Just two short weeks ago, on June 11th, 2013 a forest fire began to burn, much closer to home...this time in the Black Forest just northeast of Colorado Springs. As I drove home from work, not knowing what was happening just a few short miles from my backyard, I witnessed a HUGE plume of smoke in the southern skies. I had several texts and voicemails from friends on my cell phone wondering if I was affected. As I drove home, I received the location of the fire, and indeed it was only about 5 miles from my house as a crow flies. Here's what I saw when I got home:
I knew homes were being burned, as the forest is populated with many homes you just can't see from the road because the forest is so dense with trees. It was heartbreaking to watch your community go up in flames. The following day, the winds picked up pushing the fire closer...and eventually we got the reverse 911 call and we were under mandatory evacuation orders. Wednesday evening we were escorted out of our neighborhoods by the sheriff's department. We were out of our homes for 4 days. Thankfully, we had a home to return too...by the end of this firestorm, 511 homes were destroyed and 2 lives were lost...making the Black Forest fire Colorado's most devastating fire. Although the fire is currently 100% contained, it is still not fully extinguished.
I am nervously anxious to have to drive through the Black Forest in the weeks or months to come. I've seen many videos posted online, and can't get through them without tears welling up in my eyes. I know our community has become stronger, and may those that lost everything...every single memento of their lives up to that day...have the strength to get through such loss. I can't even imagine!!!
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