Fires are horrid. Absolutely miserable. What everywhere else has in major disasters like Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes, we get here in Fires. It is a BIG deal for people who live in fire areas. I feel that people who live elsewhere dont truly understand how major things like this are.
Here in Redding, we usually have a massive fire every few years. The most recent was in '08, it made National News occasionally.
Nothing is fun about a fire. A lot of my mates' Fathers had to go fight them a few years ago, and some of them are in Colorado right now.
You've got families with nowhere to go, Firemen who are thirsty and tired(from fighting flames in 100+ degree heat, wearing a thick jacket and pants, in addition to carrying stuff),and getting into harms way.
Even on an individual basis, it affects you. When you go outside and there is a layer of ash on your car, and the smoke (Purely because of the wind, which usually rips pretty hard, making the fire so difficult to contain) is just as bad as a heavy layer of fog. The difference is, you cannot breathe comfortably. Anytime you get called to evacuate, you have only a few moments to decide what to take, and what to leave. In the summer, my house usually remains more or less packed up when we hear word of a large fire.
It doesnt get reported on the news as often as it should. But the job Firemen do at times like this is truly honorable. If you live in Colorado, do your part and buy a case of water or Gatorade or whatever, and take it to your local station/staging area. They will appreciate it more than you think.
A Hurricane comes and goes, and then you have cleanup. Same with most other disasters. You have to fight to stop a Fire, and THEN cleanup.
Thoughts to all who are displaced by the fires, and to those out there fighting them.