From my contacts the lone part of Co Springs proper -- which was just underway for mandatory evac today -- is the furthest tip North of the city & is = with the lowest portion of Black Forest. Even tho this portion of Co Springs isn't heavily wooded, Black Forest to the East of it is...and the winds are blowing the flames that way.
Because of these winds...I'm told that the sections now at risk include not only the unburnt portions of Black Forest & that one section of Co Springs, but Glen Eagle North/NW of there, and then (eventually) the eastern portion of the community of Monument...and then the winds are supposed to re shift from the West tonight...meaning other parts of Black Forest, the northern portion of the community of Falcon -- and rural Elbert County -- will become at risk.
All total, this will push it well beyond 40,000 people under mandatory evac!
Also reports have emerged that there is a new fire 5 miles north of Cripple Creek in the mountains West of Co Springs...and part of the facilities of the Royal Gorge park were destroyed (not the bridge) in a separate fire West of Canon City.
I know it’s one family in the midst of a huge disaster, but I have wondered if the family of the murdered head of the Department of Corrections has been burned out.
It sounds like the entire Black Forest is going to burn. Horrible.
The wind is coming from the west on the Range now (quite a few miles northwest of the Springs here), so 24 to 9 to the resorts might be a good route for some. For others, if they can get safely to 67 at Woodland and go north to Santa Fe Dr. (85), that’s a long but nice way around traffic to the west Denver area.