It’s Raining Ashes in Colorado

This past month in Colorado has been brutally hot and dry, and the result we’re seeing is some tragic wildfires. You may have heard some of the Colorado Wildfire news. This is my update from daily life here in Western Colorado, where the sky is filled each day with a smoky haze. And it’s literally raining ashes down on us.

And I’m worried about the wild horses! Plus the wonderful variety of other wildlife living in this area, which is home to bunches of elk, mountian lions, bear, bighorn sheep, bobcats, deer, and more. The firefighters have even had to be careful, as they’ve been running into bear while out there in the trenches.

4th Largest Fire in Colorado Wildfire History

There are two main fires of concern, and one of them is 15 miles north of Grand Junction – the Pine Gulch fire. It’s been burning for nearly 3 weeks now, and has grown to become the 4th largest wildfire ever in the state of Colorado.

UPDATE: I just learned that as of Tuesday’s growth of the Pine Gulch fire, it’s now the 3rd largest fire in Colorado history.

It’s making for some eery sunsets.

And pretty, but also eery, sunrises.

Smoke and Raining Ashes Abound

Here we are trying to daily asses COVID-19 symptoms, to determine if we should head into work? Meanwhile, the thick smoke in the air is causing headaches, sore throats, and other respiratory issues. Confusing. My clue I’m suffering from smoke-not-the-corona, is that my eyes are also miserable. Must mean my “phlegm issues” are wildfire based, not COVID based.

For awhile my covered patio was somewhat protected from it raining ashes from the sky. But it’s been so thick and prevalent this past few days, that now there’s a layer of ash on everything there, too.

You see it all over town, everywhere you go, even in the gutters.

Can’t Get to Denver!

Well, you can. By a super long, round about route. The second severe wildfire of concern is near Grizzly Creek, which breaks my heart! This is right along Colorado’s Interstate 70, which crosses the Rocky Mountains, and is my favorite gorgeous area to stop every time we travel to Denver.

I wasn’t planning on heading to Denver any time soon, but not unlike COVID-19 travel restrictions… just knowing I can’t go somewhere makes me feel a little trapped and clausterphobic.

Right now, this main East / West thoroughfare stretch of I-70 is closed due to the Grizzly Creek wildfire. You read that right, the interstate is closed.. due to a wildfire on both sides. It then jumped the Colorado River, and continued right on it’s path of destruction. Heartbreaking.

Here’s the most stunning fire photo I’ve seen thusfar.

Maybe it just strikes me because of all the times I’ve driven this stretch of interstate highway, gawking out the windows at the beautiful mountain canyon scenery.

This photo is crazy, too. Again, taken along the closed stretch of I-70. People from the east can’t get to Glenwood Springs (one of our favorite Colorado spots) and it’s hitting their re-opened tourist season hard.

We Saw the Pine Gulch Wildfire Start

So get this, we saw the Pine Gulch fire in Western Colorado start. Talk about a surreal moment.

We were at Highline Lake State Park enjoying my brother’s new wave runner on a Friday evening, when a brief thunderstorm swept through. It headed in the direction of the bookcliffs (Pine Gulch) and included lightening.

After the weather cleared a bit, we noticed a small, billowing cloud of black smoke up on the mountain. Which grew to a large billowing cloud of black smoke. And over the course of the next 3 hours, a huge billowing cloud of what had then turned to white smoke.

Tragic.

My nephew’s first comment as we watched this ‘natural’ wildfire kick off, “Oh, no. The poor animals.”

At the time, we had no idea this tragic wildfire would still be burning nearly 3 weeks later, and would have grown to be one of the largest in Colorado’s history.  Poor animals, indeed.

We went back to that lake last weekend, and this is the view and location where we watched the fire begin. That’s the currently smoldering cloud of smoke.

The governor has just announced a 1 month ban in Colorado on all open fires. We are camping soon, but I will gladly give up my chance to make s’mores to help.  🙁

We need rain!

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