Colorado is on fire

[MileHigh]

It has been a disastrously dry spring/early summer and there are fires everywhere in the state. It's a tinderbox and it's going up in flames at the drop of a hat.

The one in Fort Collins has been going for weeks. A new one started above Boulder this afternoon (lightning). And tonight, the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs exploded and many, many homes are burning to the ground. It's unreal watching this. 30,000 have been evacuated down there.

Here's a picture from late this afternoon. That's the Air Force Academy's football stadium in the foreground.

Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected -- and it's lots of people.

 

[imjustagirl]

That photo is frightening and amazing.

Matt Stephens had been updating us on his brush with it over here:

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/90556/

But he hasn't checked in in a while. We're all hoping he's OK.

 

[MileHigh]

He's down in the city, like my sister and her family, and the fire near Fort Collins has stayed in the mountains, though it has claimed lots of homes. The thunderstorms that were predicted today were more lightning and wind. And it's supposed to stay dry for the next week, so this can go on for a while.

 

[MileHigh]

Another from the Springs. It's a freakin' inferno:

 

[Mark2010]

Wow, those are some amazing, scary photos. Friend and former colleague of mine in Montana has a much smaller fire just a couple of miles from her place.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Fairly large chunk of NW Colorado Springs is under a mandatory evacuation order.

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

The Air Force Academy is also being evacuated:

 

[imjustagirl]

This is so absolutely foreign to my mind. I have friends who have been through it, and I just can't comprehend waking up and looking out my window and seeing my town on fire. With nothing you can do.

My thoughts with all those affected in ANY of the wildfires.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Live stream from KKTV.

http://www.kktv.com/video/live

 

[MileHigh]

Winds got up to 65 mph down there today. There's no stopping a fire with that kind of wind, with how dry it is.

For perspective, this is the northwest portion of the Springs, up against the Rampart Range. There are multiple homes gone. It was called 'structure to structure ignition."

 

[Roscablo]

Today was the fifth straight day in triple digits along the Front Range and the sixth or seventh overall and it's still June. Very unusual for these parts. Add on that most places haven't had significant precipitation since that early February snow dumping and it was only a matter of time. And, again, unfortunately it's only June.

 

[MileHigh]

And the command post is now being evacuated.

 

[Mark2010]

I hate to pile on anyone's disaster, but that photo is Pulitzer quality.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Denver Post photo gallery:

http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2012/06/photos-waldo-canyon-fire-near-garden-of-the-gods/38318/#133

 

[playthrough]

If only the 12-24 inches of tropical storm rain falling this week in north Florida could be shipped out there. Really feel for all those folks.

 

[MileHigh]

We'll take 1-2 inches.

 

[Cubbiebum]

Wow is all I can say.

 

[LongTimeListener]

And the command post is now being evacuated.

I don't know the person, but a FB friend-of-a-friend posted this exact photo with the chilling words "Our home is on the far left." That's a jolt of reality.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Global warming is a *****.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

The Mayans warned everyone about this.

 

[Chef2]

We've been doing updates from a good friend at KRDO in CS.

He says it's like something out of a movie.