Posted on 06/13/2011 12:19:16 PM PDT by Kartographer
Interstate 25 is closed over Raton Pass because of a large wildfire burning just south of the Colorado border with New Mexico.
The Track Fire has now grown to 2,700 acres. About 200 structures, both residential and commercial, are threatened by the blaze.
(Excerpt) Read more at kktv.com ...
That whole area is a tinder box!
I was there last week helping my father. Our ranch looks like mid January and we are already supplementing our cows on what is left of last year’s grass.
There were over 450 fire fighters who camped out on my old High School football field. They were fighting a fire down on the Pinon Canyon fire.
MFO
Another beautiful area facing destruction due to “Green” policies and Federal Government mismanagement. Washington MUST be brought back under control and faced with accountability for its actions.
If they’re stopping them at mile marker 11 on I-25 in CO, that’s the turn-off for Walmart on top of the hill in Trinidad, CO. I know it well.
If that fire comes over the hills down into CO, there’s tons of beetle-killed trees up in the highlands above Trinidad, and I’m sure the PJ is plenty dry as well. It could burn down to Trinidad before it runs out of fuel on the north side of Trinidad.
Noon Monday NM aerial video here:
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/weather/wildfires/wildfire-closes-i25-over-raton-pass
NRA Whittington Center is near Raton. Lovely area! Hate to see such destructive fire!
Hoping that the wind keeps coming from the west instead of the south today. ;-)
If you are sitting in Raton take US64/87 East to Des Moines NM. Look at your map there are several clearly marked State highways that will take you South over to Branson, CO. Just past Branson you’ll hit US 160 take it West and you’ll hit I25 at mile marker 15 in Trinidad, CO. It is about 80 miles out of the way but if you need to get across it’s the only way I know of using paved roads. I’ve done it many times (though coming from the East, Texas) in a 365 inch wheelbase KW dragging a 53 foot wagon. So I know if your in a large RV you’ll have no problem. Plus it is a beautiful drive.
We need rain so bad. You can not believe how dry Southern Colorado is right now. I live at 7000 feet in tall pines and if a fire starts it will move fast. Everything is turning brown. The stream next to my house should be roaring this time of year instead it’s down to a trickle. We’ve been under a red flag warning (extremely high fire danger) everyday for the last 30 days. My wife and I have our RV ready to go at a moments notice. Back up the pick up throw in the pets and didi down the mountain.
It is terrible dry in all of that area. I am very familiar with the area. My family ranched in Tercio for several years when CF&I owned all of that country.
MFO
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