Steward astronomers and staff-

Information to 11:30am today (Thursday) is that the Florida fire is
continuing its southward movement, reduced in speed by the increased
humidity and cloud cover.  In the direction of the MMT, it has
progressed partway down the slope to Josephine Saddle, and has been
judged to be within 1 mile of the telescope.

Fire crews have cleared the summit of scrub oak and other brush to
about 50 feet downhill.  A large area around the observatory has been
soaked with wet slurry, and crews feel they are holding the fire at
bay around the observatory at the present time.

Dennis Smith and Ricardo Ortiz of the MMTO were allowed to visit the
site yesterday to complete the sealing of fresh air louvers to the
telescope building.  They also moved expensive equipment away from
the outside walls and windows.  All visits now require the donning of
fire protection suits.

Fire crews themselves have been told they are to abandon the summit if
and when the fire reaches the base of Josephine Saddle.  If the winds
were to pick up, it would be a very brief run upslope from there to
the observatories, with no quick escape route.

Barb Russ
Gary Schmidt