Why I have to train 25 miles away (NM Fire)

From what I've understood there aren't too many homes destroyed at this point, though I'm sure it's still a significant event for the families affected. I'm acquainted with a few folks in the Cliff, NM area and they've not been evacuated yet.  Hopefully the Forest Service is able to keep the fire from growing much more.

Yeah it's been bad. We had about a week of terrible smoke here in Albuquerque from this one and I'm sure we'll get it again as the winds shift later.

Last summer the AZ fires shut down outside training for me for nearly 2 weeks. And the Cochiti Tri was cancelled from the Los Conchas Fire in the Jemez. 

I sure hope we start getting some rain soon. 

I hope so.  I remember when the fires went through TX last year.  We drove through the area on our way to a race, and I was just floored to see the damage done.  

The region that's currently affected is very sparsely populated. There are a couple of small towns there (Glenwood, Cliff, Gila, and a couple of others), but the total population for the county is less than 4000, and they're mostly concentrated in the small towns with a few folks out on the remote ranches. The current fires are up in the mountains. Close to the ghost town of Mogollon and a couple of ranches, but the Forest Service is working really hard to protect the residential areas.

Just went through that here in Payson.  I suspect it is not my last of the season.  The fire was only 20 miles away so pretty smoky here at times and even raining ash.  They have that one 80% contained though.  I suspect fires will get worse before they get better in the years to come.  Lots of fuel to burn in the forests.  On the plus side the Payson fire guys said this is the quietest they have seen it so far this year.  They are usually super busy putting out fires around the Payson area.  Perhaps education is finally working, along with the early season fire restrictions in parks.

ETA:  By the way, awesome pictures

We're getting a lot of this smoke in ELP, every morning we've had the smoke haze. I'd say we get it more often than not, as the winds usually come from the W/NW. We could smell it inside at work yesterday. 

Doing a race in eastern NM tomorrow, hoping it's not too bad or the winds are blowing a different direction. Bringing my inhaler just in case as it's been wreaking havoc on my lungs.