Thursday, June 13, 2013

Fire, Fire. Nature is not kind.

Colorado, my home state, is susceptible to forest fires.  We have huge conifer forests which, when conditions are right, can turn a lovely wooded area into a Dante inferno.

Two days ago, in the afternoon, perhaps started by a lightening strike, a forest fire started in the Colorado Springs area called Black Forest.  Because of the hot, dry and windy conditions, it quickly spread.  Now, still not contained, 360 homes have been destroyed so far, 38,000 people have had to evacuate and find shelter.  Two people died.   Countless animals including horses, livestock, pets have had to be rescued and accounted for.  Shelters for animals have been set up as well.  The hardest part would be not knowing if your home is still standing. Their lives will never be the same.

The sky is gray and at the beginning, we could see the smoke plume from our house and as we step outside, we can smell smoke. We are about 40 miles away from the fire.

A few years ago our home, too, was threatened by a much smaller fire, but we did have to evacuate.  Fortunately, the weather changed, the temperature dropped as it was October, and the fire fighters were able to contain it. Our house is the closest to the smoke in the photo.

So we wait, watch television for the latest news, knowing that, if conditions were right, it could happen here.  And hoping we can help in some way.  And we can, perhaps if only financially.  There may be other things we can do to help.  We know that people would do the same for us.



Castle Rock Fire, 2003.


13 comments:

  1. This post touches close to home for me. My son and his family live nearby and can see the fire from their deck, although they've not had to evacuate. The Black Forest is such a beautiful area. Very sad, and especially for those who have lost so much.

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    1. Prayers to your son and his family. Today is a cooler day, less wind. Hope your son does not have to evacuate.

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  2. Thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this.

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  3. We lived in NC for a number of years and got a few bad fires there too, as well as a few hurricanes to go along with them. Don't think we ever got both at the same time, God forbid.

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  4. Hi Jo: How is the weather where you live now? Frightening to live through extreme weather. You feel so helpless.

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  5. We can't see the smoke here, but it sure has affected the asthmatics on our family quite severely. I'm so glad for you that your home survived. I grieve with those who have lost everything, and for those who have lost loved ones. You did a lovely job sharing our state's tragedies so that other can commiserate.

    Tina @ Life is Good

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    1. Thanks, Tina. We have a whole summer ahead to be wary. But now the smoke is not in the air and the fire is 85% contained, with 509 homes destroyed. It is suspected that the fire was human caused.

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  6. I had no idea. How absolutely terrible. Having never been in a situation such as that, I can only imagine the horror for all concerned. Humans and animals alike.

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    1. Hi Wendy. Weren't there terrible fires in Australia last year? I seem to remember reading about them.

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    2. Yes, but I live in New Zealand.

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