Boulder, Colorado Fires

[Lee]

Last night I turned on the news to check on the winter storm and saw a report of a big forest fire near Boulder.
Hope Ron is ok and does not have any damage.
I think runnerhiker leaves in the Boulder area.

[Grumpy Goat]

Yes the Marshall Fire was pretty devastating but from what I have heard could have been worse as there was no related loss of life. Hopefully the expedited relief from the Feds will provide quick assistance. Weird weather.

Here today is supposed to hit 85 but tomorrow the high will be 45.

[runnerhiker]

We are ok, the fires were about 15 miles south of us. It is really a tragic event, about 600 homes totally destroyed and 30,000 people were evacuated.

The front edge of a winter storm came over the mountains, high winds came off the mountains before the snow and cold arrived. At around noon Thursday, the temps were 45 deg and the winds were 75-100 mph by two small communities south of Boulder called Marshall and Superior. I live 5 miles north of Boulder. The initial story is that the high winds knocked down a power line, the downed line ignited a grass fire in an open space area, and the wind took hot ambers to populated areas east of the foot of the mountains and set houses and stores on fire. At that point, the fuel for the fire became the houses and stores in suburbs and the high winds just spread it.

I heard today that the original spark story of a downed power line is now in question and that might not be it. There is no rolling back the tragedy. The only good news is that there are no casualties, although I heard today that two people are unaccounted for.

[Grumpy Goat]

Ron - thanks for the follow-up and news that you and family are safe and were not directly affected. Yes, indeed it could have been worse, and I do hope that they locate the missing and that they are safe and sound.