15 replies to this topic

[HerNibs]

CNN on Colorado wildfires

Quote

(CNN)

-- Firefighters again will battle inferno-like conditions on Wednesday as they try to tame an explosive wildfire that has already chased some 32,000 residents from their homes near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"This is a firestorm of epic proportions," Richard Brown, the Colorado Springs Fire chief, said late Tuesday. Winds gusting to 65 mph through mountain canyons blew the wildfire through containment lines into northwest Colorado Springs on Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. John Hickenlooper surveyed the Waldo Canyon Fire, telling reporters it was a difficult sight to see.

"There were people's home's burned to the ground. It was surreal," he said late Tuesday night. "There's no question, it's serious. It's as serious as it gets."

The 6,200-acre fire remained only 5% contained. Officials labeled it as exhibiting "extreme fire behavior."

Nibs

[HerNibs]

Another article on the fires with evacuation numbers and listings.

High Park Fire

Fire in Boulder

Nibs

[Still Waters]

This is dreadful and frightening. The wildfires were bad last year too because the ground was so dry from lack of rain. We have so much rain in this country and you are crying out for some, if only it would rain more often over there too. I know it's a big worry for you folks living in that part of the world, I have a friend there and we talk about this often. Yesterday it was 102F he said, hot and dry, it's scary.

All the best HerNibs to you, and your family, and to everyone else affected by these fires. Please take care of yourselves and stay safe *hugs all round*.

[HerNibs]

Still Waters, on 27 June 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

This is dreadful and frightening. The wildfires were bad last year too because the ground was so dry from lack of rain. We have so much rain in this country and you are crying out for some, if only it would rain more often over there too. I know it's a big worry for you folks living in that part of the world, I have a friend there and we talk about this often. Yesterday it was 102F he said, hot and dry, it's scary.

All the best HerNibs to you, and your family, and to everyone else affected by these fires. Please take care of yourselves and stay safe *hugs all round*.

*hugs back* I'm safe.    Can see the smoke (and smell).  Friends in danger.

We've had record breaking heat lately with dry thunderstorms (no rain, just thunder and lightning) that are starting other fires here and there.

Pretty scary.  My neighborhood had our evacuations and scare in 2002.  Hayman fire.  Worst part of that fire was that a forest service employee started it.

Nibs

[Still Waters]

I'm glad you're ok It must be disconcerting though to be able to see and smell the smoke. I hope your friends will be ok too.

Please be careful over there. I hope they can get these fires under control soon.

[sarah_444]

This is terrible...and I feel so sad for the people losing their homes and so much worse. Heartbreaking

[Doug1o29]

HerNibs, on 27 June 2012 - 03:00 PM, said:

*hugs back* I'm safe.    Can see the smoke (and smell).  Friends in danger.

We've had record breaking heat lately with dry thunderstorms (no rain, just thunder and lightning) that are starting other fires here and there.

Pretty scary.  My neighborhood had our evacuations and scare in 2002.  Hayman fire.  Worst part of that fire was that a forest service employee started it.

Nibs

Are you from Colorado?  I was a forester on the Durango and Boulder Districts for 24 years.  I was on the Murphy Gulch, Sugarloaf, Lefthand, Old Stage and Beaver Lake Fires.  The Boulder fire is near Flagstaff.  I still have a research plot near there.  People I know are on that one and the High Park Fire and probably some others.

Homeowners have put themselves at risk by not following Defensible Space recommendations.  Nobody thinks it will happen to them.

Fire is a natural part of that ecosystem.  Periodic fires kept the forests open with low amounts of fuel buildup.  Years of fire suppression have allowed fuels to accumulate, creating massive fire hazards.  All it takes is a dry winter and...
Doug

Edited by Doug1o29, 27 June 2012 - 07:30 PM.

[rashore]

Glad yer safe Nibs Hope it stays that way.

[Aim4TheHead]

I'm going to Colorado on Friday to see my family. It's pretty scary. They can see the smoke but luckily the fires aren't too close.

