Rec

The particulates were really bothering me. We're out in Nevada visiting family...if the house goes, it goes.

Hope the fire spares your home .

I'm glad you had the sense to leave.

for your thoughts. They have evacuated 32,000 people but no plans to evacuate more at the present.

Have been there and it's a beautiful area. Hoping folks there all the best!

I can say I've heard every attitude possible. But, then I remember being in Old town Fort Collins a couple Sundays ago when the smoke was so thick most would think the town was burning and seeing countless fire departments from throughout the state and even WY and elsewhere represented as they drove through town--and the signs of people thanking these brave firefighters--even some writing it on the face masks they wore, I can't let the ugliness get to me. I have spent a bit of time at the "RANCH" --the place designated for horses and other animals to be sheltered and the evacuation centers, staffed by volunteers armed with the "kindness of strangers" and I am heartened.

I am out of the immediate risk area, but like everyone here I've choked on smoke and ash and comforted my share of friends/acquaintances who either lost their home or perhaps the little family cabin in the Poudre that has been in their family for many decades. Or, if "lucky" they will live out their lives in a home/cottage/cabin surrounded by blackened devastation, because those trees/forests are not coming back in their lifetime. Those who have experienced the beauty of these areas can not help but be saddened.

Some think of Colorado as the playground of the very wealthy--those who own the multi-million $$ homes near Aspen, Vail, Telluride. They aren't the ones affected--to any major degree--in these 10 fires raging through Colorado at present. And there is not way a fire is going to differentiate based on political views, either.

The entire state is affected--whether it be from the smoke choking the front range from the New Mexico border to Denver and north from Fort Collins to the Wyoming line. This can cause some very serious health impacts for many many people. And our economy is at risk of hits from loss of tourism and all the related industries. Not to mention the long term loss of natural resources on National Forest land that benefit us all.

So, I'm going to concentrate on those who live their progressive values and even quite a few who are here helping who in all likelihood are Republicans. This is a record-setting disaster to this region and I simply can't be bothered with those who want to exploit it to their own very narrow agenda.

My best friends sister is close to the evacuation zone and worried about having to evacuate her animals.

Is there somewhere we could send a small donation?

I don't know what the situation is down in CO Springs and Boulder likely has an area of its own. But the 9 news website has tons of links and info. (www.9news.com)

But, here is some info specific to the Ranch:

Area of 23rd and Vermijo (sp?) - last we knew she is in the voluntary evac area, not mandatory yet.

Way closer to the Springs than Larimer County. Lemme find that info again and get it to you.

In case she wants to stay with her animals.

http://www.9news.com/news/article/274540/339/Waldo-Canyon-Fire-doubles-in-size

My grandparents owned a cabin on Fall's Creek (or Fall's Gulch as we called it in the old days) for decades. They sold it 20 years ago, but it still feels like home to me. It's on the south side of the river, so my guess is it's gone, along with the 10 others on that road.

There is a ton of info and links available, but I've not been up there and with all the competing fires, we don't always get as much updating as we'd like from news crews going there themselves.

fall's creek wasn't included the last time they lifted the evacuation, can't find any information on whether that's the case this time around. last i saw, there were six homes lost in poudre park itself, i can't find specific information on fall's creek.

somehow the mish is still standing. that just blows my mind.

poudre park could have lost a lot more than it did, here's a good article from the local rag

http://www.coloradoan.com/viewart/20120614/NEWS/306130035/Group-firefighters-save-Poudre-Park-homes

We used to go necking in that culvert that runs under the highway.. good times
lots of detail there. sounds like everything above the old cabin near the falls burned, but maybe it survived.

i'd be more than happy to go check it out for you once the canyon's opened again. i'll want to go up there anyway, it would be no problem for me.

and a description from 20 years ago probably wouldn't help you. I do know it's less than halfway (from the hwy) to the end of the road at the falls (which is nothing more than a dribble since the big flood 30-odd years ago). It sat alone on the right side, with an outbuilding bigger than the cabin. Most of the houses are clustered closer to the hwy, I only remember 4-5 houses above us near the falls. Any info on the whole road would be great, we know lots of the families still.

