GAO Report Shows Most Border Fires Started By Illegals And Drug Traffickers

 Here is a report from the Government Accountability Office on wildfires in Arizona between 2006 to 2010. This past 2011 fire season is not included. Border Patrol sources tell me the bulk of the fires on the AZ/Mex border this season were started by illegal aliens and drug cartels. Some of those fires were actually started in Mexico right on the border with the distinct intention of using it as a diversion to smuggle illegals and drugs into the country. Some of those fires started by criminals were the horseshoe II and the Monument Fires. Read the findings here.latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/illegal-immigrants-border-fires-arizona.html.

This pic is of the Coronado Mountains in Sierra Vista, AZ. This fire was started by drug cartels. It destroyed 60 homes and 6 businesses.

One Threat Removed, One Just Starting!

A major fear of the residents of Hereford, AZ in the aftermath of the Monument Fire is flooding. The monsoon season in southern Arizona is now upon them and as you can see from these videos the flooding has begun. With the underbrush, trees and shrubs burned away, there is nothing to soak up large amounts of rainwater. The flooding will be especially bad this year. Cochise County has already begun providing residents with free sandbags to do what they can to offset this problem.

In this video posted by a resident in Miller Canyon, you can hear the terror in her voice as flood waters flow down from the mountain.

This second video shows the start of something serious.

If any of you are in a position to get to Hereford please do. I am sure they can use extra volunteers to fill sandbags, deliver them and put them in place.

Just got some pics in too:

Massive tons of earth are also being driven from the mountains as there is nothing to keep it in place with everything burned away.

At the top of the short hill on right you can see the red from the slurry the air crews used to fight the fires.