[booNyzarC]

Whoah...  Scary Stuff...

Thank God you're not in any danger HerNibs, but that's still a little too close for comfort.  Just devastating...

[Raptor Witness]

First, my sincere and heartfelt sympathies go out to those who have lost their homes or become displaced by the firestorms this year. Most of you will rebuild and become invigorated by your adversity. We, like the land can renew ourselves.

Most of these western fires were caused by dry lightning on land that has burned often for millions of years.

This year won't just be a bad year for fire in the western U.S. It will be unlike any other since the nation was born, according to the forecast below.

The American Indians used to burn the land regularly, but few people know about this, or care to remember why, or how their absence makes it so dangerous now, especially on land that is over populated with wood frame buildings.

The President can tour the landscape, and the Colorado governor can talk about how his blood is boiling because of some "fool," but the fools are those who know so little about the land and who forget that the earth has been doing this for eons.

This land is not your land; this land is not my land. This land belongs to the person who is not holding an umbrella in this picture.



If you live in the western U.S., east of the Mississippi, in an area where fire is a threat this year, attach a dragonfly to the outside of your house. When the Lord of the Earth sees this, he will pass your house by, but only if the fire originated by lightning. Firefighters should wear one, or have one in a pocket. Born of water and flung into the air, she is not a pagan amulet. Rather, she signifies your belief and acknowledgement that you do not own the land your house sits on, or your body.


Posted 12 January 2012 - 02:40 AM

On December 29, 2011 I traveled from my home in the East to the mountain in the West where the Ute had seen the “fire of the gods,” and I paid tribute to their brothers there. On the eve of my return, the sun began to burn into the ground, and I remembered my cry before the Lord of the Earth, only three weeks prior.

Edited by Raptor Witness, 28 June 2012 - 08:50 AM.

[HerNibs]

Doug1o29, on 27 June 2012 - 07:29 PM, said:

Are you from Colorado?  I was a forester on the Durango and Boulder Districts for 24 years.  I was on the Murphy Gulch, Sugarloaf, Lefthand, Old Stage and Beaver Lake Fires.  The Boulder fire is near Flagstaff.  I still have a research plot near there.  People I know are on that one and the High Park Fire and probably some others.

Homeowners have put themselves at risk by not following Defensible Space recommendations.  Nobody thinks it will happen to them.

Fire is a natural part of that ecosystem.  Periodic fires kept the forests open with low amounts of fuel buildup.  Years of fire suppression have allowed fuels to accumulate, creating massive fire hazards.  All it takes is a dry winter and...
Doug

Yup.    Lived here for a very long time...17 years and for about 6 years when I was young.

I agree on the Defensible Space bit.  You see it all the time here.  "I want to be part of the wilderness..."  With the pine beetle devastation of the past few years the entire state is just a big pile of kindling.  Very seldom do you see the "let it burn" policy.  Now, the fires going on today are a bit different.  The one in Colorado Springs started in the mountains and blasted into the city itself.  Same with the Boulder fires.  It's suspected that the Colorado Springs (Waldo Canyon) fire is because of arson.  There have been several other attempts in that area in the recent past.  

The local news is reporting that one of the southern fires was started by some moron shooting at old propane tanks.  The level of stupid with that person is just astounding.

We used to live up in Granby Colorado (we moved before some one tried to bulldoze the town).  We were very aware of keeping a large cleared area around us due to fire danger.  

Between how hot and dry it is, the water shortage and fools we are lucky things aren't worse.

Nibs

[Babe Ruth]

I was in the Army at Fort Carson, and loved Colorado Springs.  USAF Academy there was a beautiful campus.  Yesterday it was evacuated for the fires.

Tough times for that beautiful state!

[Hilander]

I feel for the people in areas that are having these firestorms.  I wish it would rain, its so dry here in the Missouri Ozarks that I'm afraid the grass will ignite on its on.  If it doesn't rain I hope they ban fireworks here this year, its not worth the risk.

[Babe Ruth]

Yes, the times they are a-changing...