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!!!!

Truth About Horse Riding (Part 2)

Horses are a prey animal - other creatures hunt them, kill them, and eat them. Their instincts tell them to run from perceived danger; and if something strange is on their back, they will try to throw the scary thing off by bucking, or by running under low tree limbs in an attempt to knock this strange, threatening thing off their backs.  You can't blame them. Their eyes are on either side of their heads, and while they have a wide field of vision, there are also blind spots.  Packs of canidae (wolves, coyotes, dogs) chase them; mountain lions can leap from high tree limbs or rock ledges; if they are injured and/or lame in the wild, they are literally dead meat.  One can't be angry because they have a good survival instinct.
   Horses pick up the riders attitude.  If you're a relaxed, confident rider, that's the way your horse will be; if you are nervous, your horse will be nervous; if you are a good rider, you should be relaxed, confident and alert.  Then your horse will respond well to you.  ....  Some horses develop bad habits because they are allowed to do things repetitively - one should never run one's horse up to the barn unless it's a very real emergency.  I've always headed out at a slow, easy pace and that's the way I return.  Due to summer heat and winter cold, I have had to "hot walk" my horse to be certain that he/she cooled down normally, and didn't get any physical problems (such as tying up, or colic).  But, again, as I wrote yesterday, the more you ride, the more chances you have of falling off. 
  Horses are super companions, and a great to way explore local areas that are not too suburban.  They can teach you a lot about trust and a lot about how much work taking care of a pet, or companion, can be.  Most folks don't realize that there is a lot more to horsemanship - owning a horse - than just saddling, riding out, and turning your mount loose when you're finished.  Your horse has to be groomed, and his/her feet cleaned (at least) daily.  It must be fed once or twice a day; it must be provided with pasture, or time outside in a paddock; it needs regular handling and riding; it needs shots and the vet and the blacksmith.  The rider has to do all of these things, plus take care of the riding gear, or tack (the saddle, bridle, halter, saddle blanket [numnah], cinch or girth, and any other accouterments your horse wears.   It is something that can take up all of your free time - if your really enjoy riding, you don't mind the time and money commitment; if you do begrudge it, you probably shouldn't own a horse or pony.
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The Waldo Canyon fire is 97% contained this morning.  The difficulty that Colorado is now facing is that our summer monsoonal rain pattern has finally arrived - and we need it desperately - but the rain is now falling on the areas that were recently burned, causing mudslides and flooding.  This morning, the Cache la Poudre River, up by Fort Collins and running through the High Park fire area, is running black from ash and soot from the big burn up there.  It looks surreal to see black water flowing down a river.  -  There have been road closures due to mudslide and flash flooding up in the High Park area.  Today, the entire Front Range and Foothills areas are under a Flash Flood warning until 8 p.m.

Truth About Riding Horses (Part 1)

We had a lot of sun this morning, but it's now overcast and grey outside.  I'm trying to convince Nedi to come back in so I can get back over to the Rs; I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't sound asleep in the closet, and I just can't spot him.  (But I can't leave, in case he really is outside....)  It is hoped that, thanks to the weather, and our hard-working fire fighters, the Waldo Canyon fire (near Colorado Springs) will be totally contained by tomorrow.  There was a small grass fire near Chadwick Park outside of Denver yesterday, but it was under control within 2 hours.  ...   I can hear the murmur of thunder in the distance....
   A thoroughbred jockey died yesterday after being thrown from his horse on the track in Pleasanton, California.  His 4-year-old mount clipped heels with the horse in front, and the jock fell under both horses. The cause of death was traumatic brain injury.   .....    If you watch all the old western shows, as I always have, you would  think that all of the horses are dead quiet, and totally broke.  Unless, of course, they want to show a horse being "broken," with  it bucking and twisting and spinning to get out from under the rider.   You might, occasionally, see a rider lose his seat and fall off - but TV calls it "getting thrown."  I have fallen off many different horses many different times.  I honestly can not say that I have ever been "thrown" off.  And something the TV shows and movies never say, nor imprint on any one's mind, is that the more you ride, the more you fall.  It is an axiom.  It is true.  It does happen.

