Waldo Canyon Fire

[Galaxy Hunter]

With this situation getting more serious, I thought I'd start a topic on it.

Are there any fellow Coloradan Sluggites out there who are worried about this? I live way out on the plains, but I'm getting very concerned about this disaster. Just yesterday the smoke in the air was bad enough that the sun was tinged orange, and there was a smoky smell in the air. Today, it's worse, although none of the smoke has blown out here yet. And for those who haven't heard, the entire base of Pike's Peak, Manitou Springs, and several other locales have all been evacuated. The fire is at 2,000 acres, and it's still growing. My heart and prayers go out to those displaced by this disaster.

[Solara Hanover]

*raises hand* I work at the Albertsons on Austin Bluffs and Dublin and we have an epic view of the fire on the mountain... As I was leaving work just now, I found out that the mandatory evacuation order is currently 2 blocks from the Garden of the Gods and Centennial store. This has the makings of an EPIC disaster... And, now there's ANOTHER brush fire burning in Elbert, about forty miles away in the opposite direction of the Waldo Canyon fire. We need rain SO bad!!!!!

Also, a lady who works for All Breed Rescue &Training was in my store earlier today, they need supplies for all the displaced animals they're taking in right now.

[Silly Green Monkey]

We have fire bags packed, and the cat carriers are aired out and ready. My brother-in-law is pretty sure the fire won't reach the city.

[LobosSolos]

We have fire bags packed, and the cat carriers are aired out and ready. My brother-in-law is pretty sure the fire won't reach the city.

That's a good idea to have a bag packed and ready to go. Oh if only more people planned in advance (I'm guilty of not doing that).

[Galaxy Hunter]

Holy crap, would you look at this:



This is what the fire looks like from way out on the plains. It looks like a volcano. Miraculously, no homes have been destroyed yet, but it's spread like crazy.

[Solara Hanover]

Waldo Canyon fire day 4 by ladysolara, on Flickr

This is the fire earlier today from the north mall. I'm sure it's worse now, as they just announced mandatory evacuations for the housing development on the Air Force Academy, which is right across the interstate from here.

[Silly Green Monkey]

My niece reports that the house of one of her friends has burned down. I saw the fire from Union up on the hill (Downhill and Dublin area) early this morning. No picture, I was driving and my camera's not the best.

[Galaxy Hunter]

My niece reports that the house of one of her friends has burned down. I saw the fire from Union up on the hill (Downhill and Dublin area) early this morning. No picture, I was driving and my camera's not the best.

I'm so sorry to hear that, I suppose it's a miracle that it took this long for structures to start burning down. It got a lot worse a little while ago out here on the plains, you could smell the fire; it was kinda like a big bonfire. It actually got hard to breathe. I can't even imagine what it must be like for people down in the city. I registered as a disaster volunteer today, I wonder if I'll be called on soon.

[Silly Green Monkey]

Many homes burned now, the Flying W Ranch is burned to the ground. So far the evacuation zones are staying on the west side of I-25, but if they cross it I'll be coming back to an empty house.

[Silly Green Monkey]

Pictures here from the Denver Post blog. So far evacuation zones haven't crossed I-25.

[Solara Hanover]

This is actually a really nifty map that the Gazette keeps updating. It has not only where the evacuation zones are, but a fairly up-to-date look at where the actual fire is. Looks like it's starting to push into Peregrine... that little bit of rain we had earlier was not nearly enough.

[weatherwax]

Holy crap, guys. Stay safe!

[Solara Hanover]

Good news is we're up to 15% containment and some people got to go home today. Bad news is there are over 300 houses burned to the ground and this is officially the costliest fire in Colorado history.