Please read and support

[Livingston]

I don’t know how many of you know what is going on inColorado, USA, right now but… Theweather here has been over 100*F for much of the month along the FrontRange. The altitude, for some reference,is generally between 5,000 and 6,500 ft. The humidity has been in the 5%range. The winds have been gusty andstrong most of the month. There hasn’tbeen much more than a few sprinkles of rain. Because of this, there have been over 12 wild fires sofar. Wildfires are burning across about 140,000 acres ofColorado, according to the Incident Command System.

Four have been extremely near populationcenters. One in Estes Park, High Drive,was inside city limits and, while small at 26 acres, burned 22 homes and 2outbuildings. It is out with cleanupgoing on.
One, High Park, just to the west of Fort Collins is over85,000 acres, over 200 homes burned and back up to 55% contained. According to the Denver Post, it will befully contained soon but will take months to put it out totally.

One the edge of Boulder, Flagstaff, is one that is small butgrowing fast. It is at 230 acres and 0%containment. NOAA, NIST, NCAR and otherfederal or federally funded organizations are in the path.
The worst one is the Waldo Canyon fire which is west of and INColorado Springs. Over 30,000 have beenevacuated and many more are on pre evacuation notice. This includes much of the western andnorthwestern parts of the city and the US Air Force Academy. It is over 15,000 acres and 5% contained. My wife and I used to live in the northwestportion of the city which is now evacuated. We have many friends in that area and other parts of Colorado Springs. Wewon’t know when or if they will be able to go back to their homes.

Please send your prayers, goodwishes, smoke or whatever you feel is right to those people in Coloradoaffected by the fires as well as for the firefighters that are doing all theycan to put out the fires. Also includeany firefighters anywhere. I know one ofour members used to do backcountry firefighting and if he still does he couldvery well be in the thick of it so also include KiltedFirePiper. All of these people need and deserve our supportand respect.

Thank you