- Joined
- Mar 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,160
- Points
- 0
Three thousand flee as Colorado wildfires destroy dozens of homes
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 10:19 AM on 8th September 2010
A wind-whipped wildfire has sent flames roaring through a rugged canyon in the Colorado foothills, forcing 3,000 people to flee and destroying dozens of homes.
Some of the homes belonged to the firefighters themselves, authorities said.
The 3,500-acre wildfire broke out on Monday morning in a canyon north-west of Boulder. It did not appear to be arson, police said.
Out of control: High winds and dry conditions allowed the fire to take hold, and emergency services battled through the night to contain the blaze
Evacuated: Some of the people who fled the blaze in Boulder watch as a massive plume of smoke rises from the canyon
High winds spread the flames quickly throughout the canyon.
Police did not know exactly how many homes had been destroyed - but four belonged to firefighters battling the blaze.
Crews managed to save the historic town of Gold Hill, including an old West grocery store and structures once used for stagecoach stops.
But firefighters in the area had to relocate their engines and equipment several times to avoid the flames.
Major operation: Firefighters plan to dump twice the levels of flame retardants on the blaze as they bid to put it out
Colorado fire
Scrambled: A slurry bomber and spotter plane make a run over the Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder, Colorado. The cause of the fire has not yet been released but authorities do not suspect arson
Battle: A helicopter moves in to dump water on the Fourmile Canyon Fire today
Calmer winds were in the forecast and authorities planned to dump two to three times the amount of fire retardant from the air than they did Monday.
The strong winds fanning the flames had also grounded air tankers for much of the day, Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Rick Brough said.
The lack of information about the fire frustrated residents who gathered for a morning news briefing on the blaze.
'There's no information about anything ... I am so frustrated,' said Ronda Plywaski, who left her home Monday.
A helicopter leaves the area to refuel after dumping water on the Fourmile Canyon Fire today. The fire did not appear to have been set by arsonists, officials said
Spectators watch as the fire burns in the canyon near Boulder. Four firefighters' homes were destroyed in the blaze
'I just want to know if my house is OK.'
On Monday, winds pushed the fire through three canyons where pine trees have been left prone to fire by disease, drought and beetles that burrow under the bark of pine trees, fire managers said.
Such beetles have killed more than 3.5 million acres (1.4 million hectares) of trees in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming.
The evacuation was hampered by a failure of the county's alert system.
Brough said the system was down for about two hours Monday, leaving authorities to rely on the media to get out word of the fire.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...fires-destroy-dozens-homes.html#ixzz0yxAm4D3U
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 10:19 AM on 8th September 2010
A wind-whipped wildfire has sent flames roaring through a rugged canyon in the Colorado foothills, forcing 3,000 people to flee and destroying dozens of homes.
Some of the homes belonged to the firefighters themselves, authorities said.
The 3,500-acre wildfire broke out on Monday morning in a canyon north-west of Boulder. It did not appear to be arson, police said.
Out of control: High winds and dry conditions allowed the fire to take hold, and emergency services battled through the night to contain the blaze
Evacuated: Some of the people who fled the blaze in Boulder watch as a massive plume of smoke rises from the canyon
High winds spread the flames quickly throughout the canyon.
Police did not know exactly how many homes had been destroyed - but four belonged to firefighters battling the blaze.
Crews managed to save the historic town of Gold Hill, including an old West grocery store and structures once used for stagecoach stops.
But firefighters in the area had to relocate their engines and equipment several times to avoid the flames.
Major operation: Firefighters plan to dump twice the levels of flame retardants on the blaze as they bid to put it out
Colorado fire
Scrambled: A slurry bomber and spotter plane make a run over the Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder, Colorado. The cause of the fire has not yet been released but authorities do not suspect arson
Battle: A helicopter moves in to dump water on the Fourmile Canyon Fire today
Calmer winds were in the forecast and authorities planned to dump two to three times the amount of fire retardant from the air than they did Monday.
The strong winds fanning the flames had also grounded air tankers for much of the day, Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Rick Brough said.
The lack of information about the fire frustrated residents who gathered for a morning news briefing on the blaze.
'There's no information about anything ... I am so frustrated,' said Ronda Plywaski, who left her home Monday.
A helicopter leaves the area to refuel after dumping water on the Fourmile Canyon Fire today. The fire did not appear to have been set by arsonists, officials said
Spectators watch as the fire burns in the canyon near Boulder. Four firefighters' homes were destroyed in the blaze
'I just want to know if my house is OK.'
On Monday, winds pushed the fire through three canyons where pine trees have been left prone to fire by disease, drought and beetles that burrow under the bark of pine trees, fire managers said.
Such beetles have killed more than 3.5 million acres (1.4 million hectares) of trees in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming.
The evacuation was hampered by a failure of the county's alert system.
Brough said the system was down for about two hours Monday, leaving authorities to rely on the media to get out word of the fire.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...fires-destroy-dozens-homes.html#ixzz0yxAm4D3U
