A City On Fire

DAY 64

Sometimes no matter how simple you would like your life to be, you are overcome by events out of your control.   Colorado Springs is literally burning as I write this. We have family friends who had to evacuate their home staying with us. My spouse is half a world away. The campfire smell that has been in the air this week is starting to creep indoors.  I cancelled a short business trip scheduled for today because I was afraid to leave my kids. Yet sadly, I would say our family is one of the less affected here locally by this exigency.

Old Lady Leary’s Cow

Complacent–Our offices face Westward with a typically beautiful view of Pikes Peak. Yesterday, we spent the day watching the smoke ebb and flow behind the mountains.    The fire had been burning since Saturday.  At that point the smoke was a nuisance and I knew the fire would ruin some prime hiking, but still, it seemed so far removed even as we watched planes drop slurry and the helicopters drop water.

For most of the day, this was the view at our office.

Sometime shortly after 4:00, I packed up to go home and when I stepped outside the scene had changed.

I stood there with a group of coworkers mesmerized as we watched the fire crest the ridge and in less than 30 minutes  descend on the homes, the city below.

And then the fires came, photo taken by Andy Kay my coworker who was standing next to me on the porch. If you look carefully you can see the line of houses.

 

And then suddenly, Andy swung his briefcase strap over his shoulder and said while walking away, “I can’t stand here and watch these houses burn.”

And, so we all got in our cars.

It was like driving home in a scene from a Mad Max movie.  The streets were alternately bumper to bumper and then suddenly deserted, the sky was orange and ash was raining down from several miles away.

That was yesterday, and here’s the rub, this story isn’t over.  This morning a new day dawned.  And this is unlike the day after the destruction that follows a storm, typhoon, or other natural disaster,  where you can begin to move forward.  Instead, we are watching and waiting for the temperature and the winds, which yesterday blew up this fire, to return and whip it back into a frenzy pushing it towards new neighborhoods.

The Simple Year  is largely about a family learning to live with less and a departure from dependence on products and “stuff”.  Last night, I told someone that my evacuation kit was my hard drive and a case of wine.

But, that’s not the truth, my evacuation kit is actually just the necessities.  It’s Kayla, Kelsey, myself (OK, the dog, too)  and full tank of gas.

 

 


10 Responses to A City On Fire

  1. You guys are making me nervous. Do you need anything? You can always come stay in INDY with lots of family! 🙂

    Love you guys.
    Kerri

  2. I want to “like” this but its the wrong word to use. Thumbs up for the posting Kerry, this is the most horrible thing I have ever experienced and I’ve been around for quite a while. Right now we can see the new fires burning above the Academy.

  3. Kerry,

    Thank you for sharing.. I cannot imagine what the people of CO are going through right now. I hope that THIS blog will have a VERY happy ending.. I would have every photo, clothing necessity and irreplaceable item packed in some tubs and ready to shove in a car and GO! ~Thoughts and prayers. ~Amber

  4. What a mess..great photos though. I will be very relieved when the tempature and wind drops.
    Pray for rain or a tropical storm in the Gulf.

  5. Kerry…I so trust your judgement, amazing but true. I know you will do the right things and want you to know my heart goes out to all the folks in Colorado Springs. Home is still a sacred place, rented, mortgaged, underwater. May the Fire Goddess be merciful. Keep us posted, Honey, and let us know if there is anything we (your readers) can do to help.

  6. That’s why I always leave gas in the tank and make sure the four wheel drive is working. You just never know when you need to get out. Be safe, Kerry. Please evac before you need to. We are praying for you all.

  7. Kerry — Just getting to your blog. It is so well done. You were right the second time — kids, wine and, of course, the dog. When it gets the most important, it gets really simple, doesn’t it? Love you guys.

  8. I know this is way out of date, the fires having had happened months ago, but my daughter and I just stumbled upon your blog yesterday and have been reading together. We were pleased when we saw that you’re living in Colorado Springs as my parents live there. On the hot weather post, we turned to each other and said, “Oh, we were there then!” having been visiting my parents. I should have seen this one coming, but didn’t until we read the title. (Okay, I guess it was just me – my daughter (14) tells me she did see it coming.) My parents and local friends were all fine, but it was such a scary time. Having grown up there, it was a blow to hear that the Flying W had burned down. I hope your friend’s house turned out to have escaped the fire, although I know many did not.

    • Thanks for checking out the blog and commenting. My friends house was fine. She was over the ridge from the bulk of the fires. Some of the embers made it to her neighborhood, but I guess they didn’t ignite. It is still very sad to see see all the black empty space up there.

Tell me, tell me...