The Colorado Wildfires

While the news about Boulder's fires and the High Park fire fire have gotten better, the news from the Waldo Canyon fire has gotten a little worse.  Both the Flagstaff and Ironing Board fires are under control, and unless we encounter an unusual storm or wind event, there is little to concern Boulderites other than the air quality...  The High Park fire looks as if it might be contained by July 1 - with only one human casualty and the loss of 257 homes.  The High Park Fire is estimated at 87,284 acres, meaning the fire has not grown for two days. Containment is now estimated at 85 percent. The estimated containment date has been moved up from July 15th to July 1st. The current cost of the fire to date is estimated at 36.4 million dollars. There are 1,125 personnel assigned to the firefighting effort. Equipment resources include: 3 Type 1 hand crews, 9 Type 2 hand crews, 79 engines, 9 dozers and 12 water tenders. Air Resources include; 3 Type I (heavy) helicopters, 4 Type III (light) helicopters, fixed wing support aircraft, and available heavy air tankers.

 (It should be noted that "containment" means that a containment line exists around the fire, which fire managers believe will hold the fire within the perimeter. "Control" means that the fire is actually out which, on a fire of this magnitude, typically requires an act of nature such as prolonged rain or snowfall. Islands of fire will continue to burn within the perimeter during the containment phase and residents should expect to see smoke for days, weeks, and even months as the fire moves from containment to control.

  The Waldo Canyon fire has claimed 348 homes, one life, and there are two people reported missing.  President Obama has declared the state of Colorado a disaster area due to the wildfires, and will fly over the Waldo Canyon fire sometime today.  It has been, and will continue to be, a horrible time for home-owners and families.  The up-dated facts on theWaldo Canyon fire:

Size: 18,500 acres and growing
5% containment.
100s of homes burned
Hwy 24 Closed in Ute Pass/Waldo Canyon
36,000 evacuated
1,200 firefighters (plus CSFD & other local agencies)
Military helping with heavy machinery/dozers

 

All of us owe a very great deal to the wonderful fire fighters who are fighting the flames of these fires throughout the state. 

 

If you would like to make a donation for either the victims of the fires, or for the fire fighters, please visit the website for the American Red Cross at: http://www.coloradoredcross.org/  and/or the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation at: http://www.cpfffoundation.org/ 

    Thank you.