Vatican telescope among structures in path of Arizona wildfires

Published: 2004-07-09

TUCSON, Ariz. (CNS) -- The Vatican's telescope on Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona is as protected as possible from the effects of smoke and flames from two wildfires threatening a complex that houses it and two other telescopes, according to a Jesuit astronomer. As of July 9, the fires on Mount Graham had burned more than 26,850 acres and had come as close as a half-mile from the $200 million observatory complex. The Southwest Area Wildland Fire Operations center reported that more than 900 firefighters on the mountain had about 35 percent of the blazes contained by July 9. Firefighting for the next few days was expected to be aided by slightly more humid air and about a 30 percent chance for rain. Father Jose Funes, one of a dozen Jesuits on the staff of the Vatican Observatory, told Catholic News Service that technicians at the telescope site had sealed all ventilation sources at the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, or VATT. Among other precautions taken at the observatory complex, which is operated by the University of Arizona, were the thinning of close-in trees, precautionary burning of a "fire line" on the perimeter of the site, and making preparations for use of a sprinkler system if the fire approached too close. "All we can do now is hope and pray for the best," said Father Funes.

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