Saturday July 3, 2004 2:30 PM

The Gibson Fire has worked its way north almost around High Peak. We were ordered to evacuate the MGIO site earlier this afternoon -- fire fighters and all -- 4 people remain on site awaiting the final evacuation orders -- they will turn on the sprinkler system -- drain the water tank , shutdown the power and leave the area. The fire is about 3/4 of a mile away to the northeast and 1 mile to the east, about 1.5 miles to the southeast. Slurry bombers are dropping retardant every hour to hour and a half. Just got a retardant drop on the Gibson Fire reported by Joe James on site.

We were notified that 3 Divisions on the Nuttall Fire have been evacuated at 2:45PM --the Nuttall Fire is about 4 miles away and working its way east along the north slopes of the Pinalenos. There is some talk that the two fires will join in a day or two. Of course we are right in the middle of the fray.

At this moment we are holding our own -- the low pressure cell is moving in and we are hoping it will raise the humidity but that hasn't happened yet.

I will have additional reports as things develop but certainly later tonight after the strategy meeting.

Stay tuned...

John Ratje