i knew it was bad news when i saw the red glowing behind the mountains tonight

[fizzgig]

i went to my dad's for dinner tonight and when i got out to the main road i saw that light. there was some smoke earlier and i knew the fire grew today, but i didn't know to what extent.

fire hopped the river again and it's likely taken hold in a couple wooded neighborhoods. 1000 evacuation notices sent out. my best friend's parents are renting a place in one of those neighborhoods. they evacuated a week ago, but i worry about what they could lose. yes, stuff is stuff, but it will be a blow. one of my favorite elementary school teachers had spent two weeks camping at a gas station before being allowed to go home on thursday. they were evacuated again today and he refused to go. i worry a bit about him, but i trust that he knows what he's doing.

although containment isn't expected until the middle of next month, they were able to make some good progress the last couple days thanks to some cooler weather.

but today it was back up in the 90s, i don't even know how hot it actually got, but it was miserable. and we're looking at upper 90s to low 100s for the for next week.

it's late june in northern colorado. we haven't seen rain in town in i don't know how long. it's been unbearably hot. it didn't get this hot when i was a kid and we'd get a 10 or 15 minute shower every afternoon. we used to get thunderstorms a lot more frequently. this isn't right.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Oh goddamn it, my dear fizzgig...

How horrible.

[fizzgig]

3. it's scary to think about how much damage it can do if this weather keeps up

not in terms of the city being in danger, just the sheer destruction. they're worried about mudslides when the storms finally come, but they learned a lot from the big fire ten years ago, so maybe they can mitigate it a bit.

and it's so sad.

[fishwax]

2. Gracious.

Saw last week that they'd sent out pre-evacuation orders to Glacier View Meadows. Now I guess the fire has reached the edges of that area and all of it is under evacuation. Growing up that was one of my favorite places--I used to spend a ton of time there back before there was much actual development. The news earlier this week seemed pretty good. Now it looks like tomorrow is going to be a pretty bad day.

Sad to hear about your teacher and friend's parents. I hope things will work out.

Saw the NASA image of the fire on wikipedia ...

[fizzgig]

5. i feel like crying for the first time

[applegrove]

4. We have had lots of thunder storms in Ottawa this year. Normally we don't get any until August.

This year we had some in April & May. Oh what have we done to the planet.

[fizzgig]

6. i don't know how some people can ignore this

or think it's ok

[turtlerescue1]

15. They live in Da-Nile!

[mnhtnbb]

7. My nephew and his wife have had charred bits of tree debris blow in their front yard (Ft. Collins)

It's awfully scary.

[fizzgig]

8. it's been raining ash at my dad's off and on

but no debris. that is scary.

[grasswire]

9. so sorry

The sad thing is that mother nature punishes all --- even those who do their best to protect the earth. If only the fire and floods and mayhem could be visited on those who deny climate change.....

Even the innocents suffer. The animals.

[fizzgig]

11. the animals' suffering is part of what is breaking my heart the most

dept of wildlife had to tranquilize and remove a moose that had swum across the reservoir and wandered into town to escape the fire.

[seabeyond]

10. we had that last year. and on our end of town, we had the fires. scary stuff. there were homes lost

i have never been in that position before when it was so close. i get what you are saying. we have not gotten a lot this year. almost none during winter. but this spring we have gotten more than last year. it is better. and not as hot.

i am sorry to hear colorado is going thru this. i love me some colorado and we spend some time there in the summer.

i hope it resolves sooner than expected

[fizzgig]

12. this is closer than i ever remember a fire getting

i'm glad you guys have gotten a bit of relief down there, all i can do is hope. at least it still cools down over night.

[seabeyond]

16. ooops, we have passed that one. lol. we have shut windows and air now. i wait to hit colorado

end of july, beginning of aug when you start getting the rain. last two summers we had to pick up jackets. i love colorado

[fizzgig]

21. i love it too

it's been so long since we've had rain that i'm beginning to wonder if we'll see it again

[seabeyond]

22. i saw a thread saying estes park now. had a vacation there about three years ago.

one of my favorite vacations. but then, most all are.

i think i even know the place i saw the fire in the picture.

i am from calif. we had lots of fires. it was always sad to drive thru the areas that burnt. but, ... it was healthy in growth in a couple years.

[fizzgig]

23. it is good for the forest

i have to keep reminding myself of that.

[bluedigger]

13. We had one start up yesterday between Cortez and Mancos.

Last edited Sat Jun 23, 2012, 10:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I watched the first aircraft respond from the dogpark. They brought in two dozen fire crew from Idaho immediately. By this morning it was up to 800 acres, and looks to be headed towards Mancos. It's pretty dry in the Four Corners.

Make that 2,500 acres. They are evacuating much of Mancos.



http://www.cortezjournal.com/article/20120623/NEWS01/706229939/Wind-shift-prompts-new-evacuation-order;-fire-now-at-2,500-acres

I posted some photos in the Photography Group here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10366074

[fizzgig]

20. it's so dry everywhere

this is not going to be a pleasant summer

[likesmountains 52]

26. SW Colorado

I'm in Durango and had ash all over my car this morning. Now there is a fire near Bondad also. We are on pins and needles waiting for everything to blow.

[bluedigger]

27. That was from the Weber fire probably.

Between the time I took the pics and came home and posted them the wind moved around. Cortez was enveloped in smoke by nightfall. I should probably go make sure my windows are all the way up.

[turtlerescue1]

14. PLEASE Stay Safe!

hearts, hugs and prayers still going your way.

We're back under a burn ban here in the Mo-Ark Ozarks..101 today, TWC says it feels like 102. We've a volunteer firefighters, learned if we get it, we'll be on our own the first 72 hours-its one road in and one road out.

[fizzgig]

19. you keep yourself safe, too

and stay cool

[turtlerescue1]

28. At least the fire is getting more media coverage

Not one to miss a chance to ...ya think Mitters will take time off to pick up a shovel in Utah's?
Yeah, sure and it might also rain canned hams eh? OH wait, everything he says has to relate to money/ecomony.

It's goofy, but MAYBE named storm "Debby" can help out eh?

More hugs fizzgig

[madamesilverspurs]

17. Now Estes Park has a fire.

Just saw a brief bit about it at the Coloradoan. . .


July and August are our hot months; we're now living in the gates of Hell.


-

[fizzgig]

18. just saw that

and that is definitely how it feels. my anxiety is ratcheting up.

[bluesbassman]

24. Not good fizzgig, hope you guys get some relief soon.

In the mentime, you and yours stay safe.

[fizzgig]

25. thanks

we're fine in town other than when the smoke blows in, i can't imagine what it's like for the folks up there.