Record-high temperatures and dry, hot gusty winds are fueling wildfires that are burning up and down the Front Range of Colorado, forcing thousands from their homes as well as the evacuation of hundreds of prisoners from the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility.
Fueled by tinder dry conditions and strong, gusting winds, a number of fast-moving wildfires blew up on Tuesday and continue to burn mostly uncontained on Wednesday. Fires are burning in areas from Rocky Mountain National Park west of Fort Collins in the northern part of the state to more heavily populated areas near Colorado Springs in the Black Forest down to the popular tourist site of The Royal Gorge near Cañon City in the south. The Royal Gorge fire has forced the park to close, and there are concerns that the world-famous Royal Gorge Bridge has been either damaged or destroyed. That fire has also forced the evacuation of the staff and 905 prisoners from the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in nearby Cañon City. The facility, built in 1871, is the oldest correctional facility in the state’s system.
By far, the largest and most destructive of the wildfires is the Black Forest Fire, however, which is burning near Colorado Springs and the Air Force Academy. Early estimates reported at least 40-60 estate-type homes were destroyed, with many of those worth well over $1 million dollars each. Officials on Wednesday now fear that as many as 80-100 homes in that area have been damaged or destroyed, and the fire continues to burn aggressively with zero percent containment. The Black Forest Fire is burning near the area where last year’s Waldo Canyon Fire destroyed 346 homes and killed two people.
Other fires are burning in Rocky Mountain National Park, where no structures are threatened at this time, as well as in rural Huerfano County, where about 200 residences were evacuated west of La Veta.
A red-flag warning remains in effect for the entire region, meaning strong, hot, gusty winds are expected. These weather conditions will hamper firefighting efforts and possibly force air support to be grounded if the winds become too strong. Officials are also concerned the conditions could cause fires to spread unpredictably.
FEMA has approved federal funds to help defray firefighting costs for both the Black Forest and Royal Gorge fires. In addition, firefighters from the Air Force Academy are joining the fight and 15 “strike teams” were ordered to assist with the Black Forest Fire.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said “We’re going to attack this with everything that we’ve got,” in reference to criticism received after last year’s devastating wildfire season when many felt more should have been done earlier to prevent the losses.
When asked by a reporter why he thought this was happening to Colorado again, Hickenlooper responded “After a wonderful, cool wet spring, we were lulled into thinking we were safe.” He then went on to say if it did have to happen again anywhere, “Colorado has some of the best and most experienced firefighters in the country,” referring to the experiences gained during last year’s record wildfire season in Colorado. He then warned Coloradans, “Be prepared!”
Most of us who live in Colorado are still shell shocked from last year’s worst-ever wildfire season. When the skies began to fill with thick plumes of smoke and the smell of fire began permeating everywhere, most of us looked at one another in dismay, once again hoping for the best, yet realizing that we face a long, hot, dry summer ahead.
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