Another Colorado Springs Fire

[Angel!]

Less than 2 weeks from the anniversary of the start of Waldo Canyon & we have another fire started just outside the City.  It isn't bad yet & they are attacking it hard, but it is definitely bringing up a lot of bad memories around here. 

They are estimating 8 homes burned & 2500 homes are under mandatory evacuations.  I have no idea the size, they haven't updated that since around 3 PM.  Having watched the smoke plume all afternoon, I will be impressed if they limit it to 8 homes lost.  One nice thing is Fort Carson already has helicopters helping out.  It is also nice that Flying W (the historic ranch that burned last time) is making a point to help house all evacuated animals. 

We have had basically no rain, we are in a drought.  It was ridiculously hot today & windy.  All bad things.  This is actually just 1 of 4 fires that started in southeastern Colorado today.  The one near Canyon City has already burned over 300 acres & some homes have been lost there as well.

I think I just need to turn off the TV & go to bed.

[mmhmm]

Ouch!  Good luck, Angel.  I hope you're not in the path of this fire!  I imagine people are pretty anxious, considering what happened before.

[Jaguar]

Oh hon I'll pray for a lot of rain for everyone.

[Tennesseer]

[Angel!]

Watched the briefing. ~8000 acres burned. Estimating a minimum of 40-60 houses burned. I feel bad because I am sure some of those people didn't get a chance to get home & packed. 0% contained & they expanded the evac area.

Good news is we are getting an aircraft tomorrow & national guard & a type 1 incident team. Even the sheriff commented on the quick response we are getting for help.

I am not in the path at all. Right now it is actually heading away from the city although there is still a lot of homes that way.

My personal concern is the wind will shift and I will get smoke. It is supposed to shift south sometime after midnight. I am still up trying to get the house cooled hoping I can shut everything up. I actually packed a bit in case we need to leave due to smoke. With Waldo it rolled in like a thick fog. DS has been having breathing problems & due to see a specialist Thursday. I don't want to risk another ER trip, which could happen with the smoke.

[raeoflyte]

It really sucks to have this many fires especially so early in the season. I really hope we get some rain.

Stay safe!

[Tennesseer]

Jun 12, 2013 10:33:07 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

It really sucks to have this many fires especially so early in the season. I really hope we get some rain.

Stay safe!

How was your snow cover this year? And any idea what percent of 'normal' rainfall you are below to date? Not that it really matters because dry is dry.

[formerroomate99]

Sorry to hear that.  Please stay safe. 

[greeniis10]

Jun 12, 2013 10:55:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jun 12, 2013 10:33:07 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

It really sucks to have this many fires especially so early in the season. I really hope we get some rain.

Stay safe!

How was your snow cover this year? And any idea what percent of 'normal' rainfall you are below to date? Not that it really matters because dry is dry.

Snow fall amounts were terribly low this winter.  It was the first time I could remember looking at the mountains during the winter and NOT see them snow-capped.  We've dreaded and expected this all year.  We need rain desperately!  Instead, we get hot wind. 

I don't know exact numbers regarding your rainfall question.  Sorry.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 12, 2013 11:26:40 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

Jun 12, 2013 10:55:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

How was your snow cover this year? And any idea what percent of 'normal' rainfall you are below to date? Not that it really matters because dry is dry.

Snow fall amounts were terribly low this winter.  It was the first time I could remember looking at the mountains during the winter and NOT see them snow-capped.  We've dreaded and expected this all year.  We need rain desperately!  Instead, we get hot wind. 

I don't know exact numbers regarding your rainfall question.  Sorry.

Thanks for the info.

I grew up in Massachusetts in the '50s and '60s. We had lots of snow every winter. In recent years, Massachusetts has had some winters wth scant amounts or no snow at all. No rhyme or reason.

[mmhmm]

Oh, gosh, Angel!  I didn't know about your DS.  I sure hope the wind doesn't blow that smoke down on you.  It's good you're ready to get out of the way if it does.

[greeniis10]

What irks me even more is that NO water restrictions have been put in place yet (something that we are used to and happens regularly) and they are just considering banning fireworks and camp fires!  Yes, ban those!  Put us all back on yard-watering restrictions, please!  (unless I've missed the announcements and if so, I apologize)  We water as sparingly as possible anyway and we don't do fireworks.  Generally, 4th of July is spent at home with the garden hoses ready in case the crazy neighbors get out of hand. 

