Had to run SLW down to the airport this afternoon, and got to see the two new fires South of us. There's one by Longmont, the Calwood fire, and two more further down by Boldaria, the East Troublesome fire, and the Left Hand Canyon fires. They're further back in the mountains, but are still pumping smoke.
The worst I saw was down by CO-66 on the North edge of Longmont. I could see the smoke drifting across the highway at times, and it was a little unsettling. Coming back from the airport let me see the fires from a different direction, and it looked like mushroom cloud. You could see the wind vortexes swirling the smoke up maybe 10,000' feet high, and it immediately reminded me of the diagrams in my flight manuals from long ago.
The closer fire, the Cameron Peak one, is now over 206,000 acres with 52% containment. The Northeastern lobe of the fire, which affects where the in-laws live is pretty much contained, so the evacuations orders have been lifted, and they can move back in to the homestead. The Southern front of the fires continues to burn, and is rapidly approaching US 34, one of the main roads in and out of Estes Park. US 34 has been washed out and rebuilt several times in the last 15 years or so, and now there's a fire bearing down on it.
The weather forecast is predicting a 30% chance of "Wintry Mix" Thursday night, but there's an 80% forecast of rain and snow for Saturday night. The chances of precipitation improve at higher elevations, so maybe this coming storm can dump enough moisture on it to give the firefighters a break.
Thankfully I'm 50 miles away but the smoke is getting to my sinuses and kicking my ass.A few minutes ago had the dog out for his nightly ablutions and burn needles and ash was falling. Car wash tomorrow. The fallout is acidic.
ReplyDeleteYeah, my sinuses are going bonkers, too. Got OTC Flonase for the allergies, and some other stuff the Doc gave me to cut down mucus production so I don't get a head full of snot when I'm trying sleep. I should probably run the truck through the wash then. Gotta clear out the garage so SLW can get her car parked in there. Got rain/snow coming Saturday night, and she hates getting into a frozen car!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it supposed to rain and snow this weekend? That might deal with the fire season once and for all for the year. Here's hoping.
ReplyDeleteYep, we have an 80% chance of rain turning to snow starting Saturday afternoon, then snow on Sunday. The fire authority is leery of saying this will end it. They're saying it should help quite a bit, but not stomp it out.
Deletedrjim, two things you can do to protect yourself when driving. a) replace the cabin air filter in your vehicle, and b) wrap it in a leg cut from pantyhose. Alaskans use that technique post-eruption, here on the Pacific Rim. It won't stop the smell, but will trap much of the particulate matter. Good luck, sir.
ReplyDeleteGood tip! I'll have to see where the cabin air filter is on the new truck. In my Jeep it was under a plastic grill where the wipers park, but I don't know where it is on the Colorado.
DeleteI should probably order a shop manual for it!
Thanks Rev for the tip. Had to go in search of my air filter, in Nate the tahoe. It's behind the back of the glove box...
DeletePrayers for them!
ReplyDeleteThanks, NFO. It's another "Midnight at Noon" day here, with the fire down by Longmont really pumping out smoke.
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