VOLUNTEERS AND PRAYERS NEEDED FOR HAYMAN FIRE

6/20/2002 | SELF

[ODDITHER]

Volunteers needed for Hayman Fire Support

There is a need for volunteers to help with the Hayman Fire. They are

needing volunteers at both command posts, in Lake George and Castle

Rock. They are expecting to have around 1800 firefighters to feed this

weekend, and need help with meals, taking care of evacuated animals,

answering phones, and probably a lot of other things. They are in need

of bottled water, gatorade, lip balm, eye drops, sun block, powerbars,

and heavy gloves. We have volunteers coming in from all over the

country to help with a fire in our state, so those of us that live

here, especially those of us that have used these forests, parks,

trails, etc. should try and do what we can to help as well. Even if

it's only for an afternoon or evening.

 

 A worker yesterday in Castle Rock said they were needing more help

with phones and serving meals especially. She also said they were

having a hard time getting people that would take the late night and

early morning shifts. Most of the shifts are only 3 or 4 hours.

SPECIFICS:

There is a Volunteer Center in Littleton, on the corner of Colorado

Blvd and Arapahoe that takes short applications and assigns people

to areas. Their number is 303-779-9662. They are also a donation center

for dropping off needed items. The number to the Salvation Army in

Castle Rock for volunteering there is 303-866-9280. They can set you

up in either Castle Rock or Sedalia. The number to the Salvation Army

in Colorado Springs for volunteering there or probably in the Lake

George area is 719-636-3891. If you could forward this to others you

know that might be able to volunteer, especially those that hike,

bike, and camp, that would be great! Thanks!!!

Claudia Winkler

Administrative Director

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

phone: 303.715.1010 ext. 20

fax: 303.715.1212

email: cwinkler@voc.org

web: www.voc.org <http://www.voc.org>

 

Jeff Woodhouse

Director of Communications &

Legislative Affairs

Department of Personnel &

Administration

Phone: 303-866-6484

Fax: 303-866-6569

[ODDITHER]

The fire is now 6 miles from where we lived for 15 years. Many of our friends and family have been evacuated. Those of you too far away to help, please say a prayer for rain and calm winds. My parents have packed all of their belongings in their travel trailer, ready to evacuate at a moments notice. Many freepers may also be affected.

[cksharks]

These people are just as green as anyone in Oegon. Maybe this will wake them up to the fact you will get fires if you dont maintain forests. You have to let people cut the underbrush and the dead trees. In no way do I not feel the pain of these people. Three years ago when we were having all he fires in Fl I spent money I didnt have to protect my home from fires.This included clearing about three acres in the middle of the ten acres we own.

[Molly Pitcher]

Thanks, ODDITHER. Am forwarding this to my son who lives in the Wash Park area.

[scholar]

I used to live in the Denver area and really love Colorado. Wish I could do more as I am now in Indiana. Will send you folks my prayers.

God bless

[pubmom]

Praying for rain and calm winds. One of my very close friends lives in Aurora, and she's described what has been happening in great detail daily. I'll pass on the volunteer and donation info to her.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

That MIGHT be, but unless you know them...
and of anyone, you have been here long enough to know about threads that are pleas for help. Maybe we should save flames for another time. Regards...

[wireplay]

No, not actually. Teller County is as conservative as they come but yes, we do love the environment. A lot of the forest here was planted in the 1930s during the works projects and the trees are too close. Many of us would love to have the forest thinned a bit but that is handled in Washington. We have a Republican governor, 2 republican senators, and lord knows how many republican house seats.

I maintain my property including thinnng around 12 trees on my 3 acres that were infected with pine beetle and dwarf mistletoe. Now please explain to me why I deserve to lose my property? Do you think we don't consider forest fires every year? We live in a freakin' forest for gods sake and no, no one compensates me squat for taking care of my property.

We haven't had a fire in decades, pine beetles have ravaged us and there isn't a cure, dwarf mistletoe is rampant and, guess what, no cure, and we are in the worst drought in decades. Take your 'they're all greens' somewhere else cause I think Teller County voted 87% for Bush in the last election.

[The Chief]

My prayers go out to all those that in live harms way.

Further my prayers go out to all my brother and sister firefighters that are working this terrible fire...

[brat]

Will forward to Co.....God speed!

[Rick.Donaldson]

Just an update, live from Colorado. I spent a few hours running some amateur radio equipment at the Red Cross Shelter in Woodland Park. The Ham Radio Operators of the surrounding counties, and including Teller County, Douglas, El Paso have been working almost 24 hours per day since the fire started passing emergency message traffic. We're all trying to pitch in, any way we can.

I'll be back out there this weekend if they need me, as will all the others. (I've even taken a day off work to help, but they decided they had MORE help than necessary that day, so I didn't get to assist.)

The smoke from the Hayman fire has covered Colorado Springs (where I live) for the better part of 5 days. Yesterday, we had some rain. The temps have dropped some and the skies have been overcast on an off the past couple of days. This has helped considerably, and the fire has not advanced toward Palmer Lake (a large community just north of the Colorado Springs area). However, it is FAR from being out.

It may take as long as 3 months to completely extinguish.

Terry Barton was granted bail yesterday - 600,000 dollars, and must live in a "half way house" (we assume for her own protection). She was told she can not visit any areas that have forests.... (duh). - That's about it, live from Colorado Springs. - Rick

[Cincinatus' Wife]

National Incident Information Center - FIRE AND AVIATION MANAGEMENT - Maps

My prayers for those fighting the fires and those families in the path of the fire. Arizona also has a terrible fire raging in Show Low.

[taxcontrol]

I worked a fire lines once. Swore I'd never do it again. That was when I decided to take an easy (by comparison) job with the US Infantry.

Folks, I can't tell you what working a fire line is like. It is the hotest, dirtiest, most tiring work that you can imagine. I've seen wall -- LITERALLY --, walls of fire 40 - 60 feet high. The heat so hot that you would get 1st and 2nd degree burns just by being too close. I've seen trees explode from within. And the sound!! So loud that you can't yell over it. Smoke so thick you cant breath or see your way.

The only thing that I've ever seen come close is the guys that used to stoke up the coke fires in a steel mill. It is not uncommon for fighters to loose more than two pounds of water each day. What makes the Hayman fire even worse, is the landscape.

Though I live too far to be of any assistance, my prayers go out to those that form that thin yellow line that stands between Hell and the rest of the world.