The fire started on Saturday. We were on our way home after dropping our son off at the Air Force Academy for his long anticipated 1 week Civil Air Patrol camp, when we saw a fairly small plume behind the first mountain range. "That's Waldos Canyon" my husband said immediately. We didn't pay much attention to it. It was such a small fire, surely this would be taken care off immediately.
Late Saturday afternoon we heard about the first evacuation orders It dawned on us that this had taken a bigger dimension than we originally anticipated. We were only 3 miles away from from the evacuation lines and I started to worry a little bit. Over the next few days the tension eased as evacuation orders were lifted and the Air Force sent in their tankers to drop fire retardant.
Yesterday afternoon, my husband came home form 'up north' - quite shaken with what he had seen: Debris was sucked towards the fire hitting his car with loud cracks, the sky turned black and winds kicked up so strongly it looked as if the world was burning. He got out of the area as quickly as possible, taking pictures on the fly.
In the meantime I had returned from showing houses in the south eastern corner of Colorado Springs and really had no clue what was going on. I just saw a big black wall inhibiting me from seeing Colorado Springs and any part north of midsection of the front range.
Seemingly out of nowhere a dangerous situation has turned into what seemed armageddon: winds blew at over 60 miles an hour and pushed the flames towards housing subdivisions. Then came the first devastating news: The beloved Flying W Ranch had burned to the ground. Shortly after that it was one devastation after another as homes in subdivisions began burning.
I sat and could do nothing. I just watched, numb.
I am glad to say that at this point no lives have been lost, but I am afraid of what might happen s this afternoon when new winds pick up. We have a closing this afternoon. The listing agent, was evacuated last night and does not know if his home is still there or has burned down. I talked to him yesterday and he said: I saw the houses on fire two streets down from us - I don't know what is going to happen. All I know is we have to get out!"
Our son was evacuated with his camp team from USAF Academy over to Peterson AFB. All the kids were picked up safe and sound.
15,375 acres burning
We need rain - badly! ...and no wind. Please send your thoughts, your prayers, good vibes - do a rain dance....whatever it takes.
Thank you to all the emergency responders and our never tiring fire fighters!
KKTV
Photo: Tim Haynie
PHoto: Lauren Traubb
Photo: Courtney Hupe
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