Kitt Peak update after June wildfire

Kitt Peak update from July 21, 2022

While SR 386, the access road to Kitt Peak controlled by @ArizonaDOT, remains closed to the public, they have allowed our essential crews use of the road to travel to the summit. Grid power has not been restored and will not be restored for several weeks.
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— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) July 22, 2022

Damage to interiors, especially the telescopes, instruments, and other scientific infrastructure, will only be known after the telescope teams are able to spend more time on site. The total cost for restoring the observatory functions is also not yet known.
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— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) July 22, 2022

Image credit: KPNO/@NOIRLabAstro/@NSF/@AURADC
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— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) July 22, 2022

Update from June 18, 2022

Good news! Wildfire Today reported late in the afternoon on June 18 that all of the 20+ telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory in southern Arizona survived the wildfire that struck the site this week. However, four non-scientific buildings burned. Read more from Wildfire Today.

Four "non-scientific" buildings burned, however; two primary and two secondary. Two hotshot crews and 5 engines stayed at the site as the fire approached, even though they were cut off from leaving when the fire crossed the only road to the site.

— Wildfire Today ? (@wildfiretoday) June 18, 2022

Update on #Contrerasfire at @KittPeakNatObs: NOIRLab leadership viewed all scientific structures from a distance today. They report that all physical scientific observatory structures are still standing, but several non-science buildings were lost. https://t.co/BtOZYTX92h (1/7) pic.twitter.com/BGhfILNisA

— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) June 19, 2022

#Contrerasfire UPDATE 18 June am: We’re hopeful that the worst may have passed for Kitt Peak National Observatory, but fire officials warn that the mountain is at risk for another week. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/i8F5Q6blx2

— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) June 18, 2022

Update from June 17, 2022

The wildfire reached Kitt Peak National Observatory early this morning. Firefighters and NOIRLab (which runs the site) are still working to assess the damages. NOIRLab said on Friday afternoon:

Around 2 a.m. MST Friday morning, the fire, contrary to the expectations of the firecrews, crested the southwest ridge where the Hiltner 2.4-meter Telescope, McGraw-Hill 1.3-meter Telescope, Very Long Baseline Array Dish and UArizona 12-meter Telescope are located. Because of the ongoing nature of the situation, it is currently not possible to assess whether any damage to the structures has occurred. We will report any damage as soon as possible.

Wildfire at Kitt Peak

A wildfire in southern Arizona is threatening Kitt Peak and its many astronomical observatories. The Contreras Fire, burning outside Tucson, began with a lightning strike on June 11, 2022, in steep and rugged terrain. Hot, dry winds from the south-southwest pushed the fire toward Kitt Peak, which shut down and evacuated all staff on Wednesday, June 15. As of this morning, June 17, NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management website showed the fire on the flanks of Kitt Peak. The Kitt Peak webcams were working Thursday evening but were out of order by Friday morning.

NOIRLab, which operates Kitt Peak National Observatory, said on Thursday:

The firefighters are dropping large amounts of fire retardant on the southern end of the observatory in an effort to slow the advance. In addition, the firefighters are focusing on removing brush on the slopes and have spotters watching for hotspots. The key instruments have been covered with protective wraps and other packaging. The optics on the large telescopes have been covered to protect them from smoke and falling ash.

Kitt Peak is 55 miles (88 km) to the west of Tucson. The high temperature on Thursday in Tucson was 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 C).

Images from Kitt Peak

Update on #ContrerasFire at @KittPeakNatObs: although we cannot access the site, we received this image of the WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope today at 6:30pm MST. No further updates at this time. We are very grateful to the firefighters working the fire. Follow: https://t.co/BtOZYTFxDH pic.twitter.com/B5E8migx9L

— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) June 18, 2022

Last frame before the webcam cut out at the VLBA antenna on Kitt Peak. This is the next one north from the 12m I use, and of course near all the other KP telescopes that 100s of other scientists use. All of the webcams I know of on KP are now down. Waiting & hoping for good news. pic.twitter.com/p0Z8V4MinA

— Amy Lowitz (@weblogarithms) June 17, 2022

NOW: The only working webcam at the Kitt Peak Observatory is now out of service. Earlier this AM – a few hot spots could be seen very close to some of the telescopes. @MallorySchnell says a cell was spotted over the area this AM We're working to get more info #ContrerasFire pic.twitter.com/GuvNhm6c2g

— Angelica Carrillo (@acarrillonews) June 17, 2022

This is a GIF animation of the @KittPeakNatObs made with the last 23 frames before the Mayall webcam signal was off this morning. You can see a lot of smoke as well as moving vehicles. There are about 70 firefighters on site to protect the facilities, salute! #ContrerasFire pic.twitter.com/BQkuohWyHh

— Jianwei Lyu (@astroskii77) June 17, 2022

Kitt Peak right now. ? pic.twitter.com/FBuASGvHj7

— Dr Sam Youles (@SamanthaYoules) June 17, 2022

A brush fire that has been dubbed the #ContrerasFire is burning near @KittPeakNatObs. The observatory was evacuated at 4:45 pm MST today. We’re grateful to the firefighters hard at work on the mountain. Safety remains our top priority.
Image: KPNO/@NOIRLabAstro/@NSF/@AURADC pic.twitter.com/TKF4cjDmSi

— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) June 16, 2022

Incredible footage from the Contreras fire

INSANE FOOTAGE – On the Contreras Fire in Arizona. A massive dust devil in the background of a tanker drop. Last reported at 6,700 acres the fire is on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation. Multiple Hotshot crews are working the fire #contrerasfire #arizona #azwx #wildfire #fire pic.twitter.com/coDJ9UF8Gj

— TheHotshotWakeUp (@HotshotWake) June 16, 2022

Bottom line: A wildfire reached Kitt Peak on July 17, 2022. As of July 21, Kitt Peak National Observatory is now working toward restoring the site so operations can continue.

Read more: Wildfire risk will rise, UN report says