Forest fires - up close and personal

[durango dude]

I've been in Colorado a little more than a decade.

One thing you learn when you live here ---- fires happen.

Driving from job 1 to job 2, yesterday - I noticed a fire blazing ---- a mere 2 blocks away from my home.

I reported to job 2 ---- where the supervisor instructed me to go home
(she's been through a few fires, herself).

Drove home - and man --- that fire was intimidating!

It was reportedly only 2 acres --- but when you see 2 acres of flames right outside the bedroom window - you pause for a moment or two.

We packed up our valuables, and stood by for possible evac (happy that didn't happen). The building across the street was evaced ---- primarily to provide parking for the fire trucks.

I was really impressed by a busy k-max helo --- which put the fire to rest in about 3 hours. I think he was dumping a bucket of water on the fire every 5-6 minutes.

[cabinetman]

That saying "Too close to home" can be very real. You are fortunate that it got taken care of.


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[jackellis]

We had a fire start on the street below (maybe 100 yards) five or six years ago when a propane leak in a barbecue caught fire. We had planned on tearing down the structure anyway but the thought of tenants losing everything they had was very uncomfortable. The surrounding forests have been thinned dramatically since then but summers up here are always nail-biters.

I'll spare you the details of all the things we had to do in order to increase the fire resistance of the new place we built.

[T...K21]

Those helis are neat to watch. When I was a volunteer FF we had a fire up one of the canyons and I got to drive the tender to fill portable pools for the helis to suck water from. The tankers are neat too until they drop retardent on you.

[Cubsfan]

We have a 45,000 acre one burning up here. I live on the east side of town so it's nowhere near my house, but between the smoke, ashes, and smell, you're right, it is very intimidating.