travel tales for family and friends. . .

wild horses. . .Theodore Roosevelt NP - North Dakota

Monday, June 25, 2012

Fire. . .Fire. . .Everywhere. . .A Wild and Crazy Weekend

11-2012-06-09 Colorado_Estes Park - to be sorted 009

If you’ve seen or heard the National News at all. . .

you’ve heard about the massive wildfire in High Park Colorado. . .

81,000 acres burned so far. . .and no end in sight. . .

This is how it looks from Estes Park. . .

 

As if that wasn’t bad enough. . .Saturday afternoon, a house fire sparked a massive crisis in Estes Park. . .

Estes Park Wildfire - destroyed 21 homes - 20 acres

On our way back to the campground from the

Scandanavian Festival  in downtown Estes. . .this was our view. . .

13-Fire in Estes Park 6-23-2012 (4)

and as we turned the corner onto Hwy 34. . .this was the scene. . .

Can you believe all these looky loos pulled off on the side of the road. . .crazy!

14-Fire in Estes Park 6-23-2012

a closer view. . .three homes totally engulfed. . .and no end in sight!

Wildfire in Estes Park started by a house fire - burned 21 structures - and 20 acres

This is the view we had after we arrived back at the campground. . .I told Dave as we turned onto

Tunnel Road. . . you know there’s no other way out. . .if it comes our direction we are trapped. . .

Wildfire in Estes Park started by a house fire - burned 21 structures - and 20 acres

All the combined fire services did a fantastic job. . .

Wildfire in Estes Park started by a house fire - burned 21 structures - and 20 acres

Not exactly sure of all the agencies involved. . .

but I do know that Estes Park’s Volunteer Fire Department

and Rocky Mountain National Park’s Fire Department

were on the ground. . .

along with the awesome Larimer County Deputies. . .

and I am sure, several other law enforcement entities,

who were manning the roadblocks and doing traffic patrol. . .

 

Wildfire in Estes Park started by a house fire - burned 21 structures - and 20 acres

We also heard that because the High Point fire

was in such close proximity. . .

Colorado Fire Services were able to provide air support. . .

Hat’s off to the awesome job they all did. . .Wildfire in Estes Park started by a house fire - burned 21 structures - and 20 acres

This is one of the fire service helicopters

flying over the YMCA Campus. . .

which is the next property down from our campground. . .

Dave and I can see this building from the back of our RV. . .

Wildfire in Estes Park started by a house fire - burned 21 structures - and 20 acres

This plane loaded with fire retardent was in the vicinity. . .

but thanks to the fabulous

job by all the fire crews. . .was not needed.

For that we are very thankful. . .

 

If you are planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. . .

there is absolutely no need to change your plans. . .

yes there is a little haze obscuring the view. . .

but nothing significant to be concerned about. . .you will love this place.

 

If you would like to see pics of the fire crew helicopters

scooping water out of Mary’s Lake. . .

check out our fellow camp hosts blog: Travels of Dick and Judy Mott

 

Check in often to see the amazing wildlife. . .

10 comments:

  1. Good job, Janice. We just heard on the news that the Estes Park fire was started when a power line hit a tree during the high winds and arced, causing the fire to start. Scary stuff!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hmmmm. . .haven't heard that story yet. . .but I guess if they said it on the NEWS it must be the truth. . .ha ha! One of the locals who works in our camp office is the one who had heard it was a house fire. . .actually a charcoal grill that had been left unattended and turned over. . .who knows?

      Hope yours and Emma's summer is going great. . .

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  2. WoW! If that tunnel was my only way out, I think I would take it! You look awfully close to that fire, too close for comfort! I'd be nervous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welllll. . .it's a little deceptive. . .hubby was using a huge lens to take the photos. . .the ones of the actual fire were when we came by it on the way to the campground.

      The campground itself was four miles from the fire. . .with the wind blowing it away from us. Knowing the YMCA had 1900 visitors onsite was comforting. . .there was no way they were going to let it get that far. . .(which I am sure is why the plane with flame retardant was on scene) plus our Park Rangers were onsite at the fire scene. . .so we were kept closely apprised of changing conditions.

      We felt completely safe. . .other than that brief moment when we realized we were heading down a dead end road. . .

      Hope you guys are having a great summer. . .

      Delete
  3. Great pictures and it is scary to think you are on a dead-end road; but good to know that you feel safe. Stay that way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure how you guys handle your National Channels. . .ABC, CBS, NBC. . .etc. . but we have Eastern feed so only see New York News. . .

      We were watching a local channel over at our friends. . .I did not realize. . .there are currently 14 fires in Colorado. . .that is crazy. . .

      We have a box from DirecTV for local channels. . .sort of like an antenna I guess. . .I think we are going to hook it up tomorrow. . .wow!

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  4. So glad ya'll are ok. Hopefully with God's help they will get the fire out soon.

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  5. Seeing all the fires raging through Estes Park Colorado online and on news from Salt Lake City!
    Please let us know you are ok!!! It's been 5 days since you posted so I'm getting a bit concerned here! We have been having fire all over Utah too! Sheeeesh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for checking on us. . .all is well in Estes Park. . .AND. . .Colorado has had rain for the past two days. . .so even the BIG fires are getting under control. . .so thankful!

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  6. Happy to know you are safe and sound. Love the pics you took here. I have not been on my blog to check stories for a while. You guys be safe out there.

    ReplyDelete


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