on the frontline...

...of the fire now attacking my city

yesterday afternoon - an unexpected wind explosion due to a thunderstorm, pushed the canyon fire over a mountain ridge... directly down the mountain - and roaring into northwest colorado springs! 32,000 subsequently had to be evacuated to get out of the raging madness... more than 800 brave men and women were called in to fight the intense heat of what was being called a "perfect storm"... with more on the way today

untold homes have now been lost - over 16,000 acres burned... only 5% contained... due to fragile weather conditions pre-evacuation situations continue for many surrounding communities in the city... wildlife has been displaced and one picture showed a firefighter wrapping the paws of a fawn - so sweet...

the city is covered in a hazy yellowish cast of light - you can tell by this shot... i had an urge to try and "fix" it - but refrained when i realized it was due to the fire - this scene is as close as i could get this morning to where one of the neighborhoods was burning last night... roads were blocked off preventing me from getting further in - but this shows the side of the mountain that was affected - the smoke billowing high into the sky... while underneath are the homes which have been destroyed...

please continue to send up prayers for those brave souls fighting this fire storm of a beast... we've been told rain isn't necessarily the answer - as it brings with it unstable weather behavior - wind, lightening strikes and the like... containment is key... i stand in awe of all the men and women who have chosen the professions involved in helping during a crisis such as this kind - i am thankful and ever so grateful for them... they are putting their own lives on the line every moment for this city i love - so we can continue to have...

a

happy day.....