That was the feeling of everyone fighting this fire, early this morning, and it bore itself out as containment was upped to 15%.
Yesterday’s advancement of the fire was greatly reduced, as can be seen on the wildfire map. No additional structures have been lost overnight. The Unified Command Team were extremely encouraged and looking forward to a great day, and it looked like they finally got just such a day. Some evacs were lifted, but the really big news was that the Unified Command finally addressed the amount of homes lost (346) and convened at 8 p.m. tonight to directly begin handling people and their losses.
As of this morning, there are in excess of 2000 people involved in fighting this fire.
As of this morning, 18,500 acres have been burned.
The fire is considered 15% contained.
To date (this morning), it has cost $3.2 million to fight this fire.
For non-emergency legal questions or spotting any other Colorado wildfires, call 800/332-6736.
For our neighborhood, it looks like the fire has moved away from us, though I’m sure there will continue to be spot fires and we are still in pre-evac mode. I was recording this series of posts to document the event in our neighborhood and also using it as a way to keep those concerned for our safety informed. And I do have an interest in wildfire fighting. My dad was a forest ranger, and at one point I was interested in becoming one–and had even helped do a “mop up” in one fire when I was a teenager, on Panther Mountain, in upstate NY. Other interests and directions ended up taking over, but being a forest ranger and even a wildland firefighter have always interested me. But, the fire remains an active fire, and Woodland Park, Colorado is still in line-of-sight the advancing northwest component of the blaze, though firefighter efforts are holding strong, last I heard/read. If anything else impacts our neighborhood I’ll post, but for now, this should be my last post on the fire, from our neighborhood’s perspective. Our hearts go out to all who lost homes. Of note, the individual I mentioned on Day 4, who actually felt the flames as she drove out of Mountain Shadows–their home is intact and not included in the street list of homes that were damaged.
So the fire is far from over, but thank you, again, to all involved in fighting this fire, and thanks to all who offered their homes and their help if we needed it.
Disclaimer: any “distance” claims I made are totally subject to error. Perspectives are odd that way, so when I say “1-2” miles, it could be double, I just don’t know, am estimating, and asking others who’ve lived in the area longer. When and if I get a topo map, I’ll check it out.
View Active Burn Perimeter (KRDO.com).
Link to Home or Business Damage Notification.
Click here for Waldo Canyon Fire – Days 1 and 2.
Click here for Waldo Canyon Fire – Day 3.
Click here for Waldo Canyon Fire – Day 4.
Click here for Waldo Canyon Fire – Day 5.
Click here for Waldo Canyon Fire Video Compilation.
[…] Click here for Waldo Canyon Fire – Day 6. […]