Fox21 News - EXCLUSIVE NEW PHOTO shows devastation at the Royal Gorge - This is the view from the park looking at the bridge
Posted on 06/13/2013 9:26:09 AM PDT by CedarDave
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa says at least 360 homes are complete losses -- numbers he calls "shocking" -- and another 14 are damaged as firefighters prepare to face another "red flag" day fighting the Black Forest fire.
The destruction of homes ranks the Black Forest fire as the worst wildfire in Colorado history, surpassing the 347 homes destroyed by the Waldo Canyon fire last June in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs.
It also ranks atop the list for most forced evacuations. Maketa said 38,000 people have been forced from their homes by the Black Forest fire, again exceeding the 32,000 evacuated from Colorado Springs during the Waldo Canyon fire.
Maketa has no update on a missing person report filed Wednesday. Attempts to investigate the report are being hampered by intense fire.
"I have not heard of a report of injuries and no information on fatalities at this time," Maketa said.
As for today, the fire remains completely out of control and likely will as long as winds gusting to 40 mph whip it every direction, he said.
"We're not at a point where we can declare containment," Maketa said.
He said the prospect of winds in the 30 mph range with gusts to 35 mph today make prospects for containment doubtful, he said.
The goal today will be to stop its spread to the west and northwest where affluent Colorado Springs neighborhoods and the communities of Woodmoor and Monument sit.
"Those are going to be the priorities," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at gazette.com ...
That's a healthy perspective to have. Anything lost or destroyed is merely an earthly posession, and in most cases can be replaced and rebuilt. But you can't replace the loss of a loved one.
Windy little cells heading that way from the Range roughly 80 miles west of there, generating ~ 60 mph gusts. They might increase chances of dry thunderstorms (clashing with different wind on the east side of the Front Range there), although winds should decrease much before arrival. Just heard thunder up here now.
6:15 p.m. Recap of Black Forest fire numbers:
Deaths: 2
Size: 15,700 acres. 25 square miles.
Containment; 5 percent
Evacuations: 41,000 people from 14,000 homes in El Paso County and city of Colorado Springs.
Homes destroyed: 360, as of 2 a.m.
Firefighters: 750
I was told that some sort of super dust devil came through this place, while I was out (”looked like a dirt tornado, couldn’t see anything”). Strong south wind with cooler air now. I’ll check wind in the springs from a weather station (as in someone’s weather shed hooked up to the Net).
Not bad at one station in the Springs. Winds about 1-5 mph, gusts to a little less than 10 mph.
That’s near the Academy. Winds from SSW to SE, varying about 3-10 mph.
Guess the little burst way up here was only an upslope effect (gust about 87 mph with the tiny dust twister, not too unusual here). My station’s not hooked up to the Net, yet (need to build more onto the PV solar plant first for keeping the computer, router and antenna up 24/7, no power lines within several miles, unfortunately).
Prayers up for the folks in Colorado.
Fox21 News - EXCLUSIVE NEW PHOTO shows devastation at the Royal Gorge - This is the view from the park looking at the bridge
I would get my cats into their carriers and by that time it would be too late. If there was more time I would grab the jewelry.
This picture makes me cry. So many memories, here and in the Springs... and all over Colorado.
My daughter, son in law and precious grandbaby relocated to Castle Rock CO, for sil’s “career” this past winter. Yesterday she told me they had smoke smell and some ash/haze. Haven’t heard from her (we text a few times a day) Yet today. She was explaining (yesterday) that CR is in “Palmers Pass” and that they are not “dry” so even though fire is expanding their area is “safe.” I pray she is right, but as this their first experience w/CO wildfires, any input any locals could give would be greatly appreciated.
Oh my—your family is very affected by this. Prayers for them!
My daughter saw their move west as an “adventure.” S-I-L wasn’t “happy” with his employment situation in PA so he decided to uproot and go to CO (did I mention they drove across country, I -70, during Winter Storm Q?) THAT is their level of “attention”’ to the world around them. It just scares me that they don’t know/understand the severity of what could be facing them.
Awful
I remember when my husband was in the military and driving through blizzards to get home. When your young you think you’ll live forever. Now I worry about my boys and other family like my parents did.
If they live in Castle Rock they aren't even close to being in any current danger. There would have to be an apocalyptic failure for the fire to reach CR from the Black Forest.
All of my guns, ammo, and valuable papers are in a large fireproof safe in my all metal shop building. The only thing in that shop that I would have a real problem replacing are my antique wood working hand tools. In any case it would be a real surprise to find that building on fire. I store all flammables in a separate outbuilding that I would have no problem losing. Everything in my house is just material things and are insured anyway.
I would be sure to take at least one gun with plenty of ammo for personal protection. :)
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