I was only there for maybe 20 minutes to get gas and lunch. At first it didn't seem to bad when suddenly the wind changed and I could barely see down the street from the thick smoke. It was stunning.

You have my sympathies and support. Hang in there.

i was up there around the 10th anniversary and was a bit amazed at how well everything had come back.

the devastation up here is heartbreaking and ten years is a long way off, but a healthier forest will rise from the ashes. it's hard to be positive right now, but i have to try to keep from crying.

thank you for all the good work you've been doing, both here and irl. the outpouring of support has been amazing.

the winter afterwards when all the black against that white snow was so jarring. I've been there since in the spring and it is beautiful, despite the fires. When the green starts to come back it really does make you hopeful, but the big trees take many decades.

thank you.. and back at ya..

The last time I was there, I noticed how scant the forest had gotten, and the stands of beetle killed trees. this is painful now, but the forest will come back greener than before. It even helps the forest that doesn't burn by making it stronger.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/30/science/la-sci-smoke30-2010mar30
Now researchers have identified another way in which widespread flames benefit some fire-following plant species: A family of chemicals in the smoke makes the plants hypersensitive to lower, altered light levels, triggering the seeds to sprout with thicker, sturdier stems than they otherwise would have.

she's just tidying up

We could use some serious moisture. I'd trade this heat in a heartbeat...

Worry tho, hubby is recovering from cancer surgery, just finished up his radiation treatments, still on chemo. if we had to move...? God, I am so frightened.

Fire is north and south of us. We are safe right now. A storm like last night, all gusty winds and lightning, scares the crap out of me.

I watch news about Florida and prayed we had just a little of that rain...it's so hot.

I hope the stress doesn't effect him (and you) too much.

Our beautiful state is ablaze. In all my fifty years here, I have never seen it this bad. Pictures of Pike's peak ablaze, it looks like a volcano.

Hubby is remarkable. He has maintained a positive attitude through all this, my inspiration, love of my life. His life has been so altered along with his body, yet he remains so strong. We have learned to take one moment at a time.

My heart goes to those who are in the fire areas. God protect them, and those brave people fighting this fire.

You will pull through and so will hubby

i'm up in the northern part of the state, just east of the big fire. air quality has been bad, but we're not in danger here in town. so much has been stacked against us that it's not that surprising that we're having the fires we are. hot, dry and windy in a tinderbox and all we can do is pray for rain.

as we've learned after 11 million acres burned up here in 2004 and 2005, but I feel horrible for the people losing their homes and suffering health consequences from the smoke. Please be safe down there.

Not in the path of any of the fires, but getting lots of smoke and particulates. Those of us with breathing problems are staying indoors where it is also cooler. Even inside, I'm having to tap the oxygen. I worry about everyone in the burn vicinity. This is hell.

-

by car from Canada.

o no.

what should I advise her?

stay safe all, please.

Not an issue unless they are going into the foothills and mountainous areas around Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder, near Estes Park, and areas further on the western slope. These are massive local fires, but still focal in their impacts. But if she is thinking about camping--forget the fires and stoves in most places. And don't EVEN THINK of bringing July 4th fireworks in. Outlawed except for publicly sanctioned events.

I'm sure she is aware but I'll let her know to check things out anyway

He's another DUer in that area.

good luck all.

I think it's pretty good--put a check in the us wildfire locations box in the upper right to see the fires, and click on the icons for more information.

http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-response/wildlandfire/latest-news-map.html

I can only imagine the heartbreak of seeing the homes and businesses of your neighbors, families and friends, even potentially your own, go up in flames. I wish you all the very best.

Stay strong and know that our thoughts, prayers, karma, love or whatever are with you.

I hope all DUers will come through this. I hope you have copious rain soon.

It is safe to say that we are all with you and if you need help, just ask.