Traveling in the western United States and living there, as we did a long while back, we’ve been exposed to the western wildfires and their impacts, but never to any significant degree. For us, the closest we’ve been to a fire out there was when there was a fire that we could see from our house on a mountain on the edge of town.
Last year, we were in the area where the Waldo Canyon fire is burning, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. This image is from the Pikes Peak toll road, near the bottom.
Using an online map of the fire, I’ve modified the image, below, to show the approximate location of the fire as seen from this vantage point.
For several years, I belonged to a local volunteer fire department. I’ve fought several wildfires in this area.
Right now, our fire danger is about as bad as it gets. I’m getting our camper ready – fueling it and securing stuff inside – just in case we might need to relocate.
It’s not likely that we would have fires on the magnitude of the Waldo Canyon fire. We don’t normally get the wind like they do out west.
But, then again, this is not a normal weather year for us.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m wondering whether the new weather patterns are the new normal.
I bet you’ve had some epic adventures during your firefighting days.
Actually, from what I’ve been reading, the “new” weather patterns aren’t that new. Similar weather patterns have occurred in the past when similar conditions existed in the Pacific and Atlantic as we have now. So far as historical records, June 2012 may not even be in the top 5 hottest Junes for the United States.
My firefighting wasn’t all that exceptional. It was hard, hot, exhausting work. Fortunately the fires were normally few and far between.
That’s admirable that you were a volunteer fire fighter, Mike. I can imagine it would be exhausting. Not just physically because you have to have your wits about you when you’re out there. I hope you don’t have to deal with a fire where you are, but it’s always good to be prepared.
Thanks for providing that vantage point of the fire. From the news reports I last heard, it was only 30% contained. It seems larger than life when I hear about it on the news, but from this perspective it doesn’t seem as large as I’d imagined. Seeing the untouched forested areas surrounding it lends a hopeful feeling.
What you don’t see in the picture is how far it goes on the other side of the mountains and to the left of the picture. At most, the area I’ve shaded in is, perhaps, 5% of the total fire area for this one fire.
So far as hopeful, though, the vegitation in this fire area will regenerate, albeit over a long period, though some greenery may start appearing before the end of summer, if there’s any presipitation. It will also provide a huge barrier for future fires. That doesn’t help those who have lost their homes and, in a few cases, loved ones. Quite a tragedy.
Darned “Internet Explorere!!!!” I’m not on my own computer right now and I didn’t spell check before I answered. Firefox flags my typos so I can fix them without much thought.
Too funny, Mike.
I didn’t even notice the typos when I first read the reply. So when you commented again I had to go back and read more carefully.
I saw your reply about spell check and had to come back to comment
Sometimes I will edit typos for folk who comment on my blog if they are glaring ones. But not because I think it’s a big deal, just in case they were wishing they could fix them. We can make some pretty funny typos though, and many a joke has cropped up because of it.