Waldo Canyon Fire, Colorado Springs: How can you help?

Waldo Canyon Fire, Colorado Springs.   Many of the Colorado Springs area Realtors, to include Gordon and Cherise Selley, live in the wonderful neighborhoods that are directly affected by this fire.    As of the latest reports: 

24 square miles

15,234 acres

32,500 people evacuated from their homes in El Paso County

Number of homes destroyed:  no one knows yet

5% contained

As the afternoon thunderstorms are approaching, wind gusts and additional problems are anticipated.

As of 1:30 pm, areas in Woodland Park and Teller County are now under mandatory evacuation notices.   Pre-evacuation orders are in place for Palmer Lake and portions of Monument and the Old Colorado City area and all of Woodland Park. 

Waldo Canyon Fire Volunteer/Donation Needs:

http://careandshare.org/   (for fire fighters and evacuees)

http://www.hsppr.org/volunteerwaldocanyon  (pets and horses)

http://www.coloradosprings.com/articles/evacuees-15495-fire-peak.html  (Various  needs and Care and Share drop off points) 

Prior to 4 pm yesterday, the fire seemed to be off at a distance.   Throughout the day, some residents sought different vantage points to view the fire.  Some expressed relief that the fire was actually further away than it appeared from their neighborhood.   Mesa Avenue, Coronado High School and the Colorado Springs Utilities Xeriscape Gardens were all popular places for evacuees, residents, media and tourists to watch the C-130s and helicopters fighting the fire.   

Everyone was relieved that no one had been hurt and no homes had been destroyed.

Then while the twice daily 4 pm press conference was in progress, things changed suddenly.  The fire that seemed far off came over the ridge.   Smoke filled the air making it impossible, or at least from my vantage point, to see how fast the fire was approaching.  This time, there wasn’t another ridge or two between the homes and the fire. 

Lunch time yesterday at Garden of the Gods

As the evacuation occurred, it was still evident that the city had rehearsed what they would do in the event that such as a disaster occurred.  Police manned intersections while fire trucks assembled at what appeared to be predetermined staging points.              

My prayers are with everyone that has been directly and indirectly affected by these fires. 

Written and Photographed by Sondra Meyer