Colorado fires

Well, it looks like they were giving people notice of being evacuated. Areas surrounding Sedalia are being evacuated in the next 24-48 hours, depending on the course the fire takes.

Jin - thank you for your concern. I am in the middle of Lakewood, pretty far into town, just about parallel to Morrison and Red Rocks. So, I am certainly safe right now. We have already talked about packing the important stuff into the cars so all we would have to grab are the kitties and us. I doubt/hope it won't come to that, because if they have to evacuate us about 1/4 of the Metro area could be gone. My biggest concern is that we are only about 1-2 miles from the foothills themselves. And the way this thing is growing...it's at almost 76,000 acres, so that is almost 15,000 acres in about 5 hours.

The feds are taking over the Hayman fire. They said they just can't get in front of it because of the intense smoke and speed of the fire. Last I heard it was moving at about 3-5 MPH.


This is a satellite view of Colorado. The Coal Seam fire that is close to Jin is just to the upper left of the word Colorado (indicated by the yellow dot and red scratches). The Hayman fire is the big one right in the center on the right of the mountains. Denver is obscured by the smoke. There's one more big fire down in the south by Durango, and a few more smaller fires. BTW, for the most part we have been sunny. About 90% of that isn't clouds, it's smoke.

I read, in this afternoon'e paper, that they've evacuated people, from the co9al seam fire. The Mayor Pro-Tem of Glenwood Springs says that they learned from the Storm King fire that structures can be rebuilt. Its not worth losing lives. Good for him!

Slightly good news on the Hayman Fire. The wind switched directions and is blowing the fire back onto itself. There is also some rain showers falling in the Metro area which is really cleaning out the air. The firefighters basically said that Mother Nature is going to determine when the fire will be under control because they can't do anything to stop it.

I agree, Cindy, that they are taking a responsible course of action with both of these fires. It's not worth people losing their lives for buildings.

Oh, we need rain over here too!! But I'm glad there's a little coming down SOMEWHERE. I had heard the wind was going to change direction, but I couldn't figure out how they could tell... so wasn't sure if I could believe them. Amazingly they knew what they were talking about for a change!

On my way home from work I noticed a big flare up of the Coal Seam fire in a couple of places. While it's not actually contained, they're working hard right now to do things that WILL contain it. It looks like the homes in West Glenwood Springs are safe for now, as long as the wind here DOESN'T shift. If it does, within minutes quite a few houses would burn.

Yes, Storm King taught us a lot. The federal fire management team said at a news conference earlier today that they couldn't believe the community spirit we have here, and it's just unbelievable the response from the surrounding areas. Yup. We're pretty cool.

I wish there were something we could do. I hope our thoughts and prayers will do some good. Please keep us posted.

Anything we can say seems feeble when we consider the destruction going on. I pray that lives are not lost, and that those who have been affected by this tragedy will soon experience some kind of normalcy. God bless all.

Jin & Heidi,

Just wanted to say, keep safe and I hope that the people of Colorado see some relief soon. Take care of yourselves and I'm sending good thoughts your way.

I will be praying too. Especially for some much needed rain to help with the fire!

Thank you for the well wishes and prayers from everyone.

Jin - where are you in relation to the fires? You said that your home and business was safe, just curious as to where you are. They said last night that the Coal Seam fire is up to almost 10,000 acres, but that most of the people evacuated are now allowed back into their homes.

One of the guys I work with is pretty much on standby for evacuation. They announced a little while ago more evacuations, about 4,000 people. The wind changing direction last night slowed the Hayman fire down last night, but we are expecting gusty wind in the wrong direction all day today.

It's ironic...the little bits of rain we got last night were actually because of the fire. The smoke particles attach to the moisture, making the raindrops heavier, causing rain. It looks like both of these fires are pretty much just a waiting game.

Heidi, my home is in New Castle, which is about 2 miles from where the fire started, but to the West of the fire so we were always safe at home. The business is located in South Glenwood Springs. West and North Glenwood Springs are the areas affected. So there's such a slim chance I would have ever been involved in the Coal Seam Fire I'm sure I'm completely safe at home and at work.

They have the Coal Seam Fire at 5% containment. It has "laid down" for the day. For some reason, unlike most fires, this one flares up in the afternoon and evening. During the day it quiets down and smoulders. The wind has died down which is good for the firefighters, but bad for the air quality.

They have opened the evacuation area only because they couldn't keep anyone out any longer. People were getting very angry because of a lack of information. If they would have just TOLD everyone what was going on, it would have been a lot better. People just wanted information, but when they didn't get it, they decided it was time to take matters into their own hands and go have a look-see themselves. The area is apparently still very unsafe and at risk. The sherriff has asked that anyone that has a home there voluntarily packs up and leaves, but the area IS open. Most residents are heeding the advice to only gather belongings and get out. I don't think anyone is staying for now. It's probably wiser that way.

I understand they're managing to get the Hayman fire under a little bit of control... at least behind it so that if it comes back they'll have a good foothold on it.

