It was crystal clear morning
today for our morning walk. Normally,
the Front Range would be gleaming. Smoke from two uncontained wildfires has
drifted our way.
To date, the wildfire count is
15 contained and 2 uncontained. The first, Pine Gulch, is North of Grand
Junction in about as remote area to be found in Colorado. The second is the Grizzly
Creek fire, burning on both sides of Glenwood Canyon which is causing
intermittent closures of Interstate 70 and the Union Pacific railroad.
The Colorado River has formed
Glenwood Canyon and Grizzly Creek is a tributary near the East end. For those
who have driven I-70, you may have used the Grizzly Creek rest stop. You may
also remember the walls of Glenwood Canyon are nearly sheer and the canyon is
deep.
There are just two feasible
detours for large vehicles and flatland drivers. One is US 50 and the other US
40. Your GPS may show some different routes and there are always idiots who
attempt them. Most are summertime only and some restricted to vehicles fewer
than 32’. Tow truck drivers are busy.
Due to the terrain, both uncontained
fires can best be fought by air drops as the terrain is road less. A skilled
operator might get an ATV or off road motorcycle into the areas.
The seasonal professional fire fighter crews
have their work cut out for them on these two. Hope all are safe; it is damned
dangerous work.
11 comments:
Do you want to ride the slurry bomber again? Just to see if your pacemaker actually works. Ha, Ha!!!
Sisty
I'll pass, thank you.
For readers, what she is referring to.
https://wellseasonedfool.blogspot.com/2015/09/drat-poor-computer-skills.html
Dangerous and dirty job, and not a good time of the year...
Living in a pine forest has that a significant hazard.
OldNFO
Fire crews are a special breed of people much like elite military.
LL
From your posted pictures, you have implemented a mitigation plan. The metal roof was wise.
WSF, I do what I can, and when that time comes, as it will one day, I hope that I've done enough.
It's really smokey here, blowing in from the West. The sky has that same "yellow" look like I remember from the fires in SoCal.
Prayers sent for the firefighters. It's a tough, dirty, HARD, dangerous job here in the Rockies.
LL has taken over command of the Fire Department, so I'm sure all's well in order. But Good Lord, it's suddenly become outrageously hot here, like an oven.
I pray the air itself doesn't ignite. Which it might.
LL
You are probably much better prepared than the others in the area. Does the volunteer department have an outreach program? I've seen many homes wth a winter's worth of firewood stacked against the house.
drjim
You have seen first hand the aftermath of these fires that seriously hurt SLW's relatives.
LSP
Sorry, I find it hard to feel sorry for people who willingly live in Texas. Just call me a rocky Mountain snob. In a few weeks you can enjoy us dealing with blizzards.
Yes we have. The High Park fire was about a year before our first trip here, so the devastation was still fresh.
It's one thing to see pictures of it, and another thing to stand there surrounded by thousands of acres of burnt trees and scorched soil.
It took our in-laws several years to get everything straightened out with the insurance companies and get back to "normal".
We strongly support the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department! Those guys were amazing....
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