Too Close To Home

     This is a picture I took of the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 26^th 2012. 

     We all hear about wildfires in the news, but it always feels like those fires are happening somewhere else until you see one in your home town.    

     This picture was taken from my work late that afternoon.  My office had been listening to reports on the fire’s movement all day as it steadily moved closer to the city each hour.  It was hard to focus on anything. All we could smell was the smoke, and all we could feel was helpless. 

     Things were extremely dry that year.  We hadn’t had any significant precipitation preceding the onset of the fire, and weather reports dashed hope of rain to aid in containment.  We had 65 mph winds and record heat at 101 degrees.  Also, many homes aren’t air conditioned here, and we were instructed to keep windows closed to limit the smoke inhalation. 

     Looking at this picture now, it’s quite amazing.  It was taken at the exact moment when distant smoke cleared the ridge, and we could see the actual fire.  Up until that moment it was just hazy skies and smoky air.  I can remember the parking lot filling up with everyday citizens stopping dead in their tracks to watch the view. 

     The fire came up the ridge to the left, and then it appeared to rapidly roll down the hill.  The husband of a co-worker was a fire fighter on the mountain.  She said the fire should go down the slope of the mountain slower than it climbed up the back side of that ridge.  It made perfect sense, and we were hopeful.  Unfortunately the wind carried it down faster, and the fire reached houses and the city by nightfall.