an even more frightening perspective

[ousdahl]

I am genuinely worried for your safety and well being. Not too sure I can think of anything funny to say about it.

I have three friends (different places but near each other) who in the past hour posted....

We have evacuated. The fire to our south and west exploded overnight - grew more than 100,000 acres in a day. Entered RMNP, crossed the Continental Divide and is threatening Estes.
Heading to Greeley. Hope it’s only a few days.

We are evacuating.

Preparing for evacuation is like getting ready for tour! #NotMy1Rodeo

It’s def scary, but I’ve always gone for comedic relief.

I’m safe out of Granby, so I would at least have a head start if the fire makes it all the way to Fraser.

It also helps that 2020 has left me a little desensitized, so it’s not like it’s the first time I’ve had to react to emergency this year.

And I’m also just...cynical? cuz I continue to be amazed by y’all when the whole community is in a panic, folks loosing properties all over, wondering where they and their animals are gonna sleep tonight, and the number one on y’all’s mind is “so y’all BETTER plan on refunding me for the inconvenience!”

[ousdahl]

Hot dogs?

Getting warmer...

[Deleted User 289]

You want s'more/s not so funny comic relief?

Billy Joel just called. He said he didn't start the fire/s.

I bet a lot of Coloradans/Coloradoans are getting blazed these days.

If the fire somehow reaches Boulder will they change the name of the town to Smoulder?

I tried to Google Colorado Fire and got a “no matches found”.

[ousdahl]

gutman, fuck! Why you gotta be so insensitive??

[ousdahl]

but for real potd.

My favorite was the blazed one. I was trying to make some stoner joke earlier about how a giant plume of smoke in Colorado...normally just indicates a good show at red rocks?

Or something.

[ousdahl]

“only” 50k acres of growth today.

That’s up to 170k, now good for 2nd biggest in CO history...woo Grand County represent!!

[ousdahl]

Good news!

No reported structural damage in downtown grand lake!

The rumor mill made it sounds like the whole town was gone.

There is apparently extensive losses in some surrounding neighborhoods, but that’s just Tim Allen’s vacation home, whatever bro, you and Al can rebuild over a whole season on tool time

[Deleted User 289]

Estes Valley Fire Protection District
1h ·
We’ve been keeping our eyes north on the Cameron Peak Fire for over 70 days, and today the East Troublesome Fire made a run from the west and jumped the Continental Divide. The fire got established below Spruce Creek on the flank of Mount Wuh, west of Moraine Park. This movement, paired with the extreme fire behavior we’ve seen over the last couple months, caused us to initiate evacuations of the Estes Valley. A team effort between Larimer County Sheriffs Office, Estes Park Police Department, and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, notifications were sent to all residents of the Estes Valley. In a matter of three hours, we had ensured the safety of all public, which was our highest priority.
Calls went out to our mutual aid partners to send surge resources, and they stepped up. We had a total of 46 firefighters between Estes and mutual aid staffing 14 apparatus. We needed help, and they came. Even more were standing by, ready to come if we called them.
We got some reprieve with a high moisture fog that settled into the valley above the fire and slowed it’s movement. We will keep crews monitoring overnight, and plan to engage in the morning. We have had a large surge of resources from the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires, expanding the local Divisions and Structure Protection Groups.
As of tonight, there have been no impacts to the Estes Valley. Everyone was evacuated safely. A big part of that success was YOU being prepared and taking things seriously. Thank you.
Today was hard. Tomorrow will be better. We will keep you posted as we know more.

[jhawks99]

Ousie, you still ok? Bail outta there?

[ousdahl]

Hey! I’m good.

Evacuated from Granby and hanging on the Fraser end of the valley. The fire is perilously close to the north edge of Granby, but should be ok as long as the winds don’t shift south.

Apparently they saved downtown Grand Lake, but who knows how much damage to the surrounding neighborhoods and rmnp.

Knock on wood, I think Fraser (and beaver) in particular panicked a little more than they had to, but then again, Fraser is 12 miles from the fire, and the fire moved 20 miles on Wednesday.

I dunno, just hope it doesn’t get windy again before the snow this weekend.

My buddy lives in his old family cabin up near Grand Lake. I messaged him yesterday but haven’t heard back. Sorta worried about him.

[jhawks99]

Yikes. Hope he's ok.

[ousdahl]

Hey, he texted back!

He’s ok, just exhausted from having to evacuate Grand Lake, then Granby again the next day.

Not sure about his home, but looking at maps he thinks it may have avoided the burn.

[ousdahl]

There’s another story about some old couple trying to wait out the fire in their basement or something, but reports now grim.

First believed casualities. RIP I think.

https://www.cbs42.com/news/u-s-world/fa ... -wildfire/

[ousdahl]

[ousdahl]

4 p.m. Oct. 14 — Fire breaks out. It has burned 388 acres by 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 — 5,672 acres

Oct. 16 — 11,329 acres

Oct. 17 — 12,621 acres

Oct. 18 — 13,400 acres

Oct. 19 — 15,537 acres

Oct. 20 — 15,546 acres

Oct. 21 — 19,086 acres

Oct. 22 — 125,602 acres

Oct. 23 — 170,163 acres

[ousdahl]

Winter storm in the forecast tomorrow, but already getting windy again today. Gonna be a long weekend.

[ousdahl]

[ousdahl]

Update!

Everyone was expecting snow this morning, but not yet, still on its way. Temp swing today from 44 to -4.

Displaced grand lake homeowners are getting restless, as the whole area is still considered an active wildfire zone, and the sheriff won’t let anybody in.

Now folks are worried about freezing temps, and whether it could burst pipes, and on an even bigger level, whether they even still have a house standing with pipes to burst.

At midnight last night the sheriff announced some plan to have deputies and contractor go in and check pipes for anyone who signs up or something, but people are pissed about it.

They’re vilifying the authorities, as if the authorities are trying to screw everyone over, when all authorities are trying to do is keep people safe.

Apparently a wildfire hazard doesn’t just come and then go, and can still be dangerous days after the initial flames. Sheriff also wants to have deputies search for missing persons before the public is allowed back in.

I dunno whose side to take. Pretty sure it should be some meeting in the middle, but no such thing in 2020.

[TDub]

Perhaps the authorities shouldnt have the authority to keep people from their homes. Perhaps it is appropriate to warn people of the potential hazards and allow them to make their own decisions. Qualify it with a disclaimer that emergency services will be unavailable should they run into problems. Government agencies should allow people to handle their own business and decisions, unless they are actively fighting fire and it would impede their process. But. 2020. Big government or chaos. Only options apparently. I digress. Back to the wood pile 2 cords split yesterday, 3 cords piled up to buck, not gonna split itslef. Stay safe colorado.

[ousdahl]

Tdub’s back again!

How’s the deer hunting?

And while I can’t disagree, I also wonder whether emergency services can just say nope, sorry, not gonna help.

Cuz if somebody goes in and gets burned from a flare up, or a structure falls and traps them or something, it’s not like they’re not gonna call emergency services. And can emergency services really just say, that’s too bad but we told ya so?