Fire

[liralen]

The fire line on the hill glows bright, almost like some high school prank gone chaotic.

The winds today were typical Boulder winds. Steady 50's, gusts from 75 to 100 mph, with this light air it's not quite as strong as at sea level. But then the fire started from a downed electrical line. When we went to pick Jet up at his school to get him to the passport office on time, the whole hillside, one of the Front Range "hills" was on fire. The air filled with smoke, and when we came back home, the sunset was browned by the huge plume of smoke blowing to the West.

We're out of the path, but the Denver coverage is saying "Niwot" and "Longmont" for the location north of Boulder. We're close enough that the air is full of smoke. Close enough to be able to see how quickly the flames move. The fire is south of us and the wind, the Jet Stream (made Jet giggle) is doing the usual Western thing. The weather is dry and warm, the snow of a week ago is completely gone. It was nearly in the 50's this morning, and abrupt change from the days before.

They're on it. Keeping the "structures" safe, and reverse 911 gave some folks only five or ten minutes as the wind was moving the flames FAST, but everyone's evacuated. I'm very glad that the local news crews are sane about getting out when told to by Hot Shots.

Comments

[mysocalledhell.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it sounds like you're safe ... I hope you stay that way. *hugs*

[liralen.livejournal.com]

*hugs warmly* Yeah, it's been very weird to watch, but safe.

[tallcedars.livejournal.com]

It's really a shame that we can't ship some of the water from WA out your way.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well, when the live trees have wood that's drier than kiln-dried wood from the NW...

... most of it is grass fire, which is mostly easy for the firefighters to control to NOT burn structures. But... it's still kind of scary to watch.

[incandescens]

Yikes. I hope you stay safe.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Thanks!! I am pretty sure we'll stay safe, though it's gotten 1000 acres already... mostly pasture lands.

[sophiap.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear you're safe, and that everyone in harm's way was able to get out in time.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yes. Even the horses, which was hard in the wind and fire, but the Boulder County Fairgrounds opened up for everyone, and that's been good.

[blindgeoff.livejournal.com]

Since I live in 'rangefire of the month' country I'm glad to hear you're out of the expected path... that said, I still recommend keeping an 'oh crap!' bag for each of you, ready to toss in car if the wind should shift.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Totally. Reminded to get all my backups done, too. *laughs*

[akuni.livejournal.com]

How scary! I hope you guys stay out of the path, yikes. Any chance they can put the fire out, or is it just damage control at this point?

[liralen.livejournal.com]

With the winds, it's been just damage control to this point, keeping structures safe. Only two houses have burnt, and the rest have been kept safe. It's just a grass fire, but the ones that burned had a bunch of big, old trees right over the houses. And here the live trees have wood that's drier than kiln-dried wood from most other places.

And, sadly, the winds picked up again this morning and another power line started a third fire during the night. But... it's mostly controlled still. the 60 degree weather is making it a little easier on the fighters to do stuff, but the cold front, tonight, should calm things down a little in the wind department.

[ginnyvos.livejournal.com]

Oh man... I'm glad to hear you're safe and sound. Please take care and stay that way ok? It sounds so scary...

[liralen.livejournal.com]

It was... luckily, they did pretty well at dawn this morning when the winds died. Got most of it out and take care of before the winds picked up again... but a lot of burned grassland. Luckily, no one hurt. A few buildings, but they were evacuated in plenty of time.