Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Five Wildfires Burning in Colorado

After the wet April and and first of May that we had, it's incredible to realize that Colorado is still in a deep drought condition.  We've had almost record-high temperatures yesterday and today, and it's also been pretty windy.  I feel lucky in that none of the fires are threatening the Boulder area, but other places are not so lucky.  There is a fire burning in Rocky Mountain National Park, in Big Meadows, near the Green Mountain Trailhead.  There is a rapidly growing 300 acre fire near the Royal Gorge, which has already destroyed homes.  El Paso County has a fire burning in the Black Forest, whch hs already destroyed at least 5 homes.  In Huerfano County, there is a wildfire burning to the west of the town of La Veta.  And there's also a fire in Aurora (metro Denver) that has caused multiple evacuations, and there are at least three homes burned.  It's currently 97 degrees, and the humidity ranges from between 4 and 10 %; the winds are blowing at a steady 15 mph and have been blowing at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph expected through the afternoon and evening...  My prayers go out to all the people, pets, and wildlife that are anywhere near these conflagrations!
Smoke from the Big Meadows fire in RMNP this afternoon

No comments: