The High Park Wildfire, Larimer County, Colorado

The first sign of trouble Saturday afternoon--early smoke cloud over our neighborhood

I want to extend a big "Thank You!" to everyone--friends, family, blog readers, and Facebook friends--for all your good wishes this past week. The High Park wildfire here burning west of our home started on Saturday morning, due to lightning, and has been consuming our thoughts (and nearby habitat!) ever since. To date, more than 50,000 acres (about 80 square miles) have burned. Yesterday evening, a thunderstorm caused winds to blow the fire across a natural fire break--the Cache la Poudre River--forcing the evacuation at 11 PM of more residents. At this time, the fire is 15% contained. Here's a link to the current situation (it's updated frequently):
www.inciweb.org/incident/2904

It was really scary around the neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Saturday night winds were gusty and fueled the then 10,000 acre fire with oxygen. Our neighboring town, Bellvue, was evacuated, and from the bike trail less than a half-mile from my home I could see massively tall flames licking the hillsides to the south. Smoke was so thick and heavy it was difficult to breathe, and for days the yard, deck furniture, plants, etc. were covered with ash and large pieces of burned tree bark.

Right now it is breezy again, so I am a bit concerned. It's also thundering, which is good and bad. Good because we might get rain. Bad, because where there's thunder, there's lightning, the hottest known energy--53,000 degrees F. No wonder it sparks fires, especially in our current forest situation--lots of trees killed by pine beetles, and lots of drought-stricken, dry fuels just waiting to burn.

Please keep us in your thoughts. Also sending good wishes to all the firefighters here, from surrounding communities and across the nation. Other big fires are burning elsewhere, especially two in New Mexico. Let's hope we can suppress and contain these blazes quickly, with minimal loss of life-- to humans, wildlife, and the gorgeous and important habitat we treasure.