Las Conchas news conference update

This is really intended for my friends from this dear, quirky community of Los Alamos. We are back in WR, and I just listened to a streamed conference with fire management/city folks and residents of White Rock and Evacuees.  Several folks weren't able to hear it, so I thought I'd list several items that I heard that seem important. So below, listed in no particular order, are some items of interest:

• These men facing the stress of the situation (Police Chief, Fire Chief, County Administrator) were facing citizens for the first time.  They were visibly moved to see the people they are protecting.  The fire chief and police chief hugged. You have to love our community!
• The evacuation of the hill took just about 3 hours.
• They are beefing up the police/national guard presence on the hill: you cannot be out after dark in either LA or WR without being stopped and questioned.  We may have to go out tonight just to check it out!
• Some known burglars who did not evacuate, were watched and encouraged to leave town as soon as they came out of their homes..  :-) Gotta love our police!
• All the folks from Aspen Ridge are at St. Catherines' in ABQ, and the folks from Sombrillo are at either Espanola Valley Nursing Home or Santa Fe Care in SF.
• The Gordon's concert will be held in Espanola.
• There will be no fireworks here on July 4, but if weather conditions change, we might do some on labor Day
• If you are needing to refill prescriptions you can get help by calling 661-8900 (I missed who this was, unfortunately)
• If you have a fire/evacuation specific question, you can get info in WR at the 311 center.  out of town you can call 662-8333.
• 17,000 acres of Bandelier have burned-- roughly half of the park.  One back country cabin was lost, but no other structures, and the ruins and buildings in the lower Frijoloes are fine, though they are still fighting in Frijoles Canyon.
• The 3% containment is from a backburn along lab property.
• They are watching for (and finding) spot fires anywhere from 1/2 mile to 2 miles from the fronts of the fire.
• They are building breaks east and west of the fire, which is burning due north towards Santa Clara Canyon.  They hope to squish it, and wait for opportunity and good terrain to get out in front of it.
• Things are still touchy north of Cochiti, and more homes in danger there.
• It is burning about 8 miles from jemez Springs, but they have done alot to spare Sierra Los Pinos subdivision and are hopeful there.
• Any evacuees that need rides either to medical/pharmacy things or to get back to town once people are allowed back can get rides from Atomic City Transit by calling them.
• WR is not considered under any danger at this time, however, they do have an evacuation plan, and people should be ready to go if something unexpected happens.
• They will do these every day at 2:00 until things are "normalized".  If I can go or view, I'll try to post notes if people want me to.

Most horrifying:  during the conference, the fire cheif interrupted to say the fire on the ski hill had jumped the break at Camp May road, trapping a group of firemen.  He left, but called in to say everyone got out safely.  But they are really fighting on the ski hill right now, so pray!

And funniest, most "LAPD" moment: The library manager had two points.  First, they have arranged recipricol privileges with Santa Fe Public library for people to get books while they are evacuated.  And she said, "Where but Los ALamos would people be worried about their library privileges during a wildfire evacuation?"  Adn secondly, she thanks the hundreds of folks who returned books on their way out of town during the evacuation.  Where else, indeed?!

That's it for now.  Just the things I jotted down during the meeting.