2012 Wildfire Season - Hundreds of homes lost

[Bottoz]

346 Homes burned to the ground.
10% containment.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Ouch. Crazy looking at the photos above though. Some people got lucky, looks like the fire surround their house but left it alone. (or firefighters fought it off) Makes you wonder how those people would feel returning to their homes, only to look at their neighbors house right next to theirs that burnt to the ground.

 

[Bottoz]

I was listening to the Fire dispatch radio scanner, and could hear what the crews were reporting. They had a TON of engines in the neighborhoods affected. They treated the houses in a triage manner. If they could save it, they would. If it was too far gone, they had to go to the next one.

PS... 4th of July is coming up. BE CAREFUL. We have bans... you'll be arrested for Arson if they catch you with fireworks.

 

[Encyclopedia]

A lot of peoples lives ruined. Must be awful to loose all that you own.

 

[JSadler]

The sheer power of this fire is unreal. It's consuming like a living animal. And the smoke cloud is crazy - blocking out the sun from some areas. Really hope everyone is taking this evacuation seriously.

 

[CodeRedR51]

The sheer power of this fire is unreal. It's consuming like a living animal. And the smoke cloud is crazy - blocking out the sun from some areas. Really hope everyone is taking this evacuation seriously.

I don't think they all did, because a body was found in one of the burnt houses.

Edit: This fire has popped up north of my home town this week, started by lightning.

Road in this picture is I-70, which may need to be IS closed.

 

[tpark103]

Please guys we it's a sad thing. I'm military vet, a hurricane survivor, and a earth quack survivor, but this is something like I've never experienced. If I could only put you all in my shoes to show you the despair that people feel while in disaster. Please show us love GTP. Thank you guys!

 

[PureHeavyMetal]

It's a sad thing. Looks absolutely awful.

I've survived four hurricanes. Hurricane Charley put our power out for three days. I know what it's like to go through tough times. Just stick it out. You'll survive. 👍

 

[Patrick]

Already a thread about this. Waldo Canyon Fire - Colorado Springs, CO - 32,000 Evacuated

I've experienced fires worse, but it's really a horrible thing. A couple of my friends lost their house. fires ar incredibly scary.

 

[Bluntified]

Please guys we it's a sad thing. I'm military vet, a hurricane survivor, and a earth quack survivor, but this is something like I've never experienced. If I could only put you all in my shoes to show you the despair that people feel while in disaster. Please show us love GTP. Thank you guys!

Looks like you've survived a lot! I hope you survive the flaming from people that will tell you this isn't GT related and is in the wrong section.

It is very sad though, Obama said today that it's officially a disaster site.

 

[MOTORTRENDmitch]

I wish you the best and hope the fire steers clear of your residents

 

[otakukid96]

The country is gonna be burnt and flooded at the same time. That just makes me sad, that this is so out of hand. Kinda makes me feel guilty that I live somewhere that is hit pretty hard by hurricanes every year. At least with hurricanes, they run out of energy relatively quick and things can be restored faster, where as a fire of this size can burn for a very long time and just decimates the land for a long time after.

 

[GTP_CargoRatt]

You and the rest of Colorado thats affected by this tragic situation are in my prayers. Hope for the best for you guys.

 

[Jordan]

Please guys we it's a sad thing. I'm military vet, a hurricane survivor, and a earth quack survivor, but this is something like I've never experienced. If I could only put you all in my shoes to show you the despair that people feel while in disaster. Please show us love GTP. Thank you guys!

I've just merged your topic with this one here, in GTPlanet's Current Events forum. Praying and hoping the best for you guys. 👍

 

[TheDabbinDave]

Our country has a 747 that has been used to put out fires in other countries. Yet, the current occupies of the White House has not deployed the only 747 in existence to have the ability this plane has. Bonkers man!!! I heard about this story Wednesday.

 

[Patrick]

Our country has a 747 that has been used to put out fires in other countries. Yet, the current occupies of the White House has not deployed the only 747 in existence to have the ability this plane has. Bonkers man!!! I heard about this story Wednesday.

The US Forest Service won't let it fly. It was used here in 2010. Awesome sight to see it unload.

 

[a6m5]

Our country has a 747 that has been used to put out fires in other countries. Yet, the current occupies of the White House has not deployed the only 747 in existence to have the ability this plane has. Bonkers man!!! I heard about this story Wednesday.

Been a topic on the rightwing radio here locally. I think they said that Evergreen Aviation from McMinville, Oregon developed it, has one, but the State refuses to use it. It's supposed to be a monster of a tanker, and cost efficient, too.

Sounds political.

