Some of you AZ Beemers know I live in Colorado Springs in the Summer and Cave Creek in the Winter. Up here I am a member of Pikes Peak BMW riders...about 160 members. Dave Oliver stayed a couple of nights with us about a week ago when he attended the Rally at Copper Mt. Some of you may wish to spend the night with us on the way to MO or the way back. We have a couple of bedrooms and a couple of acres of yard space for camping.
By now you have probably seen some national coverage of the fire in Colorado Springs. Those of us who live in AZ or CO are no strangers to forest fires. But to see a fire driven by 65 mph winds race through a city and subdivisions is a sight I will never forget. There were ""secure fire lines in place, four C130 airl tankers, numerous helicopters, and hundreds of fire fighters working the fire. We thought the fire was bad but the city would be protected.
During the 4:00 PM televised briefing, a Thunderstorm hit Douglas county to the north. The outflows came south and blew the flames at 60 miles per hour to the south toward the city. !000 city fire personnel and 100 truck units from Colorado Springs and surrounding cities were in place to guard the many $500,000 houses. All they could do was flee for their lives with the flames advancing at a mile per minute and jumping ahead by 1/4 to 1/2 per mile at a time. They had no chance to stop the fire and were lucky to escape with their lives. The city utilities had shut off the gas lines and electricity to prevent explosions and gas fires. Fortunately that section of the city had been previously evacuated (32,000 persons). Even so, the traffic jams were terrific as citizens grabbed last minute papers and fled in front of the fire. I 25 was closed five miles north of the city. I believe that if the wind had not died down the fire would have swept the entire west side of the city. To watch this live on TV was unbelieveable.
The winds finlly did subside and the firemen and equipment we able to establish a defensive front. In some areas whole blocks of houses were burned to the ground and the houses across the street were spared with bushes and trees intact. During the night and the next morning the scene looked like the news reels from WWII in London after the bombing...burning buildings and smoking piles of wood with firemen pouring on water to stop the flames.
Today the weather was better and fire fighter were able to establish new perimeters around the fire. They continue to work on spot fires...but some areas are so rugged that only helicopters can be used. It is too dangerous to introduce personnel to these areas...they would have no excape. As long as the wind does not spike to 65 mph again they should hold the fire line and let the interior burn itself out. There are 1200 firefighters in the forest and another 1000 in the city. Numerous trucks and personnel are here from other cities in Colorado and surrounding states. Some are parked at the local fire station houses to provide normal protection for the city. Others are on the fire line. Some folks are being allowed back to their houses this evening.
It would be hard to overstate the scene of devastation that exists. Amazingly, no one was killed and no one was hurt. Everyone obeyed the evacuations and were not trapped. The firemen behaved in a reasonable manner to protect property and save their own lives. It is a miracle that no one was injured...especially when you view the scene the following day.
All of that said, 99% of Colorado is intouched and beautiful. When you come to Paonia you will not see any of this. Stop in on the way to MO if you need a place to crash overnight.
Maybe I'll see you there, maybe i go the Dal/FW area instead. :huh: Have fun and ride safe, I hope to see you in Colorado!
