The mountains of Cochise County are in my blood, like they are a part of me.  I know most people who grew up here feel the same way.  As a hunter and sportsman my heart aches for the unique animals and wildlife that live in these Southern mountains.  These fires will kill, or at the very least put incredible stress on, the deer, lion, bear and bobcat and other wildlife that live in these beautiful mountain ranges.   

They will never know for sure who started the fire, so spending time arguing about it is a waste of precious oxygen.  The US Forest Service and the Washington bureaucrats running it, going back all the way to the Kennedy era, are as just as much or more to blame for this mindless destruction.  A half century of needless fire suppression, lack of controlled burning of underbrush, and the mindless refusal to issue woodcutting permits to conscientious citizens all played a part in this catastrophe.  I had hoped to one day take my son hunting in the mountains down there, the way my dad did with me.  I guess that dream is dead.  If any USFS people read this rant, I’d like to be set straight if I am wrong.

Most likely this fire was started by an ILLEGAL since the park is closed to the public. I wonder when Americans will get tired of these people setting fire to our land?