Smokey - Due to Wyoming Fires

Yesterday ended up being very smoky and hazy - not from the Waldo Canyon fire, or the other fires burning in western Colorado, but because of three fires in Wyoming.  The closest fire is the 9,000+ acre Squirrel Creek fire; then there are the 88,000+ acre Arapaho and the 56,000+ acre Oil Creek fires.  We are experiencing a slight "cold system" and the wind is coming from the north. At noon yesterday, I could barely see the Flatirons from my apartment - and, up in North Boulder, I could barely see the foothills and Ranger Hat ridge.  We were under a Health Advisory yesterday, and it has been extended through today, due to the poor air conditions.
   I'm currently at home, but will soon take off to walk the red kids, and then return home.  I brought all my gear home from Maggie May's this morning, get to spend tonight in my own bed, and then move in with Rosie and Remy tomorrow.  Once their owners return, I have 12 whole nights at  home with Lovey and Nedi.  It will be great.  I've missed the little ones.  Poor Maggie - she kept talking to me while I was reading yesterday, and I kept calling her Lovey.  I'm sure she didn't appreciate it!  (Maggie's family returns home just after noon today.)
   The good news is that the Waldo Canyon fire is now 90% contained, and that I didn't have to call the Sheriff's Office last night.  Normally the neighbor behind me at Maggie's sets off fireworks, whether it's legal or not.  It was a delightful change not to have to report him this year, when the minimum fine was $1,000......

Waldo Canyon Fire 70% Contained

We had a wonderful deluge of rain for about an hour yesterday evening - there were a lot of lightning strikes, as well, and the power went on and off several times.  But we desperately needed the rain, so I'm happy.  The lightning in and around Boulder did not start any new fires, so I'm very happy.  Both the county and the city fireworks shows have been canceled, due to fire danger, but several other displays should be visible, unless there is total cloud-cover.   -   And the Waldo Canyon fire is now 70% contained (Hooray!), which is really good news for the state and for the folks living near Colorado Springs. 
   Today's is a short post - more either tonight or tomorrow.

Flagstaff Fire & Chincoteague Pony Penning

The Flagstaff fire here in Boulder is 90% contained.  The federal fire team is leaving, and the fire is not contained only in extremely rough terrain.  Hopefully, our summer thunderstorms will not create any more lightning-strike fires.  Fires are still burning around the state, but the only one of true concern, at the moment, is the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs.
  The annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction (Pony Penning) will take place on July 25 and 26 this year.  Even though I've missed seeing the last ten events in person, I'm still excited about it - and I wish I could be there.  (Just for fun, I tried to find a hotel rental for next year, and could only find a one-bed attic room in a bed and breakfast 35 miles away on the mainland....  I guess I'll have to ask Maureen for a sleeping spot, if I actually get to go.)  At the age of 56, I am still perplexed by the very real "pull" that Pony Penning exerts on my psyche.  Mom grew up on Chincoteague, was definitely pony and horse crazy (she used to walk down to Beebe Ranch every Sunday, so she could ride the ponies with her cousin Alma), and she talked to me frequently about growing up on the island, and how Pony Penning was always regarded as a Homecoming time by 'Teaguers.  Maybe I feel the need to be on the island because we were there, every summer, for as long as I can remember...  I know that I miss the calls of the seagulls and other birds, I miss the salty smell of the sea, I miss the sulphuric smell of the local marsh mud, and I miss the smell of gutting fish and fresh oyster shells baking in the sun on the secondary roads.  I miss the sound of the waves lapping, or booming, on the beach, and the way that sound carries across the water or through the fog.  I even miss the mosquitos!- What a silly person I am.
  I had a delightful day at home with my kits yesterday.  And I enjoyed playing with Maggie May last night.  I did not enjoy having the door bell ring at 1:34 and 5:07 this morning.  By the time I actually awoke, found my glasses, put on a house coat, and made it to the door, no one was there.  Apparently Jose Sanchez arrived on schedule from Madrid, as there is a black Honda parked at the carriage house - I wonder if he rang the bell?
  I think I'll drive up to Nederland this afternoon to peek in the shops and visit the Carousel of Happiness....  I hope you have a good week.
  

