Other current info for anyone interested:

http://www.kktv.com/news/wildfires

My most recent FB update:


"OK...most recent update. Manitou Springs, Crystal Park, Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls, Cascade, part of Mountain Shadows all mandatory evacuation. Highway 24 closed BOTH directions as they are expecting it to reach there shortly. Teller County just put Woodland Park on stand by for possible evacuation. Cedar Heights subdivision now in direct line of fire but was evacuated yesterday. We are less than 5 miles from the most recent photos of the fire/smoke I just posted. Winds are supposed to change directions this afternoon and NOT in our favor. Just keep the prayers coming. ZERO containment. Hottest temperature on record here today (102). NO moisture/no humidity in the forecast...just 90's. There is not much good news at this point. We have had lots of offers for places to go so we are not concerned about that. We have the important stuff packed up just in case and WE ARE FINE. This is all just "stuff" and we will have plenty of time and access to leave if/when that time comes."

Still sending my prayers!!!<3

~Erica~

Sending prayers and hopefully some rain God willing.

What Garden of the Gods normally looks like:







This was almost an hour ago (2 HOURS before the sun even sets):

It almost looks like it's already covered in ashes, is it? Any new news? Did the wind hold off?

I was reading on MSNBC and they are still calling them all wildfires but on a positive note - the governor was quoted saying that half of the nations fire fighting resources are in CO now. I am so glad that they have rallied to help.

quote:

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Originally posted by DoubleBogey

It almost looks like it's already covered in ashes, is it? Any new news? Did the wind hold off?

I was reading on MSNBC and they are still calling them all wildfires but on a positive note - the governor was quoted saying that half of the nations fire fighting resources are in CO now. I am so glad that they have rallied to help.

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There are 2 huge military planes (c-130's-MAFFS) thats sole purpose is to put out fires just sitting at Peterson Air Force Base(around 8-10 miles from the fire), waiting for our town to "exhaust all of our resources"! At the same time, they are sending 2 more from Wyoming.This fire is on National Forest property and is in between Fort Carson and the United States Air Force Academy...What are they waiting for? They said that they will "wait" to rally until tomorrow, hopefully no one will die and no houses burn down.WTF?

http://www.krdo.com/news/MAFFS-to-help-fight-Colo-wildfires/-/417220/15223482/-/126f6gpz/-/index.html

That wasn't ash...just all thick smoke. There were some ashes flying around but not much at that point. Just eerie looking in the daytime.

Kylah, those two pictures are WORLDS apart!

And are you kidding me Scott?!?!? That sounds...kind of backwards! I mean, I get that they need to have a "reserve" standing by for emergencies - but I am kind of thinking that THIS is THAT emergency. Call me crazy.

SO maybe what the governor meant to say is "we have half the nations resources rallied to help - but not gonna use 'em/ get 'em just yet." WTH????

Just in case you haven't seen the article - here is the quote and the link. They updated it to say the extra line about Peterson and them starting on Monday. My question again is - WHY WAIT? Wouldn't it have been more effective to start TODAY on the hottest day for you guys? I can only imagine that there needs to be as much going on aerially as possible since the poor guys on the ground are basically fighting Goliath.

"Half the nation's firefighting fleet is now battling fires in Colorado, said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. He said C-130 military transport planes from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs would begin assisting on Monday."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47938078/ns/weather/#.T-fw4pG8L-c

There are some interesting first hand comments in that article that were pretty serious detailing the fear and some evacuations.

They do have to deplete local resources before the others can come in. They've made it a point to explain the process all day. To us, it's stupid but I'm assuming they know what they're doing. LOL. Did I just say that out loud? Also, the air space is another thing they've addressed. Because of the close proximity, they are limited with the number of aircraft that can be in the air at the same time. Believe me, any possible question people could have about anything you can think of has been asked and addressed. This is, no doubt, frightening, but geez they've sure been working their asses off. These people are amazing. They evacuated Manitou Springs at 1:30 this morning. Not only did they get everyone out without incident, the sheriff and fire dept both said they haven't heard one negative thing from a resident and the cooperation has been amazing. As petrified as I am, watching flames from my house (less than 5 miles away), I have no doubt at all they are doing everything they've been able to. These poor firefighters have 10 wildfires in Colorado. Ours is 3600 acres or so. The High Park one is 80 THOUSAND acres with hundreds of homes lost, one death, 2,000 firefighters and zero relief. Plus, they're trying to find an arsonist. I'm in awe, honestly.

I just want to clarify that my tone was not with CO or the firefighters/crews that are busting tail on the ground and in the air right now - I am sure that they doing ALL they can. I was more commenting on why more "outside governmental/resources" were not coming in because it sounded like...they were holding them back? I understand them needing to exhaust the local resources first, it just seems like this is SO big...that it could be anticipated that the local resources would be exhausted....quite quickly. I mean 80,000 acres...that's a big fire. I don't know how many firefighters you guys have but we would be maxed out in a quick hurry. Even with 2000 firefighters - with no relief, that sounds exhausted to me. I would be exhausted! I feel bad for them. But honestly, what do I know? I don't even live in CO, LOL! I'm just concerned for you guys, otherwise it would have been kind of on but off radar if that makes sense.