[greeniis10]

Angel, sorry to hear about DS!  Hope the specialist can help him.  In the meantime, would he wear a sugical mask?  I think he's young, so maybe you can turn it into a super-hero mask? 

[raeoflyte]

We have watering restrictions in Denver.

I don't know the #'s, but the rain fall has been low for the last 2 year's and the reservoirs didn't get high enough this year, hence the restrictions.

[Angel!]

Jun 12, 2013 11:37:48 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

What irks me even more is that NO water restrictions have been put in place yet (something that we are used to and happens regularly) and they are just considering banning fireworks and camp fires!  Yes, ban those!  Put us all back on yard-watering restrictions, please!  (unless I've missed the announcements and if so, I apologize) 

Where are you?  Colorado Springs is on water restrictions this year.  First time in the 7 years I have lived here.  Back in April they said reservoirs in previous years were at ~75% full at that time.  This year they were around 50%, so they started with the restrictions. 

[greeniis10]

Jun 12, 2013 12:47:35 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Jun 12, 2013 11:37:48 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

What irks me even more is that NO water restrictions have been put in place yet (something that we are used to and happens regularly) and they are just considering banning fireworks and camp fires!  Yes, ban those!  Put us all back on yard-watering restrictions, please!  (unless I've missed the announcements and if so, I apologize) 

Where are you?  Colorado Springs is on water restrictions this year.  First time in the 7 years I have lived here.  Back in April they said reservoirs in previous years were at ~75% full at that time.  This year they were around 50%, so they started with the restrictions. 

Well, I don't want to give away my location so I'll just say I'm NOT in CSP.  I didn't know they had enforced water restrictions there this year, but where I am they have not yet.  It bothers me because I live in a neighborhood where everyone competes to have the best lawn and people are way too wasteful with water.  Let all the farmers have the water first; yards can have the leftovers, if there are any.

[greeniis10]

Double post.  Sorry.  Board is freezing on me. 

[Angel!]

We managed ok with the smoke overnight.  I closed up the house around midnight & put a window AC up to try to cool the house further.  Sure enough the smoke blew in sometime after that, I saw it was smoky outside around 4 AM, then at 5 it was bad enough that it started coming in around the gaps for the window AC, so I took it out & closed up & that was enough to keep the smoke out.  Luckily I got new windows just 2 months ago, otherwise we would have been smoked out even with the windows closed. 

Downtown, where I work & the kids have daycare was much clearer & is supposed to stay clear all day.  It is supposed to shift back south sometime tonight, so we will see how that goes.  As long as I can get the house comfortably cool before it shifts we will be fine.  Yesterday it was 85 inside when I got home & it will probably be worse today.  I can't shut up the house & go to sleep at that temperature .  Maybe I could leak proof the window AC & get us all sleeping in the same room.

I did think of the mask thing for DS  & have one that you wear for construction & thought that would be better than nothing.  I will use that if needed.  My parents are only an hour away in Denver, so no reason I can't stay there if I need to also.  I will just be making trips back to care for the dogs.

I feel a little guilty.  People are evacuated & losing their houses & I am complaining about the smoke.

Haven't heard anything new on houses/acres, but I think they actually might get a good portion contained before the winds start to kick up later today. 

[Angel!]

Jun 12, 2013 13:02:37 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

I didn't know they had enforced water restrictions there this year, but where I am they have not yet. 

Yeah, we have them, but honestly they seem a little weak. From what I remember Denver had not only days & times, but also how long you could water as part of there restrictions. We are allowed to water 2 days/week & just not between 10 AM - 6 PM.

I am also unclear on if the restrictions apply to recreation activities. The kids wanted to play in the sprinklers one day & I couldn't figure out if it was allowed, so I had them play at 9 AM . Down the street someone just bought one of those large above ground pools & I wondered if that was allowed. I probably could water my lawn for a month at least with the size of that thing.

[greeniis10]

Jun 12, 2013 13:13:08 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Jun 12, 2013 13:02:37 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

I didn't know they had enforced water restrictions there this year, but where I am they have not yet. 

