I apologize for the quality of this image but I want to post it anyway. It is my attempt at showing the size of this fire. I am probably 20-25 miles from the High Park Fire that has been burning since last Saturday morning. It is located just west of Fort Collins along the foothills. Here is a bit of information about the fire. The fire is burning and has burned all the area from about an inch on either side of this image. Here is a link to some better images.
The fire has now burned 52,000 acres. They are using nine helicopters and fixed-winged aircraft and over 1,300 fire fighters along with the help of the National Guard. Over 100 structures have burned – 48 of those being hones. In the above image you can see rain clouds on the left. However, this thunder cell created downdrafts, not rain, which stirred up embers that jumped the Poudre River at Stevens Gulch and is heading towards the Glacier View Meadows Neighborhood. Not good. We so need the rain!
6 Comments
Mary Ann
Praying for your rain Monte. I hope you aren’t in danger. Mary Ann
Monte Stevens
Thank, Mary Ann. Everyone needs prayers as the property and emotional losses are assessed. I’m okay as I’m about 15 miles from the eastern perimeter. I smell the smoke and an sweeping ashes off my porch.
ken bello
I really enjoyed my visits to Ft. Collins years ago and I was very upset about the recent fires. Hope it’s far enough away from you.
Monte Stevens
Some reports suggest this will burn for a long time as so much of the area contained beetle-killed pine. As of this morning they are now reporting 112 homes have been lost. It is sad to think about how much sweat has been invested into these homes by their owners. Monetarily they can be replaced but the time and work each one put into these homes can never be replaced.
Mark
I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have your home in the path of such a thing. Hopefully everyone will escape safely and this will get under control soon. Seems this entire country is in need of a good drenching.
Monte Stevens
Yes, we are very dry. I have friends who just sold their house in town to retire to their home in Glacier View Meadows. They now have had to evacuate that home. They say it’s 45% contained but how do we contain nature? We are still at its mercy.