Smoke in the Valley

Smoke has descended into the Estes Valley this morning. With wildfires both north and south of Estes, and no wind,  it's hard to tell from which fire it's coming - maybe both. The haze and smell is getting worse by the minute. We closed the house up early so it's relatively cool and smoke free inside. I took a couple of photos but they don't capture the haze very well. The rain we had on Wednesday and Thursday was most welcome but with the exceptionally high temperatures, things dry out quickly. There are at least six fires burning in Colorado and the threat of new fires is extreme. I keep our grab and go bags ready. Yesterday I signed up with LETA (Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority) which is an emergency notification system. It's a desperate time for Colorado.

Estes Park Fire

Estes Park (Woodland Heights) Fire - home fully engulfed in flames

Estes Park  (Woodland Heights) Fire - helicopter approaches with water bucket

Saturday began hot and windy and, as we watched the smoke billow from the High Park Fire, we got word  about noon that a wildfire was burning in the west part of Estes Park near the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Our home is several miles away from the fire site. During the day we got information that the fire had started from unknown causes at a cabin on High Drive. The tinder-dry conditions and hot wind quickly spread the fire to other structures and surrounding grassland and forest. Many people were evacuated and went to the EP High School where the Red Cross had set up a temporary shelter and control center. Wayne and I other Salvation Army volunteers picked up meals at local restaurants to feed dinner to 150 firefighters. By last night the fire was contained and today the firefighters are monitoring hot spots and "mopping up." At least 20 homes/structures were destroyed over a 20 acre area but I've heard of no deaths or injuries. At times in the afternoon we could see smoke from both the High Park Fire and the Estes Park Fire


The immediate crisis is over for Estes Park but with fires burning in many places in Colorado and the persistence of hot, dry, and windy weather, Wayne and I have been making a "fire evacuation plan" in the event that we need to get out quickly. It's hard to think about it but having a plan in place lowers my anxiety. Salvation Army needs volunteers to help with the canteens serving meals to firefighters at High Park Fire. Wayne will probably volunteer for one or more days of service. In the meantime we are vigilant - hoping for the best while planning for the worst.

High Park Fire

This is day 15 of the High Park Fire which has consumed over 75,000 acres, destroyed 200 homes, and caused one death. The billowing plumes you see in this picture I took from my deck are smoke, not clouds. The hot, dry, windy conditions the past two days have intensified the wildfire and firefighters have lost ground. More people have evacuated from the threatened areas today. Officials say that the firefighters can continue to work on containment, but only Mother Nature can extinguish the fire. It will burn for months.

Estes Park is not directly threatened by this fire which is roughly 20 miles north but there has been an adverse economic impact during this high tourist season. I am sad and anxious when I look to the north. Everyone is hoping for cooler, calmer weather and, most of all, rain.

Summertime in the Midwest

some of our family on Jan and Doug's patio

We just returned from ten days in Nebraska and Iowa visiting family - lots of family! It was a wonderful trip - just loaded with activities. Our agenda included: Parker's baseball tournament in Des Moines; birthday parties for Wayne and Mildred; Carly and Fischer's swim meet; dinner with old friends; lots and lots of swimming; and delicious meals. We stayed with our son and his family in Bennington and with Wayne's sister and her husband in Des Moines. We had quality time with our six grandchildren and got to see some extended family as well.

swimming in the Andersen pool

my granddaughter's dessert invention
Gracie Parfait
Delicious!