You can view this map here and zoom in/out to see whatever view is useful to you.
The blue circle is roughly where I live, I'd guess about 3 miles or so from the eastern boundary of the fire. The blue line shows the path the helicopters were taking today from Wonderland Lake (the blue blob at the start of the line) into the fire zone. Yesterday they were taking a more southerly route. It makes me think that Boulder Heights/Bow Mountain neighborhoods were the focus of their efforts today but that's just a guess. Hard to say exactly where they went once they flew out of sight.
Here's a closer view of my area.
The blue dot above Wonderland Lake (shown between Foothills Community Park and Wonderland Hills) is about where I was standing when I shot the photos yesterday. The photos from the day before were taken from a trail heading north from the lake along the foothills.
Thankfully we have an upslope condition today which means the smoke is finally blowing the other way and I felt o.k. enough to take Lola for a walk and later probably some agility for Strummer if the wind directions hold. Feels so good to have some relief from the smoke.
There are reports of sporadic light rain in the mountain areas surrounding the burn area, let's hope it increases and moves over the burn area. No other rain is forecast in the foreseeable future so we have to hope these storms produce enough to be useful. I can't see any other way that this fire will be put out.
Ok, I maybe wrong, but 3 miles doesnt seem very far away to me. LOL Diana
ReplyDeleteWell, if we get high winds from the west then yeah, I'm screwed but for now with low winds holding steady that 3 miles is plenty of buffer.
ReplyDeleteWe had a fire several years ago that burned the hills just west of that blue dot I marked and THAT was scary. I could see the flames from my living room and the fire came to within 3/4 mile, smoke pouring down the street. I was 2 blocks out from the evacuation zone but I packed up the car and was ready to go.
I was trying to put my friends and family at ease but now I wonder if I've only made things worse ;)
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you're on top of it makes me less worried. The fire is still in the news here. Half column in today's SJ Mercury. Says it's "one of the most destructive blazes in Colorado history." Not large in acres [yet], it noted, but in wiping out people's homes. Not much compared to some of the california fires, but like most in CA it's in the hills where vegetation and terrain make it nasty. Hope you don't get a bout of big chinook winds.
ReplyDeletePredictions for 50 mph winds from the NW starting tonight and lasting through tomorrow night was enough to make me pack up one of the cars and I've got stuff ready for the other car when Jonny gets home. He's going to think I've lost my mind because he's sure the fire's not coming over the ridge and he's probably right but I figure better safe than sorry, especially with the complication of all these dogs.
ReplyDeleteIt's the most destructive in terms of loss of houses but there was a fire in Glenwood Springs some years ago and 14 firefighters died so in my mind that one was more destructive but apparently I have different values than the media because that's how they're reporting it here too.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot be too prepared in this situation. I know two people who lost everything in fires like this because it couldn't possibly get close enough to their house to cause problems. So they didn't take anything except themselves and their pets. At least they took the pets. :-/
ReplyDeleteAs it turns out the city is telling people west of Broadway (2 blocks away from me) to be ready to evacuate so maybe I'm not so crazy. I'd rather pack up stuff now at my leisure than do it in a panic at 2:00 a.m.
ReplyDeleteYikes, especially to your latest comment. I'd be packing things up to be ready "just in case", too. Hope it doesn't come to that though.
ReplyDeleteNow here's a scary story: Up the peninsula from here--gas line blew up, huge explosion and fireball, dozens or couple hundred homes destroyed or damagaed, at least one dead, several with critical burns. No warning or chance to evacuate for the first bunch of homes. Incredible. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/peninsula&id=7659529
ReplyDelete(I couldn't see the smoke from here, but people up in the foothills not far from here could see it. Nowhere near me--30 miles away?--but this is my utility company! Gads!)
Reports are a bit confused at the moment.
I saw that on the news this morning-terrible! Fire is scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe had a couple of hours of strong winds (25 mph) but nothing as bad as what they predicted. Fire is supposedly 45% contained and I can't even see smoke this morning. Winds are supposed to kick up again this afternoon so I won't unpack the car just yet but I'm not the least bit worried. The firefighting crews have done an awesome job, planes and helicopters were at it non-stop yesterday.