Fires causing evacuation Colo Springs (Colorado Springs, Boulder: homes, to buy, taxes)

[gigimac]

I don't usually come to Colorado, but I just read the news story that the fires are getting so bad that mass evac is coming to Colorado Springs, don't they have an air base or something there? Anyhow, I didn't see any other posts on this, so thought I'd start one so I can keep up with these poor folks there. GG

[Sonic_Spork]

There are several military installations here, and the Air Force Academy is under evacuation orders.

[gigimac]

Thank you Sonic. Thanks for the info on military. I grew up in the military, married military, etc. Might be a plus to have all those folks around, they can assist in any imminent evacuation. Well, I'll be watching other post now. And if anyone gets to this, and wants to continue, that's fine, I'll watch this one, too, as I imagine others might come here first. Just so concerned about this whole thing. GG

[2bindenver]

Having the military nearby will help get an executive order for assistance.

June 26 9:37pm: Gov. Hickenlooper at the Waldo Canyon Fire command center: “If I could make an executive order for rain, I’d do it tomorrow…I’d do it right now!”

[Sonic_Spork]

I think people here are too worried about drawing any resources off the fire-fighting to riot. I'm sure when it's all over, our political powers that be will be up against some very serious criticism and public outcry, in fact if you watch our news, you'll hear the anger in the citizens questioning them in the press conferences. No one has any patience for politicians being politicians right now, we want results.

That said, I've made the observation before this fire ever happened (on threads about bus service etc) about how there is a bit of a vicious cycle/arm wrestling match between the taxpaying citizens and the government. Our government has misappropriated tax dollars into things not approved by most of the populace, and then told us they'd be cutting back services because we can't afford it...and the people don't want to pay taxes, most are pretty conservative to begin with but very cynical about how government uses funds. These things feed back and forth into a spiraling recipe for disaster, if let to go too far.

I'm predicting a lot of turnover in future politics. Starting with the mayor.

[Sonic_Spork]

Listening to the fire/ems scanner (thanks to the poster with that link, awesome) they are saying there is a powerful thunderstorm building to the north, and they are very concerned with erratic high winds coming off of it. It's hard to see through the smoke if you're south of it, but it's going to further fan the fire. The firefighters are on high alert.

[Sonic_Spork]

Yeah, if I hear anything of particular interest I will definitely post it.

The talk in the office is that everything west of I-25 and south of the Douglas County line is under pre-evacuation notice now.

Scanner traffic is they are "triaging structures" on Cedar Heights Dr., watching black smoke coming out of Williams Canyon (don't know where that is) and...lunch is being ordered. I hope it's something good. I'd like to buy these guys lunch, myself.

[Sonic_Spork]

There is a small loop called Blodgett Dr. off of Woodmen Rd...the fire is making a run on homes on the far west end of this loop, the "lower end" of Blodgett, teams are on the ground working to fight that and protect the homes.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by Sonic_Spork

Listening to the fire/ems scanner (thanks to the poster with that link, awesome) they are saying there is a powerful thunderstorm building to the north, and they are very concerned with erratic high winds coming off of it. It's hard to see through the smoke if you're south of it, but it's going to further fan the fire. The firefighters are on high alert.

It's awful isn't it? On the one hand, the rain might help with dampening down the fire but the winds and potential lightning could just make things worse.

Right now, from my office window, I can see very dark skies south of Boulder and smoke rising off the peaks above the Flatirons.

[otowi]

I was just going to say if you want to hear what's going on, either watch the news (they have online feeds for KKTV and KRDO I think) or listen to the scanner traffic - the scanner traffic is very interesting.