15 replies to this topic

[Miqque Loveland]

http://denver.cbsloc...high-park-fire/

This is a gnarly fire, and too close for comfort. I'm sitting here with a box of Kleenex as my eyes keep tearing just from the smoke particulates. The Hayman Fire of 2003 was bad, but in the southern area of Colorado. This is close, close enough I took a ride through Poudre Canyon just a couple of weeks ago. Eight more homes burned today. 45% containment. That's 189 homes destroyed. Not counting out-buildings.

And it was 100 F today - record-breaking heat. I could help put out the fire with my sweat.

Sunsets have become just eerie. Colorful, but in the sense of Armageddon-colorful.

Anything happening where you live? Disasters? Wars? Anything salacious?

And a big THANK YOU to all the firefighters and especially those from other states and the equipment y'all sent.

[Arjan Dirkse]

Crazy shit happens in this town regularly...I think this is the Twin Peaks of the Netherlands.

Last year we had the first crazy shooting spree incident in the Netherlands here, guy killed six people in a mall near by and then shot himself. We've also had a dude who blew up his apartment as an elaborate suicide. There was also an escaped tiger from a travelling circus. And I mentioned the wok killer a while ago. I think this town was built on an Indian graveyard or something.

[Don Lerch]

Was thinking about you when I saw the news, Miqque. Stay safe and lets hope they can get a hold on it. stay as cool as you can

[Miqque Loveland]

Was thinking about you when I saw the news, Miqque. Stay safe and lets hope they can get a hold on it. stay as cool as you can

Thanks, Don. Luckily the winds have been calm today, so hopefully there is better containment. Considering going for a short drive to sit in the A/C. (You'd like the Lumina a lotmore than you liked the truck. I think you were one of three people who were in it, I had it for such a short time.)

[njerry]

Miqque, I was in your neck of the woods on Thursday (drove through Longmont on my way to the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance at Estes Park). We hiked up to Fern Lake, but fortunately the wind was blowing westerly so the smoke didn't have an impact on the RMNP air). Still, the images on the Denver news stations was impressively scary. Best wishes to you and your friends dealing with the crisis.

[Ogul]

The only local story I know about is that they're going to spend $150k on an observatory for the county's space center, the problem being that it's in downtown Frederick, so the light pollution is pretty significant. I can't imagine they'll be able to see anything useful through that thing.

[Miqque Loveland]

Here's updates: http://www.denverpos...rado?source=rss

Nine fires as of today. Temp104 F. Humidity <2%.

This is worse than the Hayman Fire of 200(2? 3?) - and much closer.

Please send rain.

[brucegray666]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...etland-18546831

Talking of local fires... my former place of work, Bankhead Academy, was set on fire on Friday morning. The building was deserted / disused (we've moved to a nice new building up the road) but it's still pretty big local news as it looks like one of the wings was totally gutted.

[Miqque Loveland]

More news: http://news.yahoo.co...-201636170.html

Short list: fires nearing Estes Park on one end and Castle Rock/Red Rocks down near Colorado Springs (Air Force Academy).

Temp: 106 F. Humidity <2%.

I'm starting to get a little worried.

[Don Lerch]

Hang in there Miqque!

[njerry]

Miqque: I hope you have an evacuation plan in place. Good luck, and keep us informed of your situation.

[Lucian Von Dooom]

I'm seeing a ton of nasty photos from these fires on Reddit. How's your area Miqque?

[Miqque Loveland]

News is live everywhere. Right this minute it's raining - a "plume of moisture" from the monsoonal flow. Winds are blowing every which way, which does not help. Rain is maybe 10-15 minutes at a time, which is not enough to make up for the lightning; it does help with the smoke. Reporters are wearing respirators most of the time. I'm fine, about 17 miles from the nearest fire. My concern is the idiots who are still blasting off fireworks every night. Why not add some urban fires?

Was just driving through the exact area that is burning like Hell down by Castle Rock / Red Rocks Ampitheater a couple of weeks ago. (That's the Waldo Canyon Fire.) This connects to an area called "The Scar" which is a burn from a few years ago. Glad I got to see it, for it will not grow back for fifty years. Overall, the whole thing is horrifying. Governor Hickenlooper is just announcing (live) that the Air Force Academy and a battalion from Fort Carson are being mobilized to help with manpower. Pres. Obama aware, sending Federal help. This would be an "expidited" declaration of disaster - a day to fill out forms, a day for FEMA to review them, then we can get that Fed help (housing,mainly,for those displaced).

If anyone wants to help, start with http://helpcoloradonow.org/. Thanks.

[Lucian Von Dooom]

17 miles isn't very far away. I'm assuming you're prepared to escape if need be?

[Miqque Loveland]

Sure, Hop in car. Drive to Union Reservoir. Four miles. See how long I can hold my breath underwater.

I'm really okay. Fire would have to burn all of Boulder, all of Niwot, and 2/3 of Longmont before it got to me.
And I'd be looooooooooong gone!

PS - The HUMANE SOCIETY needs extra help. They are not only helping domestic pets, but chickens, horses, deer, bears, all forms of wildlife. We are already in a situation where we had to import feed (hay and grain) from other states. The wildlife is fleeing the fires and heading straight into urban areas, where they need to be trapped and then fed and transported. Federal help does not go to helping the animals.

Thanks.

[Miqque Loveland]

Seems yesterday the Waldo Canyon Fire (near Castle Rock / Colorado Springs) ate about 350 homes yesterday. Today, there is a goodly amount of rain, and this is helping. Still,nearly 700 families have lost everything. Boulder County fires seem to be contained. Much cooler, around 85 F down from 105 F.

Improvement.