But as you said, I am sure they have thought of everything. I don't know anything more than what I read here or on the internet/news. So, I won't speculate on any of that any further. I just hope and pray that they can get ahead of this thing no matter what resources they do or don't have.

I wasn't thinking anything of your tone. Just wanted to say how proud I am of this city and the way they (residents) have handled themselves. One of the places boarding horses put a message out that they were in desperate need of hay and within hours, put out a message they had plenty and didn't need anymore. Just little stuff like that I've heard for 2 days now gives you hope in at least some humans. 11,000 people evacuated, over 13,000 structures threatened and not one injury and still not one structure burned? Hell yes!

It's all terrible and terrifying but I have to force myself to stop and acknowledge it could be so much worse. So much.

Air space? Do they think we hide under a rock during the air shows at the AFA! If they can fly 5 jets 5 feet apart at 300 mph with pretty different colored smoke coming out, doing barrel rolls at 300 feet, they could space out 2 more fire fighting aircraft that are just sitting on a tarmac a few miles away . If people are in danger, I see no reason to wait...besides red tape and that doesn't cut it.

The good part of this fire is that the fire is killing all the bark beetles that are destroying all the trees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/science/18trees.html?pagewanted=all

I don't make the laws! LOL. Just relaying what I heard. All day, I saw multiple helicopters and planes out there at the same time.

Expense Scott. I don't know. I'm sure if they saw that the fire was getting crazy out of control, they'd move faster. I have to think it is expense that may be keeping them grounded. Don't think for a second these pilots aren't ready to go. It's their job and they take it seriously. The orders have to come from higher up. They also probably want to be sure that this isn't just a diversion for an attack. Just mpo. I live with a military man. He's suspicious of everything. Last year we had a pretty big fire here in Texas that raged for what a week and the government didn't help us at all. It finally burned itself out.

quote:

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Originally posted by Catman

The good part of this fire is that the fire is killing all the bark beetles that are destroying all the trees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/science/18trees.html?pagewanted=all

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quote:

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Originally posted by kyro298

I wasn't thinking anything of your tone.

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Oh good! I thought I might have offended you! I just want you guys to have all you need. It sounds like there is a lot being done by your own for sure.

It does sound like the local community is REALLY coming together and working together - this is the good stuff humans are made of and I am glad you have it right there - whereas in times like these in the past, there were looters and criminals going nuts. Those evacuation and structure numbers are large and it's quite impressive that they have been able to do so much proactively to keep people safe.

Just to comment to Scott's post - red tape would be a pretty dumb reason to hold back government resources. What would really bother me if I were in the same situation would be if it was a budgetary thing - like "you spend all your money first before we come in." That would put my blood pressure to over boil. You guys are lucky to have such a strong local force.

I hope they are making progress today and that everyone stays safe! GO COLORADO GO!!!! Keep us posted!

I have been keeping my eye on Kylah via FB :) Hope you stay safe lady

5% contained but still spreading. It's going to be in the 100's for the next few days with no rain so this could go on for a long time. They sent up the c-130's yesterday but they had to be grounded after the winds picked up.
They have only lost 1 structure so far (which is amazing!) but sadly the 1 structure is a building where my son was supposed to have a week long ADA summer camp next week http://www.eaglelakecamps.com/
Only 1 wildlife call since the fire started which is sorta strange.

I do have some photos to add but will try to do that in a while. Over 5,100 acres, 5% containment. Fires seemed closer than ever last night. The flames were so big and so high across the ridge, I watched until about 1 this morning. There isn't much good news, in my opinion. We do finally have more help though.

Projected containment date: July 16!

I forgot I posted this link the other day for anyone wanting photo updates:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3393817799460.2129645.1090134340&type=1

So crazy, Kylah - I'll be thinking of you. I lived for 2 years in Woodland Park but my friends no longer live there so I'll get no updates about the town. So scary. :( Thanks so much for these updates, glad I found this thread.

The south end of Woodland Park has been on voluntary evacuation but this fire has moved VERY quickly in the last 24 hours. I'll keep updating!

Things literally change by the minute. Woodland Park is now under pre-evacuation and here's a link for Teller County to help keep you in touch with that area:

http://www.co.teller.co.us/

I know it's natures way... culling wildlife and re-nourishing the land once the fires are contained but it's just so tragic.

Stay safe Kylah!

Normally natures way...this was arson. I wish nature would jump the populated areas!

Well in that case I hope they find who did it and string 'em up by their toes!

I wish you guys would get some of that rain that's hitting Florida.

Yea! String them up by their toes and let everybody take a whack like a pinata.

quote:

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Originally posted by JazzNZoeysmom

Well in that case I hope they find who did it and string 'em up by their toes!

I wish you guys would get some of that rain that's hitting Florida.

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I've added some extraordinary and scary photos this afternoon. The link is above.

Kylah are you evacuating? It looks SCARY up by you. GET OUT!

7000 people were just ordered to evacuate!