Beginning on Friday, 16 May 2025, various circumstances kept me from opening the observatory.

Tuesday, 20 May, about two hours before sunset, a wildfire broke out in the Coronado National Forest, about 3 miles southeast of Cassiopeia Observatory. Some locations in Oracle were placed in the SET evacuation status, but not us. About sunset I took these photos using a 600mm telephoto lens on the D850 DSLR of the aerial firefighting planes that flew over the observatory and an Aerostar high-altitude balloon at about 62,000 feet. No smoke was visible from Cassiopeia Observatory.

The fire was held to 10.5 acres Tuesday night.

A new wildfire, the Cody Fire, started Wednesday afternoon, 21 May. It was about a mile east of the Cedar Fire, but not related to it. Part of the far eastern side of Oracle was immediately evacuated. The Cody Fire quickly exploded to 1000 acres. Wednesday night we were put on SET evacuation status. Smoke from the Cody Fire was visible from our location on the west side of Oracle and was even visible from space. No smoke was visible at night.

Thursday morning, 22 May, the wind direction had changed and smoke was visible to the south of the observatory. Later, the wind direction changed again and there was a lot of smoke looking into the morning Sun in the otherwise cloudless sky. At least it was white smoke.

KGUN TV in Tucson interviewed me Thursday. The reporter had found out that I was responsible for getting the FCC to modify its "TV Market Area" regulation that for many decades had blocked Tucson stations from being seen in southern Pinal County. The regulaton required that Phoenix stations, four times further away, be shown here, putting local lives at risk. I started my effort in 2013, but the Bighorn Fire in 2020 provided the big push. The FCC made the change on 8 April 2024. I was in my southern Indiana hometown for the Total Solar Eclipse that day when I was notified of the approval! Just before my interview started, this air tanker flew over.

Click to view video

Mid-afternoon there was a LOT less smoke visible in the sky with the wind blowing eastward. The fire had burned 1217 acres and was 5% contained. I got this photo of one of the air tankers setting up for another pass over the fire.

Here is the story that aired on TV: Cody Fire marks first major emergency since Oracle gained Tucson TV coverage

Click image to view story

There was very little change in the fire status on Friday, 23 May. Saturday afternoon, 24 May, it was reported that the fire had burned 1223 acres and was 47% contained. It was also reported that five homes were destroyed by the fire. Winds continued at times both days. Saturday evening the evacuation orders were lifted for most of Oracle. Our location was reduced from SET to READY status.

On Sunday, 25 May, I attended this community meeting.

Although the meeting was scheduled for one hour, it ran almost two hours! First Responders who worked the fire provided a lot of information about the Cody Fire and some updates. At the meeting it was reported that the fire was 83% contained. They also took questions and comments from local residents. The very last question wasn’t a question. An Oracle resident thanked me for my 11-year effort to get our TV market changed from Phoenix to Tucson, which was a big deal for the community during the fire. In response, I briefly spoke (1:43:39 in this video).

Click to view video

Shortly after the meeting was over, all evacuation orders were lifted except for the zone where Oracle State Park is located. Except for the residents who lost their homes, things will slowly get back to normal in Oracle.

Many thanks to the First Responders who once again saved the community of Oracle!!!

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