Looking Back on the Carpenter Fire at Mt. Charleston Ten Years Later

Photo byBLM

On July 1, 2013, a fire started on Mount Charleston, 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.

The orange glow of the fire was visible on the other side of the hill in Summerlin’s Red Rock Canyon, which grew to 28,000 acres before it was contained two months later. Weather and logistical issues hindered firefighters as they battled the wildfire, and the damage caused problems for years.

Photo byBLM

Instead of celebrating a July 4th holiday weekend, residents in the Spring Mountain area were told to get out as a wildfire rages on out of control.

To fight the fire, nine helicopters, 44 fire engines, ten water tenders, and a massive DC-10 tanker plane. The specially equipped aircraft could drop 11,700 gallons of fire retardant per load.

Among those fighting the blaze were eight, the top wildland firefighters in the country. Hotshot crews typically include 20-25 firefighters, including superintendents, squad bosses, senior firefighters, and first-year firefighters. Their primary mission is to provide a safe, professional, mobile, and highly skilled Type 1 hand crew for all fire management and incident operations phases.

Photo byBLM

Hotshot crews are highly trained, specialized teams performing some of wildland firefighting’s most demanding and hazardous tasks. Their jobs require a high level of physical fitness and extensive training in fire behavior, safety protocols, and first aid.

Photo byAhmad shalbafonUnsplash

With less vegetation to hold back, the rainwater flooded the area on Sunday when several inches fell, wiping out roads in Harris Springs and leaving behind a layer of thick, sticky ash.

I’ve been up here 15 years, and events like this have never happened before - a member of the U.S. Forest Service.

Photo byMax R.onUnsplash

Shortly after the blaze was extinguished, locals were encouraged by the hints of green already peeking up through burn scars.

Providing proof the mountain survives no matter what natural disasters are thrown her way.

And a final thought: I lived in Summerlin while all this was happening, just several miles away from the fire-stricken area. Seeing such a huge glow just on the other side of the mountain is still etched in my memory. Share your story in the comments.

***

Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, equestrian and rodeo, and millionaire travel.

He is a regular contributor to Newsbreak.com and Medium.com.

You’re welcome to share your thoughts or tell me your story. Contact me at dp1@sawyertms.com