Holding the Line
I feel a little silly right now, but I’m not complaining about it. Not one bit.
It’s difficult to describe just how scary yesterday was in Colorado Springs and Monument. The Waldo Canyon Fire had tripled in size in just one day, and nothing seemed capable of stopping it. Everything was super-dry, everything was super-hot, and the wind was super-windy. Seasoned firefighting pros all swore up and down they’d never seen a wildfire like this one.
And it was coming right at us, by way of the Air Force Academy and a series of firebreaks which Waldo had breached, one after the other.
Waldo, despite the oldtimey name, was one wicked fast wildfire. Unpredictable, too. Every time the fire crews jinked, it jerked. And the winds, which Waldo itself helped create, kept the firefighting aircraft grounded for hours at a stretch.
So we really started to freak out here, when the evacuation warnings jumped even faster than the fire — a dozen miles north, to just across the highway from us. And we aren’t very far from the highway.
I took a personal/vacation day today, to give me enough free time to pack valuables and heirlooms and Drobo arrays and what have you, and take them far away. Melissa dealt with the kids and the animals and her own belongings. By three o’clock, I had all my digital data and my miniature TV studio all far beyond Waldo’s reach.
But the weather changed — the temperatures cooled, the winds died down, and the humidity increased. More importantly, the firefighters had learned how to deal with Waldo’s wicked ways. The Waldo Canyon Fire was nearly halted in its tracks today.
The cost was horrific. More than 300 homes destroyed. The historic Flying W Ranch burnt to the ground in minutes. Tens of thousands forced to flee.
But as I write this, not one life has been lost. And although Waldo still burns, the worst of the crisis seems to have passed.
So, I feel a little silly for having wasted a vacation day and racing all over the place to keep our things safe.
But I’m mostly grateful as hell.
“So, I feel a little silly for having wasted a vacation day and racing all over the place to keep our things safe.”
Not silly at all.
Good to hear. Not at all silly. Prudent, consider it a practice run.
Silly? Don’t be silly. Fires like Waldo act faster than you can think, when they are in demon-mode. Which it definitely was yesterday. Better to be needlessly prudent, than tragically late.
Glad it is calming down. Keep your eyes open, though. It ain’t over ’til it’s out.
We’re getting your heat starting tomorrow. High 90s and maybe 100s over the weekend. But we get humidity with it, which is going to be absofrickinglutely miserable….
By the way, I pressed “submit” too soon. Was getting hounded by the twins at the pool and really didn’t get to finish my thought.
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I do not want the above to sound in any way petty or self-centered. Being in sucky heat and humidity does not in any way, shape, or form compare to the hell you’ve been through the past two days. I’ll take miserable summer weather in Baltimore over insane firestorms any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. I’ve been in near proximity to shitstorms like that, and it ain’t my cuppa….
You’re a champ for keeping a level head on you while going through this epochal disaster. You’re a great father and husband, and you and Melissa clearly make a dynamite team. You absolutely “held the line”, and went above-and-beyond in blogging about your situation.
Take care, and have a martini on me.
My friend, I grew up in that humid heat — and you ain’t got nothin to apologize for.
Don’t call it wasted until Waldo is out. He could go demon again anytime until then. In the meantime, praise God for your safety and prudence and the change in weather. God bless Casa Verde.
1) Thank God you’re OK!
2) Hey… you live next to Mrs. Hoyt!
Stay safe, my friend. As the others said, it’s not a wasted day of prep.
Repeat the first sentence as the Most Interesting Man in the World.
Stephen –
You did right. I lived through the Witch Creek Fire here, and (when the winds get going) you have to be prepared to move in a moment’s notice. Better to feel a little silly than have to move and lose too much.
Having survived the fires in San Diego a few years back, I have a good idea of what you are going through.
We’ve had the fires here in New Mexico too – thankfully not close to my area but we have had a few days (both this year and last) where the air was so thick with smoke I could barely stand it to walk up the street to get the mail.
We go up into Colorado a couple times a year, that area around Garden of the Gods is fantastic and it’s such a shame to see this happen around there, or anywhere for that matter.
Good prep work there Mr Green, thankfully your family, home and belongings are all safe for the moment. Don’t let your guard down!
Better safe than sorry. Plan for the worst, hope for the best. You did right, gunga din.
As the others said, not silly at all. In fact, I would call it “good luck,” in the sense that you prepared yourself & your family for success. Waiting until the fire is across the street? Not a good idea.
I suspect the reason was less more-effective firefighters than the very elements themselves fear the power of the VodkaPundit.
Just glad your peeps are ok.
As improbable as it may seem, the recent series of wildfires could be arson.
I recall reading somewhere that one captured Al Qaeda document advocated starting forest fires in the U.S.
Let’s hope it’s merely a coincidence.
the Denver Post says 346 homes destroyed, one known dead and one missing in the Waldo Canyon fire. explain to me again how you should feel silly for doing your best to prepare, because i’m just not getting it.
Very glad to hear you guys are OK Steve. Can’t imagine how scary that must have been.