Colorado Springs & San Bernardino

I have always been extremely happy that I am a native-born American - a born and bred citizen of the United States of America.  America is my country, right or wrong.  As a voting citizen, I must follow our laws and rules of conduct.  I have always been proud to state that I am an American.  After the shootings last week in Colorado Springs, and the shootings today in San Bernardino, California, I am not sure if I want to claim to be "proud" any more.
   Today is the 334th day of 2015.  The San Bernardino shooting was the second mass shooting of the day in the United States.  It was the 355th mass shooting incident of this year - and the day is not yet over.  What has become of our great nation?  Why are these stupid shootings happening?  When did  "the normal thing to do" become loading up one's assault-style rifles, adding hand guns, and then bombs to deal with something or someone who upsets you?
    This reeks of sheer terrorism by the individual, to me.  Our movies, television shows, and computer games seem to make the majority of the public believe that it is fine to go out and kill anyone who makes you angry....
   I am very sorry, and disgusted, that our country has fallen to this level of depravity.

Damp Colorado - Yesterday and Today

Boulder Creek west of Broadway this morning

Trash cans cause whitewater in Castle Rock

Colorado Springs

Denver's Confluence Park

I-70 in Glenwood Canyon closed for 8 hours after eight one-ton-plus boulders rolled onto the road, taking out guard rails and barriers

Downtown Denver

Elbert County

Longmont's St Vrain River Spillway

Waldo Canyon Fire Is 100% Contained

As of 8:30 p.m. (MDT) the Waldo Canyon fire, which destroyed 346 homes near Colorado Springs, is totally contained.  While some trees and debris will continue to burn and/or smoulder for some weeks, there is no expectation that the fire will once again run wild.   -   Hooray!!!!

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.

Colorado Wildfire Photos

Hundreds of homes are lost in the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs

Deer seek the sanctuary of a creek in the High Park fire near Fort Collins

On the out-skirts of Boulder, a fox drinks from a bird bath while vacating from the Flagstaff fire