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

Colorado Wildfires

Right now, I'm listening to the sirens of fire engines leaving one of the local engine houses... but the sky is grey from rain clouds, even though it sounds as if we've gotten a lot more thunder and lightning than actual rain.  This morning, one could barely see the smoke from Flagstaff Mountain - it was lying down in a hill-clutching haze.  I have yet to see any plumes of smoke this afternoon, either. It seems that the fire here by Boulder is almost under control.  We had several small fires started by lightning strikes yesterday afternoon, and I'm pretty sure that's what is happening today.
   The High Park fire has burned 267 homes up in Larimer County, over to the west of Fort Collins.  It is now 75% contained.  At the moment, the worst fire is the Waldo Canyon fire, where over 36,000 people have been evacuated - and hundreds of homes have gone up in flames.  The numbers of homes lost near Colorado Springs hasn't been counted, as the fire is still extremely active...  The local TV stations did live, round-the-clock reporting from the scene for 36 hours.  I can not fault the coverage, but occasionally, I had to disagree with phrases that were used "live"...  Several reporters said that some of the home owners "were forced to watch their possessions burn."  Who tied these folks up, placed them in front of their homes, and forced them to keep their eyes open?   ... I know, I know... That's reacting a little strongly, but I do wish folks on the airwaves would think of what kind of picture their words are creating....  The losses of forest, field, wildlife, pets, livestock, homes and possessions has been overwhelming.  It beggars belief.
  All I can say is that my kits and I are safe and secure; and all the critters I care for are also safe and secure.  Now that the earlier rain has ended, the air reeks of wet wood-smoke.  I would rather smell wet smoke than be worrying about a fire creeping down the hill toward me!  I'll continue to keep you updated.

Nothing Has Changed So Far

The reports on the Boulder Flagstaff fire are still the same.  Infra-red imaging late last night indicates that the fire had burnt 230+ acres, not 300.  More than 160 fire fighters, on both the east and west sides of Flagstaff Mountain worked through the night, trying to keep the fire from spreading.  The 29 homes on the west side of Flagstaff are still standing.  The 2,400+ pre-evcuation notices are still standing for the area of south Boulder.  The temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s today, and our ever-swirling and blowing mountain winds are due to pick up and blow between 20 and 35 mph this afternoon.
  I honestly feel that where I live will not be evacuated, unless something horrendous happens...  In a straight line, it's about a mile from the fire to my apartment, but, because I'm down in the valley, next to Boulder Creek, following the topography, it's actually between one and a half  to one and three-quarters miles away.  And the fire has to burn through NCAR, NOAA, NIST, and then through the University of Colorado campus before it gets to my abode.  With nasty winds, it could possibly make it's way here - but, at the moment, it doesn't seem as if it will happen.
   I do feel for those people in the High Park and Waldo Canyon fire areas - homes are going up like torches...  And I laughed out loud when I read a news report saying that the High Park fire was "nearly contained" - since when does a 65% containment of an area that is over 137 square miles "nearly contained?" It doesn't compute in my math book - especially with this mountainous and dry terrain!

Early Morning Report

I can see smoke rising from the top of Flagstaff Mountain, and from several areas on the east side of the ridge behind NCAR. The first news briefing will occur about 8:30 this morning.  It was cooler here over night, and the winds died down quite a bit.  We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
  More than 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes near Colorado Springs yesterday afternoon and evening.  A lot of homes were lost.  And the High Park fire, west of Fort Collins, has swallowed several more homes as well.  I'm off to walk the red kids before it gets too hot, and while the air quality is still half-way decent...

Boulder Fire Update

The wildfire smoke set off my smoke detector inside my apartment, so I've had to disable it already.  The fire has topped the ridge behind NCAR on Flagstaff Mountain.  Twenty-nine houses were originally evacuated - see the photos below.  Pre-evacuation reverse 911 calls have gone out to over 2,400 homes in south Boulder, with the eastern boundary being Broadway.  Broadway is only 14 blocks from my apartment.

 The smoke from the Boulder - Flagstaff fire as seen from one block south of my apartment.

The Flagstaff fire as seen from the evacuated houses on the west side of Flagstaff Mountain.

This photo was taken two blocks northeast of my apartment.

We have had a brief splatter of rain - not enough to even wet my shirt thoroughly.  I can see flames on top of Flagstaff from the front of my apartment building....  There was an informational press meeting set for this fire at 8:30; however, the local stations are covering the Waldo Canyon  Fire press update, as they have many more houses at stake to their fire at this time.....

Lovey is staying as close to me as possible; Nedi has gone into his hidey-hole in the closet.