b'FEED the NEED Racing A Desert WildfireBy Bob Roloff, The Arizona DuuudeYou can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook.J ohnny Ringo has ownedraces up the wash towards your house, it becomes a panic-Carefree Adventures Jeepdriven race to get away, fast. Running into your house, Tour Company for close towhat do you grab first? There is just no time to think.30 years. His dream, when he came to Arizona, was to haveJohnny and Terre have lived in their Ringo Ranch house people come from all over thejust off Spur Cross Road in Cave Creek for many years. Its world to learn about our beautifula beautiful hilly desert area, with Palo Verdes, Creosote Sonoran Desert. Over the years Johnny has seen manybushes, big saguaro cactus, and an olive tree by the front generations of families return to enjoy his jeep tours. porch. Terre was on her way to the post office when she saw In June 2005, he was on topthe smoke, called it in, but was of Continental Mountain easttold it had already been called of Cave Creek giving one ofin. This was about noon on his Gold Mine Tours. ThisSaturday, May 30th. This fire elevation, at 4,449 ft. abovewould be called the Ocotillo sea level, provides a beautifulFire and in the end, it would view of the sunrise or sunset.burn close to 1,000 acres. The group on the tour stood admiring the view. A darkTerre now raced back home. cloud appeared above them.Just a week before, another There was no rain, just a lot offire had started in that areaquickly drove their water truck down into Ringo\'s driveway, thunder and lightning. Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot outbut was put out, just three blocks from their house. Thisupon seeing the fire jump across Spur Cross Road and come from overhead striking the ground not three hundred yardsone was bigger and moving faster because of the wind. Itup Willow Wash, and started spraying his house and the from where they were standing. They felt the impact; saw thewas blowing north away from their house and was on thebrush on fire in the wash. Mike and his crew were forced to puff of smoke, and then a flame. Johnny was able to snap aopposite side of Spur Cross Road. Then the wind shiftedretreat to the front porch where the olive tree was now fully quick photo, hurriedly finish his tour, and race back down theand the fire started coming back, almost where it began.ablaze, and the flames were reaching for the porch roof. The mountain safely. Now, they had to evacuate. First, they had to move thefire had already claimed his garage and now his remaining horses. Running up the hill, Johnny put Ruby, Bandit, andJeeps began exploding. Mike and his crew did not give up This fire would become known as, The Cave CreekBlack Jack in the horse trailer to move them to a neighborsand run. They saved Johnny Ringo\'s house.Complex Fire," and it would burn close to 250,000 acres,place. Then he went back to move his vehicles out of the becoming the third-largest forest fire in the state to datefires path which by now had made it to Spur Cross RoadJohnny and Terre had reached safety but feared the worst. By after the Rodeo-Chediski Fire and the Wallow Fire. Becauseand his driveway.Johnny then got a call from the friendnow Johnny began to receive texts from his friends saying of this fire, Ringo\'s Carefree Adventures Jeep Tours wouldhe had just taken the horses to and now they are told tohis house had burned down. This was devastating, because he could see the smoke and fire, but had no way of knowing Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot out from overhead striking the ground not for sure. The good news is that Johnnys house survived. The bad news is that tour companies like Johnny\'s will inactivate three hundred yards from where they were standing. They felt the impact; saw theinsurance on vehicles that are not being used during the puff of smoke, and then a flame. Johnny was able to snap a quick photo, hurriedlyusually slow summer months here in Arizona. His four vehicles (one of which was still insured and active) would not finish his tour, and race back down the mountain safely. be valued enough for any type of replacement. His vehicles FINALLY, LOW SUGAR FORAGE! evacuate as well. They rush back to move the horses again.were classics in excellent condition, but would never be covered by insurance adequately for a full replacement.Returning home they now find the fire had crossed Spur Cross Road and was coming up the Willow Wash headingA GoFundMe account has been set up for Johnny Ringo straight toward the garage, vehicles, and house. Theand Carefree Adventures. For the first time in Johnny\'s life, Chrysler La Baron is moved since they had time for just onehe is asking for help. Along with his vehicles, he lost his Key Product Benefits: more. Johnny then ran into the house, grabbed his favoritebarn/garage where memorabilia, tools, and collections of cowboy hat, a portrait of himself by famed artist Garymany things were stored and are now gone.Johnny Ringo Longardo and finally, Johnny and Terre sped out their fieryand Carefree Adventures will be back, bigger and stronger Low Sugar/High Fiber Foragedriveway to safety.than ever and when it is, his Desert Wildfire Tours can now start in his driveway.Mike Larsen and his crew from Larsen Excavating had been working up on the hill overlooking the Ringo Ranch. TheyThis is just one account of someones desperate struggle toAll-Natural Alternative for Horses with IR, save their lives and property. Too many times the wildfires be closed to picnics on the Verde,have tragic outcomes. Those that have been through a Cushings Disease or Tying-Up Syndrome rides to Seven Springs, and upwildfire, close up, know the stress and panic involved. They Humbolt Mountain. Indian ruins andalso know the courage it takes for the first responders to Great for Overweight Animals New old mines were also off-limits. Johnnyrush into the wildfire, while everyone else is running out. was reduced to local tours of CaveEvery summer fire season we pray for those that stand ready PRODUCT Creek and Carefree which, by thewhen that 911 call comes in.way, are still very interesting since the Visit standleeforage.com to learn more. area has a long history dating back toI listened as Johnny recalled that stressful afternoon, its beginning in 1870. knowing that his story was representative of many others when a desert wildfire comes down your road, street, Desert wildfires are nothing newor driveway.I would like to thank Johnny for his time to anyone thats lived in Arizonaduring his massive cleanup and rebuilding. Also thanks Proud sponsor of: for many years but when a desertto Amy Dunn of Amys Admin Services for the valuable wildfire comes for you, down yourinformation, and William Watters, creative director of Air street/road, then your driveway, andMajor Media for the great photos. ArizonaRealCountry.com August 2020 7'