Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Just so you are updated

There is another fire in Colorado Springs.  So far this one is not as bad as the Waldo Canyon fire last year but it is closer to me (my stake is the Colorado East Stake and one of the wards in my stake is the Black Forest Ward).  Many people in that ward have been evacuated--some that I know personally.  It is not contained and now burning North, East, and West.  The wind is crazy here in Colorado all the time.  Last year we had ash falling on us and I don't notice that but the house is very stinky and our eyes and throats burn from the air quality.  There are still big plumes of smoke.  My friend Jane (the one who buried her son next to Laila) lives on Black Forest road.  Her house has not been evacuated yet but she is on the border.  It the wind changes and it moves south she will be directly effected by it.  She currently has no water or electricity--second day.  The boys scouts in our ward were also on a scout trip and got evacuated and are now and their way home.  The stake has a pioneer trek scheduled for tomorrow and many of the kids going had to be evacuated from their homes and of course left all their trek stuff behind.  They are still planning on the trek but the wards have been trying to scrounge up supplies for them as well.  It is crazy here.  My hydrendgias that never need to be watered have been fried by the sun--I am not exaggerating.  There are large burn spots on the leaves.  We already had water restrictions for the last two months and there has been no rain.  Add the very windy conditions here in Colorado and we are in bad shape.  My house is about eight min. to Jane's house and she is at the edge of the evacuation line--just to give you an idea of where the fire is.  To get to us it has to cross a pretty busy road and burn a lot of houses so I should be fine.  But keep Colorado in your prayers.

4 comments:

Jess Clark said...

I remember driving near Black Forest and thinking it was a beautiful place. One of the guys I work with actually lives in Black Forest and lost his home. His wife lives full time in Black Forest and he goes home every weekend (not an arrangement I could handle).

Mike and Adrianne said...

I think two of Mike's co-workers have also lost their houses. One of them just moved two weeks ago but the house is gone now. The other one is actually one of Mike's bosses. He and his wife came to the viewing. The wife, Janet Joder, met Mom and Ammon. I haven't had it confirmed yet that they lost their house but it is in the middle of the fire so I would be shocked if it is still there. Sad.

Jess Clark said...

Holy schmoly, this link shows the perim and a placemark for every destroyed home:

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23435836/map-royal-gorge-black-forest-and-big-meadows

The Duke said...

Oh, I'm so sad. I was very impressed by Janet and so it becomes even more real when you actually know someone that has been affected. We are keeping you all in our prayers. It seems Colorado Springs has had more than its fair share of fires and drought ever since you moved there.