TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
Winds
are expected to kick up on Wednesday following a tough day on the fire lines as the Brown Fire continues to grow.
Tonight people are on
edge.
It was standing room only
at Tuesday night's briefing as people living
near the Brown Fire are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.
Residents living in this
part of Cochise County are very familiar with fire season. This is the same area that was evacuated during the devastating Monument Fire a couple
years ago.
Many are nervous tonight
after getting pre-evacuation notices telling them to be prepared to evacuate
.
"Has it been
sleepless nights, yes," said Roxanne Neuman, one resident getting ready to evacuate. "[I] put on my boots [and] walk out to the road where I can see
the mountain. I do that two to three times during the night."
There was standing room
only at the very first public meeting held by fire service
officials tonight. Officials had reassuring news for residents. Firefighters
said a retardent line has now been built around the fire.
Our Tucson News Now crews saw planes dropping retardent on the Brown Fire all day Tuesday. Three hotshot crews are camping in the area tonight. They
were dropped off on Ramsey Peak, about 8,000 feet high up in the Huachuca Mountains, right at the fire lines. Our cameras were rolling as the crews loaded
up into helicopters. We also have video supplies being loaded up into
helicopters for these crews: Things like sleeping bags and food for firefighters
who are sleeping in the mountains tonight.
"They'll be
in a safety zone. It's steep country. Flat areas are few and far between," Helibase Manager Brian Knapp said. "They'll find the safest area away from the fire to sleep
for the night."
Firefighters
will be working through the night to get things under control. The big concern
tonight is winds.. If it gets too windy, their strategy could change.
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