I'm glad to hear you are completely safe. I know your fire is a whole lot closer to you than the one over here. It sounds like they are getting more crews up there to work on the Coal Seam Fire. At least it looks like they have a shot at controling it.

Ha...boy, that's not how they are talking about letting people back in on the news. That's completely believable, though. I never have figured out why officials won't give out basic information to the people who need to know it. They always have to put a spin on it and make it seem so hush-hush and classified. It's a fire, for goodness sake - everyone can see it!


They said they had it 5% contained on the back end. The other - maybe - good thing that they aren't reporting is that it is starting to come up on some spots that have already burned this year. My co-worker said that is probably the only thing that could save his home if it comes up that direction (He lives just south of Conifer).

I also thought it was interesting that they said right now rain may be a bad thing for the water supply. Hayman has burned almost all around Cheesman Reservoir which is the main water supply for Denver. So far the reservoir hasn't been contaminated, but if we get a good rain the charred remnants would run into the water supply.

What is wrong with some people?!?!?

Some jerk is going up Highway 285, in the same area as the Hayman Fire, intentionally setting fires! Luckily, they have been caught early before they got out of control and put out before they burned much area. You also have to understand, there are a lot of houses and subdivision along that highway. I guess some people will do anything for their 15 minutes of fame.

On the plus side, they now have the full license plate information on the idiots who had the illegal campfire that started this whole mess. Those people are really SOL!

OMG! Some people! It just makes you wonder what the hell is going through their minds.

I heard yesterday that they weren't releasing any info on the idiot that had the illegal campfire... at the time I thought it was because they didn't want a lynch mob going after them. After hearing the info you gave, Heidi, I imagine they didn't actually know who it was at that time.

How is it possible for someone to take joy in trying to destroy people's property-and possibly take lives in the process? That's a sick mind!

Remember, a few years ago, the mother who was setting fires, so that her son would get more work? There are a lot of nuts, out there.

For anyone still interested, here's the latest update on the fires.

The Coal Seam fire (the one by Jin) is up to 10,000 acres. They said a good way to think about it is that a football field is about 1 acre, to give it some perspective. They said as of last night it is 5% contained, and they are hoping to have it completely contained in about 2 weeks, as long as weather and such cooperate. About 24 families lost their homes to the fire.

The Hayman fire is almost 100,000 acres, or about 140 square miles. The winds are supposed to be shifting today and tonight to the northeast, pushing the fire (hopefully for us) away from Denver. We have made the national main headlines since the fire is the largest, and most expensive fire in Colorado history, and it is encroaching on the southern-most Denver suburbs. So far, it has burned 21 structures, about half of which are homes, the other half being recreational cabins, campground buildings, and outbuildings. It is about 5% contained, but they are not sure if that containment will hold with the wind changing directions and how unpredictable this fire is.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program...

*cough gasp choke cough cough*

Heidi, I'm really glad that the wind has shifted and is helping control the Hayman fire... but it's choking me! Blech!! The smoke here is just awful. Stinky, smelly, thick, yuck! But I'll be glad to put up with it as long as it's doing some good!

Yup ~ at last count, the Coal Seam fire was 10,424 acres. That was yesterday at noon they were reporting that, though, so I would have to assume it's slightly larger by now. It's cost 4.5 million dollars, and has consumed 28 homes, and apparently 1 business, although no one around here can figure out what business could have been burned down.... And we're still at 5% containment.

Back to you, Heidi!

Here I am again, wanting to say something to comfort you, but I can't find words to describe the enormity of this disaster! I just have to keep praying. God can fill in the blanks, because all I can say is, "Oh, Lord!"

For those of us not directly affected, i.e. not evacuated, I think the numbness has set in and it is just another fact of life. Yup, there's a huge fire over there. Yup, breathing smoke is how it is. Yup, it sure is bad, hope they can get a handle on things. Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do but wait it out and hope the weather cooperates. Of course, all it will take is a change in wind direction, reports that the fire is headed toward Denver, and I'm sure I will hit panic mode again. I'm sure it's the same psychological response that people in war zones have (although obviously not to that extreme), how people in Israel go on with their lives.

My supervisor at work set out a pitcher for donations to help the firefighters, and there has actually been some response here. They desperately need things like chapstick, sunscreen, energy bars, and sports drinks. So with all the money we collect here, she will go and buy those supplies they have asked for. It may not even be a drop in the bucket, but at least we can help a little.

One more feel-good story for the day...Hubby was at a grocery store yesterday and saw some fire fighters in there asking to buy all the Gatorade the could since the store has a buy one get one free promotion now. The manager of the store came out with a whole palate of Gatorade cases and gave it to them, free of charge. He told the fire fighter, "Hey, you guys need it. We can just write it off, so you don't need to bring your money here."

I guess there is some good left in the world after all.

Oh, Heidi, that's great! Mankind--Humankind (not as poetic) has an affinity to goodness as well as a weakness in the other direction. Our house burned about 17 years ago, and people were unbelievably good to us. It takes tragedy to unite us sometimes, and the darkness just makes the light seem brighter. We so appreciate our lives, our friends, nature after something like this.