It’s now the third day that a fire has burned with zero containment in the foothills right above Boulder. It’s just as scary today as it was on Monday. The weather is only partially cooperating as the winds died down yesterday but we had a pretty bad inversion layer develop in the morning which kept the slurry planes down until about noontime and there may be some rain today. That brought back the winds and the direction is now eastward, toward Boulder.
I can’t begin to tell you of the heroic efforts of the firefighters… many of whom are volunteer and have been towing the line since Monday. Plus, as you might have heard, 9 of them lost their homes while they were fighting to save someone else’s house. The Governor came in yesterday to survey the carnage and declared it a State emergency so they’re finally getting more help; from up to 7 more States. And boy, do they need it.
I have a friend, Eric Abramson, who is one of those volunteer heroes and is also an incredible photographer / film maker. Here is a link to a youtube video taken by him from a vantage point that I can’t imagine is like anyone else’s.
Here are some other beautiful and bone chilling photos from Eric Abramson:
Selfishly, I can’t help having concern for the Essense Studio, which is, as of last night, still just outside of the evacuation area. But if the fire moves east too much more, I will have to figure out what I will take. I’m making a list as a precaution. I will certainly be taking my formula books and my computers. I also have about 1/3 of my perfume museum in the studio for cataloging; I’ll have to get that out as well. Rare essential oils… what else? This is really difficult stuff to think about and after doing this once before… arrgh.
If I’m reading your map correctly, this is really huge. 😦
Do you know what started it?
I do hope other states help contain it and your studio remains safe.
Last few years I’m especially wary of fires because 2 years ago there was a really big tragedy here where 10 firefighters here died in a strange fire accident (of the whole group only one survived). My thoughts are with those brave men out there.
Hello, Ines~
Yes, it is a HUGE fire but as far as I have heard today, it isn’t expanding anymore. I hope it stays that way…
I am so sorry to hear about he fire incident near you… it’s so tragic when the firefighters are hurt or worse killed doing such courageous and selfless work!
I did just hear some other good news though: the slurry that was dropped yesterday by the planes (over 90, 000 gallons of the stuff) was dumped just over the ridge from my studio, to save the two major subdivisions in the hills behind me. Those two neighborhood are considered ‘safe’ for now because of the fire retardant. again, I have my fingers and toes crossed with my heart going out to all those tired firefighters and the folks who have lost everything.
oh yeah, I forgot to answer your question:what started it? Well, no one is absolutely positive but the working theory is that a car ran into a propane tank and it ruptured and blew up, starting the fire. I should also mention that we have had a very wet Spring and early Summer ( so lots of wild growth or trees and bushes etc etc) and then for the past month we have had almost no rain and very hot temperatures (ooh! I just heard a slurry plane go right over my head! :)) so there was a lot of ‘fuel’ to burn the the mountains and it was tinder dry. I even found out that since the dirt is so dried out that a fire can spread underground through the dried out root systems (eeeek!!) Coming from the East Coast, I had never heard of this… even though my father and brothers were all volunteer firemen when I was growing up.
Sounds really scary. Perhaps you should move your things just to be on the safe side, if possible. The winds and weather are so unpredictable.
Hi Lucy~
I am planning on moving the most important things out today. It’s clouding up… I have my fingers and toes crossed.