The Evergreen Supertanker showed impressive results during the U.S. Forest Service administered grid tests earlier this year. From high, medium and low coverage levels, the Supertanker showed it provides quality, consistent retardant line construction. The cutting-edge aircraft proved it belongs on the front line, from the onset, to fight wildfire day and night. The uniformed pattern of the Supertanker drops, and its ability, in a single flight, for split loads at multiple coverage levels, gives agencies an incredibly versatile firefighting tool.
The multi-role B747 Supertanker is the largest tanker aircraft available today. With a payload of more than 20,000 gallons and a response time of 600 mph, it has more than eight times the drop capability and twice the speed of any other federal air tanker currently fighting fires. The Supertankers patented pressurized system has the capability to disperse product at high pressure for an overwhelming response, or disperse at the speed of falling rain in a single or several segmented drops. This pressurized system will also allow for drops at higher altitudes, creating a significant safety buffer and enabling the Supertanker to fight fires during the day and at night, when they are most vulnerable. It also offers a significant value for American taxpayers; saving homes, natural resources, and most importantly, lives. When employed properly, the Supertanker has the capability to save the U.S. government billions of dollars in fire suppression, natural resource losses, tourism, and rehabilitation costs every year.

 

[TheDabbinDave]

The US Forest Service won't let it fly. It was used here on 2010. Awesome sight to see it unload.

This is heart breaking!!! I couldn't imagine what people are going through there.

I can't wait for the lawsuits. I'm sure the highest court in the land would botch that too.

It just angers me.

 

[Patrick]

Statement from Evergreen.

============================================================

Date: 6/29/12

Evergreen International Aviation Statement Concerning the Supertanker

We felt compelled to release this statement due to the overwhelming amount of calls we have received concerning the availability of the Evergreen Supertanker. We at Evergreen are saddened by the fire devastation now taking place in many Western US states. For over 60 years, we have supported the US Forest Service in its important mission to battle and control fires, and it is our desire to continue this rich history of service. While our helicopters continue to work fires for the State of Alaska under State contracts, unfortunately, our Boeing 747 Supertanker Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) aircraft awaits activation with the US Forest Service.

We have never been told why we have not been activated by the US Forest Service, so we can only speculate as to why we face this outcome:

1. We were offered a Call-When-Needed (CWN) contract a few years ago by the US ForestService (proving our technical viability), but we were never called into action resulting in a multi-million dollar loss to our company as we were required to maintain and have flight crew available should we be called. The only contact that will sustain a VLAT program is an Exclusive-Use contract, which provides an income stream to sustain the program even if the asset is not utilized. We invested over $50M to develop this asset in the firm belief that we could better control fires as we proved in Israel and Mexico under CWN contracts that we could afford to offer at the time.

2. There have been recent changes to the US Forest Service procurement policies. Today,only small businesses are eligible for contract awards concerning airtanker assets; Evergreen is not a small business and, therefore, is excluded from consideration for any award.

3. The US Forest Service’s specification for Next Generation Air Tanker aircraft limits tanksize to 5,000 gallons. The Supertanker’s tanks hold about 20,000 gallons, which is considered outside the USFS specification. The USFS just awarded contracts to four small businesses with aircraft equipped with these smaller tanks, and excluded the Evergreen Supertanker. Since World War II, tank capacities have been in the 3,000 to 5,000 gallon range, yet continue to face the growing threat from mega fires today. We believe the Supertanker represents an overwhelming response to this growing threat.

Please contact your state representatives in Washington DC to demand an examination of their current procurement policies concerning VLAT aircraft. The US Forest Service says it best: “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., Tel: 503.472.9361 www.EvergreenAviation.com

(end of statement)

===============================================================

 

[CodeRedR51]

Thread title changed so we can cover the whole state. 👍

 

[C-ZETA]

From the link I posted earlier, I just heard that this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be postponed because of this fire.

Yup, indeed.

As confirmed by the event's website itself two days ago.

 

[Schwartz]

Did they charge God with Felony Arson?

 

[tpark103]

I apologize if I have I have made a duplicate thread. I was just looking out my window and seeing smoke from the fire and it was disturbing! :-(

 

[CodeRedR51]

The Pine Ridge fire north of Grand Junction is a bit more under control at the moment. Fire crews have kept it on the west side of I-70 and stopped it from advancing towards DeBeque. This one sparked on Wednesday afternoon by a lightning strike and it's currently past 12,000 acres. Grew really fast.

 

[TheDabbinDave]

Did they charge God with Felony Arson?

It's my understanding that this was actually started by two men?

 

[Schwartz]

I thought it was lightning.

 

[Encyclopedia]

My thoughts go out to anyone who's affected by this. Let's hope the firemen defeat the fire soon.

 

[PAPPACLART]

Sorry for all of the displaced.

 

[tpark103]

Update on Colorado Springs though a few friends have lost homes the men and women have worked hard and finally are making progress on the fire. It is now at 45% contained as of this morning.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Pine Ridge fire near DeBeque is now 25% contained.