Colorado Springs fire

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Sue and Oliver (GA)

Sue and Oliver (GA)

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Lu asked that I post from the "front lines". Colorado Springs has had a week long horrific wildfire that not only has burned 6000 acres of our beautiful mountains, but dipped down into the foothills of the town. Sixty five mile an hour winds blew it out of the mountains and down into the west side of town. 236 houses were burnt to the ground in a matter of hours. Two dear friends lost their homes. One had been evacuated a day before and managed to get some things from her home. The other was on a family vacation and unable to retrieve anything. Many other friends were evacuated as the west side of the city was closed off. Most have been allowed back in. The friends who came to stay with us are still on mandatory evacuation. Their home is near the boundary of the fire and their gas lines are connected to the area that was completely burnt. We are thinking it will be another week.

We live on the east side of town and could only stand and watch the horrid scenes of houses burning down. The city has really pulled together. Most people I know hosted evacuees. 32000 people were evacuated.

The fire seems to be winding down. After days of only 5 and 10 % containment, they are now saying 35%. They are still many people on mandatory evacuation but fewer than two days ago.

It is only the beginning of the fire season in Colorado and we are having unusually hot weather and no rain. Sue and Linus live in the mountains outside Denver and last week had a fire that burned 26 homes. We are a worried tense state.
 
So sorry to hear of the devastation there in colorado Springs. Glad your home is ok. Know it must be hard to see the fire come in and burn down friends home. Saw on the news the houses were just ashes. Must of been a VERY hot fire. Was anyone hurt?

Will pray for everyone's safety and that the fire stop soon! I know it's a very hot summer here so far too.

lori
 
Yes, sadly an elderly couple was found by firemen in their burnt home yesterday. But looking at the incredible pictures of the firestorm, it is amazing than it was only two. No first responders have been hurt, also an encouraging statistic.
 
Sue, I have been hoping you would give us an update as to your proximity to the fires.
Thank heavens your area is ok. I have been out of state for a few months now, but do not look forward to returning as this devastation is heartbreaking.

Stay safe,
Pam & Alley
 
It's just sad. Not more to say than that.

Thanks for keeping it real for us, Sue. Often when we watch the news it's so removed, especially when all you get are sound bites.
 
Stay safe Sue
It is so terrible watching the news and seeing so much devastation!
I can only pray for everyone there and their safety
 
Much better news today - 45% contained, only 1000 people still displaced. No more homes burnt, no new injuries. I just worry that this is the only beginning of the fires in Colorado this summer.
 
Starting this week, the weather is turning a little bit, more rain, lower temps, but I'm afraid the damage has been done. 10 years ago, we had the Big Elk fire very near our home. My husband was a firefighter on that fire as well, and watched from our neighbor's yard as an air tanker went down. We lost 2 pilots that day and a helicopter pilot later in the fire. No homes or other lives were lost. The prevailing winds all through that week pushed it into the National Forest instead of into 2 subdivisions that would have been in the path if the wind was blowing the usual direction.

I guess there's something different, no matter where you are. I would rather be dealing with smoke and 100 degree temps than be on the east coast with no power right now.
 
Dragonfly229 said:
I guess there's something different, no matter where you are. I would rather be dealing with smoke and 100 degree temps than be on the east coast with no power right now.
Click to expand...

Normally I sit glued to the weather watching hurricanes come off the coast of Africa and spin for 2 weeks before they come close (and I live 2 hours inland!). The difference between that and living in the Chicago area is tornadoes popping up w/o much (if any notice). You hear the siren, go downstairs, wait 5 minutes, then come up and start picking up the pieces. I've never dealt w/ earthquakes, and only distant fires last summer where we had air quality alerts daily for a couple months. I know it's something everywhere, but when it affects you and your life, it's HUGE, no matter how large or small it may be.

We've had 100+ degree heat w/ major humidity the past several days. Air is thick like pea soup. Last night, the storms blew up and we had, in about 30 minutes, wind, rain & hail. A neighbor's 75-100 yr old tree came down on a friend's house, and in the process the gas meter was pulled up out of the ground 6'. WIres down, roads blocked, limbs & yard debris everywhere, and other things blown around. More forecast for tonight - it's just a crap shoot as to when/where they'll fire up & hit.

Sue (Linus) - a friend who used to work w/ the US Forest Service in CO said there was insect damage that killed a lot of trees in the past 10 years, and that those dead trees were part of the reason for the fires W of Ft. Collins. Is that by you as well in Estes Park? Can you give us a report of anything in your area?

Thanks - and BE SAFE!!!
 
Sue, I am one of the ones on the East Coast dealing with 100 degree temps and no power--well, I have power, but elderly (they would be offended!) Do Not! My parents have 4 cats and 3 dogs and are insistive that they are not leaving the house without them. So, we have temporary measures set up with generators and are hoping and praying the electricity comes back on soon.

The fires in Colorado look so devasting. I have been keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers-- hopefully the rains will come and the temps subside.

Please stay safe Sue and Saint Sue!
 
Lu-Ann, there has been a lot of damage from pine beetles. It's a cyclical thing, some years are bad and some aren't. It takes a really cold snap in the winter to kill them entirely. I know a lot of people think that it is a contributing factor to fires and maybe it is. Once the trees are dead they aren't as flammable as people think. The sap and oils in the live pine trees actually burn hotter and contribute to "torching" which makes the fire spread faster. The problem is, fire is a natural process, and it has been suppressed for years, so the trees are close together, which makes them susceptible to insect spreading, etc. It's one of those chicken/egg things. I don't know really which came first, but there is definitely a relationship there.

Where are you in NC? I have an uncle in Wilmington, and we have done some vacations on Long Beach. Used to have more family in Raleigh, but they've all moved to other places.
 
So glad you guys are safe. It sounds so scary so thanks for updating us.
Continued prayers and good vibes coming you way.
We all need to do a rain dance I think......
:YMHUG:
 
Wow - Sue so glad you are OK - being stuck dealing with stupid local stuff and in my office or at "events" I didnt even see a news program with info on the fires until Monday - so glad I found this thread so I can read a bit about the "real world" and know you are safe.
 
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