Colorado - High Park Fire

[isukendall]

Obviously doesn't affect many of you in Iowa, but thought some may take interest in some of these pics I took today of the High Park Fire west of Fort Collins, CO. Started Saturday morning and was 14,000+ acres as of this morning (Sunday). High winds will keep this one growing for awhile, they're evacuating places all over in the mountains. My house smells like campfire, and I plan to wake up with my car covered by ash. May not come for awhile, but lets hope for no winds and some rain ASAP.

Titles for pics:
1) Looking north in Old Town, Fort Collins
2) View from top of Horsetooth Reservoir looking east over town
3) View from top of Horsetooth Reservoir looking north over lake, the closest area of the fire
4) View from my front door

[Jambalaya]

Crazy stuff. I used to live in Loveland, and have been over there dozens of times. My Brother and his family live in NW Ft Collins and are keeping me updated

[Cyclonepride]

Definitely wish you the best and hope it doesn't come your way.

[isukendall]

A CNN article with more info: Colorado sheriff: 'This fire is just running crazy' - CNN.com

[bringmagicback]

sucks, that stuff is happening way to often lately. Few years ago we were trapped in the canyon at Estes, fire all around but we werent to worried because the people were being evacuated into our area.

Any word on what started it this time?

[frontrangeclone]

crazy stuff... thanks for the photos isukendall. I was leaving my condo complex yesterday morning (last time I had checked the news online earlier that morning the fire wasn't that big)... and I saw some puffy, cumulus looking clouds and thought "oh good! maybe some rain.." then it hit me, those weren't storm clouds as my northward view improved... it looked like Ft Collins got nuked when viewed from the south (Louisville). I hate to say it, but this could be a catastrophic year in the west considering the dryness and how windy it always seems over the last several months.

[isukendall]

Any word on what started it this time?

They haven't said. The Hewlett Gulch fire (7400 acres) two weeks ago was started by a camper using a camp stove. There have been a couple other fires in the last couple weeks, all started by lightning but put out rather quickly. I've heard rumours that it was a lightning strike, but not sure if I believe that since the fire started early Saturday morning and as far as I know there wasn't inclement weather.

We've been under fire "restrictions" in the county, which basically means no open campfires except for public campgrounds (which typically are near water and/or monitored closely by camp rangers). Camp stoves, like the one that started the Hewlett fire, are allowed. Smoking is not allowed outdoors (only indoors or in vehicles). But all it takes is a spark from a stove or a cig butt, and it gets out of hand pretty quickly, especially when you're in the middle of nowhere, not near water, roads, etc.

[digZ]

Was riding my bike west of Longmont on Saturday morning, and I thought it was a controlled burn just north of town or something. Crazy to know that it was all the way up by Ft Collins. Hope they get it under control soon, it's all you can see the north, looks like a storm front or something.

[isukendall]

crazy stuff... thanks for the photos isukendall. I was leaving my condo complex yesterday morning (last time I had checked the news online earlier that morning the fire wasn't that big)... and I saw some puffy, cumulus looking clouds and thought "oh good! maybe some rain.." then it hit me, those weren't storm clouds as my northward view improved... it looked like Ft Collins got nuked when viewed from the south (Louisville). I hate to say it, but this could be a catastrophic year in the west considering the dryness and how windy it always seems over the last several months.

This is only the beginning. Things are extremely dry, and it's not even technically into summer yet. Unfortunately, IMO these fires need to happen. Forest fires are a part of the natural cycle, but they've been suppressed for decades without thinning of the timber, creating tons of fuel. The beetle kill problem only makes things worse (and to be honest, in this area it's not nearly as bad as places such as the I-70 corridor).

[Agkistrodon]

I used to live in Fort Collins, and thought the area that is burning was due for a bad fire. I'm kind of surprised it took this long.

[isukendall]

Man, last night was rough, glad my wife is out of town. Ash and smoke blowing into the house, despite putting towels in front of windows and doors. Ended up sleeping with a handkerchief over my mouth for most of the night. Hope this gets better soon.

[oldman]

Man, last night was rough, glad my wife is out of town. Ash and smoke blowing into the house, despite putting towels in front of windows and doors. Ended up sleeping with a handkerchief over my mouth for most of the night. Hope this gets better soon.

Wish you the best Kendall.

[SvrWxCy]

Update this morning on the status of the fire should come in an hour or two, but here was the latest as of 9:45pm.

Fire was 20,000 acres and 0% contained. Many evacuations throughout the area with likelihood of expanding those areas as fire grows. 18 structures damaged thus far.

250 ground and engine crews are fighting the fire (reported this number is now 400 as of this morning). There are 15 engines on scene.

5 SEATS (Single Engine Air Tankers)
2 type 3 helos
2 type 1 helos
Air Attack control plane
Lead plane
3 heavy air tankers
& 2 National Guard Blackhawks also available for Monday.

Lightning is the suspected cause of the fire, however their investigation is still ongoing.

[thatguy]

my lungs feel like I smoked a pack of Marlboro Reds overnight. My 6 month old is freaking out because i think her lungs hurt as well. Driving back to FC last night from Denver it seemed like as soon as I got to around Mead it turned into night because the Sun was covered by all the smoke. Supposed to rain tomorrow so hopefully that helps, but ya, this sucks.

[isukendall]

Just heard updates that the fire nearly doubled in size overnight, now 37,000 acres.