i hugged a fireman today

Really,  I did.  E. and I had just come from taking the most important, non-replaceable items from the studio when we happened upon some ash-covered fireman that came all the way from Montrose (a good 7 hours away) to help fight the fourmile fire.  They seemed to take it in their stride; my accosting them with hugs and thanks and our many questions.

So, we are now officially in the “Be Prepared” area of Boulder, within the city limits.  Anyone west of Broadway and north of Spruce Street has been alerted that the winds could bring the fire down into town.  I am trying to be calm and keep a positive thought, as this is part of the ‘worst case scenario’ plan.  The fire would still have to come about 4 miles to reach us so it’s not that likely… but it’s still possible.   (Goodness, I just heard on the news that a gust was reported at 60 mph!)  I brought out all of my notebooks full of formulas, my most precious oils, art work and some products but after a few trips with our cars full, it was less than 5% of what we really have there.  Oh yes, I also made sure that all of my museum pieces came home for safe keeping.  If we get a call we are hoping we’ll have time to run up north for one more load of stuff but how do you smoosh nearly 20 years of collecting oils and making products into two cars?

Throughout the day we had helicopters flying overhead filled with water to dump on the surrounding areas.  Plus, I heard from someone who lives in the hills behind the studio that there were fire trucks lining up,  preparing for the fire that could come tonight should the wind carry an ember over the fireline.  (I found out today that an ember can travel while still live up to a half mile in high wind.  WOW.)

I know I have said this all week, but we just need to get through the night unscathed.  Who knows, hopefully the best case scenario will come to pass: instead of a spread toward town, the fire might be 40% contained.   Thank you to everyone who has been sending their love and energies for safety and peace.  It means so much. ❤

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rainbow over boulder

I’d like to take it as a sign, this neon, almost-double rainbow that glowed over Boulder this evening after some much-needed rain.  The news for now is that there is a reprieve, as the two evacuations in the neighborhoods closest to the studio will be lifted starting at 10 am tomorrow.  This is great news.  There is a chance that we are indeed safe, but there is also a chance that the area will be evacuated again sometime tomorrow or the next day as the weather forecast isn’t favorable. We just have to hope.  I’ll take this rainbow as a symbol… something to keep ‘sight’ of in the coming days. Please wish us luck; that the fire will find some containment tomorrow and that those who lost so much will be able to start the healing process soon.

I’m wishing everyone a good night.

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update on the boulder wildfire

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.

this is the current fire line map - as of last night 9.7.10

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.

Four Mile Fire – Colorado Mountain Ranch

www.youtube.com

Here are some other beautiful and bone chilling photos from Eric Abramson:

O.M.G.

melted machinery

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.

melted aluminum running on the dirt

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completely off topic: boulder wildfire

I just had to write something about what’s a consuming fact for everyone in Boulder right now: the Four Mile Canyon wildfire that came screaming into existence at approximately 10 am this morning. (9.6.10).  I just knew that it was going to be, let’s just say, a less than stellar Holiday since:

1- I had been up all night (literally) with a party thrown by new neighbors who thought it would be fun to rage ’til all hours then to have a ukulele concert with ‘a screaming fan’ at 3:30 am.

2- My next door neighbor neglected to tell E. and I that he was having tree work done starting at 8 am, complete with saws and a wood chipper parked in front our bedroom.

So, we got up and made tea.  Sobeit: no sleep.  We had just settled into some breakfast when we smelled smoke and found out a wildfire had broken out in the hills.  Somehow my dreary sleeplessness was nothing to get upset over; nothing at all, as we heard of evacuations and saw an incredible plume of smoke rise over the city.

I won’t to go into the play by play of the drama of the day, but I can tell you that this is a scary experience.  Really frightening.  I am still concerned for so many friends who are fighting the fire and others who live in Gold Hill (a BEAUTIFUL, little old mining town that is practically an antique in and of itself) who have been evacuated.  I hope they have been able to save the town and all of the homes in the area.  My heart goes out to everyone contending with this.  It’s HUGE.

(** here is a photo from flickr taken by someone named Thad McDowell that shows the fire at night :http://www.flickr.com/photos/thadmcdowell/4966319291/in/set-72157624770008343/#/ ) – sorry I couldn’t figure out how to make a proper link or show the photo!

Even tonight, the fire is still burning and it’s heading north.  My studio is in North Boulder and although it is not really that close, it is stirring up in me the remembrance of another wildfire that burned the entire mountain behind my studio in 2003 and we did evacuate – all in one night- 80% of the studio.  All I can do is stay calm and believe it will be alright: for the studio, for my friends and for so many people I don’t even know.  I have to keep the faith until morning.

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