Yeah, we have them, but honestly they seem a little weak. From what I remember Denver had not only days & times, but also how long you could water as part of there restrictions. We are allowed to water 2 days/week & just not between 10 AM - 6 PM.

I am also unclear on if the restrictions apply to recreation activities. The kids wanted to play in the sprinklers one day & I couldn't figure out if it was allowed, so I had them play at 9 AM . Down the street someone just bought one of those large above ground pools & I wondered if that was allowed. I probably could water my lawn for a month at least with the size of that thing.

Yes, exactly!  A neighbor on the next block just got one of those pools, too, and it just seems so wasteful to me.  Especially because they first placed it on their driveway near the house.  Then, a week later, they drained it, moved it to the bottom of the driveway and refilled it.    I suppose I should just stop worrying about my neighbors and try to conserve water as best I can.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jun 12, 2013 12:47:35 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Jun 12, 2013 11:37:48 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

What irks me even more is that NO water restrictions have been put in place yet (something that we are used to and happens regularly) and they are just considering banning fireworks and camp fires!  Yes, ban those!  Put us all back on yard-watering restrictions, please!  (unless I've missed the announcements and if so, I apologize) 

Where are you?  Colorado Springs is on water restrictions this year.  First time in the 7 years I have lived here.  Back in April they said reservoirs in previous years were at ~75% full at that time.  This year they were around 50%, so they started with the restrictions. 

Here in the north of the state, we've been on water restrictions since April 1.  It just says we can only water the lawns on two days per week.  Everything else seems to be fair game.  But it didn't bode well for the season being started that early! 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jun 12, 2013 15:45:01 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Fires? Not good. We live with the threat every year. It's so dry here. I though Colorado got a lot of moisture last Winter?
Stay safe.

We had a good late Spring, but a dry Winter, I felt. 

[raeoflyte]

It is so smoky in Denver, and we've got to be at least 50 miles away from any if the fires...

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

The nearest fire to us is the one burning in the west of RMNP, which is a good distance from where I am.  But apparently people were getting freaked out about the smoke and calling 911.  I got an automated email from the county's emergency system yesterday that essentially said very diplomatically, "Stop calling us already, we know there's a fire and it's way the heck over the mountains!"   

[moon/Laura]

I am in a suburb north of denver and the smoke is clearly visible, and smells strong enough to burn my eyes. perhaps my eyes are just overly sensitive though, because none of the fires are near me. closest would be RNMP for me as well.

angel, i hope your son will be ok..

[moneymaven]

Colorado native here. We've also been on watering restriction since April 1st. I work for a local government and from what I know, most jurisdictions throughout the state are on a Level 2 drought response including tight restrictions. Fireworks and camp fires should absolutely be banned.

Where I am, I could smell smoke through our building ventilation system all day and I wouldn't let DS play outside at all.

I had family lose their home in Waldo Canyon last year, and they've just got frame work done on their rebuild. This is just horrifying to watch.

When you see a firefighter, thank them!

[Angel!]

I didn't even know about the RMNP fire. Watch here & it is basically continuous coverage on Black Forest with small breaks to discuss Royal Gorge.

Just had 4 helicopters fly overhead going to the fire. Must have come from Ft. Carson. I would have thought they would have started earlier, it is pretty light out by now. Kind of surprised I haven't seen any C-130s. Maybe they are stopping at the AFA rather than Peterson.

Winds are supposed to keep blowing north until late this afternoon at least. Sorry for all the Denver folks, it might be really bad again today for you.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jun 13, 2013 7:37:47 GMT -5 Angel! said:

I didn't even know about the RMNP fire. Watch here & it is basically continuous coverage on Black Forest with small breaks to discuss Royal Gorge.

Essentially, there's nothing to report with the other 2 or 3 fires. They're pretty small and I think all in uninhabited areas. Clearly, Black Forest and Royal Gorge are the dangerous issues. I just read in the Denver Post online that it's up to 90 homes burned in the BF fire. So sad!!!

[flutterby]

    Just saw on the news, there's been about 5" of moisture so far this year in that area. Pretty dry! It's really smoky up here in the foothills, but it made for a VERY pretty sunset last night!

[moon/Laura]

I never realized how many of us were here. I knew of a couple.. but wow, lol.