Late yesterday the East Troublesome fire near Granby, Colo., blew up and raced east at the rate of 100 acres per minute. That’s 100,000 acres since yesterday. Evacuation orders for the Grand Lake area were urgent — “IF YOU LIVE IN THIS AREA, EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!!” — and the main highway to the south was made one-way only, with both lanes heading south. For a time Trail Ridge Road was open to the east, although nighttime visibility with smoke made it a harrowing drive. That route was soon blocked by fallen trees, and early this morning the entire park was closed. Air quality in the park has been rated “hazardous”:
With Colorado’s firefighting resources already stretched thin, the outlook for this fire — and the park — is grim.
Mother Nature, requesting snow….and no winds. The critters are in serious trouble – humans? They will have to watch out for themselves.
This is as bad as the terrible Yellowstone Park fire man-years ago
Yep, and the snow due in this weekend is predicted to not be “season-ending,” as in fire season ending.
That top picture is horrifyingly beautiful. One wonders if there will be anything left to burn when it’s over (although each year brings more devastation).
Sadly we’ve been having these “horrifyingly beautiful” sunsets for weeks.
That top photo is breathtaking and terrifying. Is that smoke in it? Or just all clouds?
Most of it, the round billowy parts, is smoke. And in this view we’re seeing western slope smoke from the Greater Denver area.
Scary stuff.
I’m beside myself thinking that the town and park I’ve loved all my life could be incinerated in the next couple of days. I hope at least that everyone gets out safely.