It has been a looong while since I updated this page. I think it’s time.
Recently a lot of families here in Colorado Springs were affected by Waldo Canyon fire. 32 thousand people were evacuated, 346 families do not have their homes to go back to and 2 lost their lives. We were among the 32000 evacuees who stayed outside for a few days.
The first responders did an awesome job saving the houses and containing the fire. However people were not happy about the reverse 911 mechanism. A lot of people didn’t get notified in time. We got 10 minutes to grab our things and leave. High winds gusting to 65 miles per hour, 100+ degrees F (40+ degree C), dry undergrowth and pines made the fire so unpredictable and fast.
Just before leaving my home, I managed to get some pictures of the frightening smoke in my neighborhood. It was scary watching the trees and houses on the other side of the street (250 ft. from my home) burning. We were skeptical if our house would survive that night.
Four days later we were allowed to return. There was smell of smoke everywhere. Our next neighborhood, Mountain Shadows, had the biggest loss. We were happy to see our neighborhood survive but we feel so sad for those who lost everything.
Smoke and fire seen from my home - Tuesday afternoon.
Recently a lot of families here in Colorado Springs were affected by Waldo Canyon fire. 32 thousand people were evacuated, 346 families do not have their homes to go back to and 2 lost their lives. We were among the 32000 evacuees who stayed outside for a few days.
The first responders did an awesome job saving the houses and containing the fire. However people were not happy about the reverse 911 mechanism. A lot of people didn’t get notified in time. We got 10 minutes to grab our things and leave. High winds gusting to 65 miles per hour, 100+ degrees F (40+ degree C), dry undergrowth and pines made the fire so unpredictable and fast.
Just before leaving my home, I managed to get some pictures of the frightening smoke in my neighborhood. It was scary watching the trees and houses on the other side of the street (250 ft. from my home) burning. We were skeptical if our house would survive that night.
Four days later we were allowed to return. There was smell of smoke everywhere. Our next neighborhood, Mountain Shadows, had the biggest loss. We were happy to see our neighborhood survive but we feel so sad for those who lost everything.
Smoke seen from Colorado Springs Airport on Monday.
It was getting closer.
Fire reached Garden of the Gods Park on Tuesday Morning.
Smoke and fire seen from my home - Tuesday afternoon.
Sun turning orange due to smoke.
Fire seen from 20+ miles away – Tuesday night.
5 comments:
A terrible happening!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Makes one silent.
daily athens photo
What an ordeal to live through. I cannot imagine what it must be like for people to lose their homes and all their treasured belongings.
My heart goes out to you and all of your friends who had to live through this awful disaster. We had 15 different fires burning here this summer, but the evacuation stopped just before our home. It missed all of the homes but destroyed so many acres of beautiful mountain land and wilderness areas. Seeing fire trucks join cup and down the road in front of your home and the skies totally filled with smoke is a scary thing. We were so lucky. My grandson was working in Estes Park this summer so I am sure he will come back with all kinds of stories of the fire. Yours pictures put us right there with you. genie
What an experience! Those pictures tell us all. So glad that you guys are fine as well as your home. I was looking for some update on facebook from your side. Glad that i read this blog.
Dellin Jo
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