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 ...
Another expansion of the mandatory evacuation area:
1:48 p.m.From CSPD via Twitter: “New mandatory evac area: Sunhills Dr & Granby Rd north to Baptist Rd & south to Old North Gate. Move west, avoid 83”
1:44 p.m. Again: Mandatory Evacuation announced for nothern Colorado Springs — Northern Boundary: North Gate and Old North Gate Road - Southern Boundary: Flying Horse Club Drive (to include homes south of Flying Horse Club Drive on Barossa Valley Road and Veneto Way)/Vine Cliff Heights/Equinox Drive/Serenity Peak Drive - Eastern Boundary: Highway 83 - Western Boundary: Voyager ParkwayThis is the first mandatory evacuation within the city of Colorado Springs. Mandatory evacuation means leave your home now and head to safety.As hundreds of northern Colorado Springs residents leave their home here’s some shelter information:
Residents who cannot stay with family or friends outside the evacuation area, go to one of the shelters listed below:
Palmer Ridge High School- 19255 Monument Hill Rd, Monument
Small Animal Shelters:
Powers Pet Emergency- Powers and Stetson Hills – Offering small animal assistance, medical & kennel. Ph (719) 473-0482
Falcon Animal Hospital- Phone (719) 495-1457, is now accepting dogs and cats. Address: 860 Swing Line Road. Palmer Ridge High School 19255 Monument Hill Road Monument, CO 80132 Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region 610 Abbot Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80905
If you are NOT staying with your pets at the Palmer Ridge High School shelter, you must bring your animals to Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region at 610 Abbot Lane. The Palmer Ridge High School shelter is set up for owners staying with their pets only.
From new dots on the map behind the link, it appears that the fire is jumping way to the east. No surprise, because it’s breezy here on the Range way to the west. Generally southwest wind but probably different direction from the local wind direction in the Springs (usually more north or south oriented there).
The wind is from the southeast and the fire is moving to the west and northwest. The dots on the map are just the assessment as of very early this morning and are not definitive of current conditions.
Moving to the west and northwest? It’s going to be an expensive one then. The haze way to the northwest is pretty thick. Caution to those with conditions who head up 9 from the Springs to the resorts, which I’m sure many already have. Temperature/level inversions overnight saturating ski towns with smoke causes respiratory inflammations in the mornings.
Not near any ski area, BTW, and time to do a couple of outside chores.
From Colorado State Patrol on Interstate 25 traffic: LEFT lane for THROUGH traffic -RIGHT lane for EVACUATING residents, LAW ENFORCEMENT/FIRST RESPONDERS
2:52 p.m. New evacuations in northern Colorado Springs bring the total number of evacuees to 41,000.
2:44 p.m. Colorado State Patrol advising drivers headed to denver to take Highway 24 to I-70 then head west.
2:41 p.m. Firefighters on radio say Black Forest fire flaring up at Shoup and Falcon. Fire behavior increasing as winds are picking up.
2:36 p.m. Traffic nightmare in northern Colorado Springs. If you don’t need to be there, leave. Reporters, officials say it’s a parking lot through much of the area north of Woodmen Road.
For travel North on I25 CSP now recommends you go via Hwy 24 East out to Limon and then West to Denver.
Nearly a 200mi detour
I way to the northwest but have been around there quite a bit in the past. Suggest that folks leaving that area in the northern Springs to have a look at the interactive map on the Gazette page behind the link and head way around the fire area to the east. Then south. Choose your directions from there. If you want to go to Denver, plan on taking plenty of time.
For one, there’s Ute pass to Woodland Park, then 67 (two lane) north (that’s a right turn, city slickers), all the way to Santa Fe Dr. north (left) into the nicer western part of the Denver area. It’s a pleasant drive but a fairly long one. Watch out for deer on the road.
Drive safely. Take your time.
After going way around the fire to the east and south, try 24 (forgot the street name) south/west all the way to cross 25 and go up Ute Pass to 67 right out of Woodland Park, then up to the Denver area (Santa Fe drive). See my last comment before this one. About a 3-3 1/2-hour drive to the Denver area (will put you up near Littleton, Lakewood, etc.). Slower driving on 67 but easy. Get whatever you need in Woodland. Once heading north from Woodland, though, that is a pleasant way around traffic.
Look at the interactive map on the Gazette page behind the link above this thread. Also try MapQuest.com for map info.
There’s also 24 to 9 to the resorts, but this is the way the smoke is blowing. Out to do those chores now. ;-)
All of that and my dog!
Praying for your continued safety and that God protects your home and property.
Prayers up for your family!
Thank you!
Thanks. My niece in Monument has a 12 day old son. I told her to make sure someone is staying up all night to listen or go stay at my sisters (her mom’s house.) She is about 8 miles south of where the fire is, so I think she is safe. I pray she is. Thanks again.
More of a west wind up here now. The smoke might not be so bad in the morning after all, but it will be present (re. the 24 to 9 to resorts route).
5 p.m. update - two fatalities this afternoon, did not heed mandatory evacuation and waited too long to leave and were overcome.
Fire five percent contained, mainly on south.
Two fire crews from out of town got together with their backs literally against against the wall, fought hard and saved a Black Forest neighborhood elementary school.
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