Photo source: Colorado Springs Gazette.
If you are a regular reader of my blog you know my children live in the beautiful state of Colorado, in the Denver area. Many areas of Colorado have been besieged by wildfires of epic proportions this past month, most caused by lightning hitting extremely dry trees and brush. One of the latest fires of concern is in the foothill areas of Colorado Springs, the second largest city of Colorado, about an hour driving distance from Denver. As you can see by the photo above, this raging fire is extensive, and out of control!
Photo source: Colorado Springs Gazette
Tens of thousands of residents have had to flee their homes, and many neighborhoods are being destroyed by the flames.
Photo Source: Colorado Springs Gazette
The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, and as you can see by the photo above of the Air Force Chapel surrounded by smoke wafting across the canyon, it may also be in danger if the fires are not quickly put under control.
If you watch the heartbreaking CBS video above (it begins with a brief commercial) you will see that one fleeing resident of Boulder County took only one possession--the American Flag that was his son's. His son lost his life in the military in Iraq.
There are more than eight large wildfires burning across the state, the latest in Boulder County, north of Denver, which was also caused by a lightening strike. Record high temperatures above 100 degrees and extreme drought and high winds have been fueling all the fires and smoke, exhausting the thousands of firefighters on duty, and hindering the more than 100 airplanes and helicopters that are trying to dump water and fire retardant on the flames.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people and state of Colorado, for their safety, that a good long soaking rain will help quench these fires and prevent new ones I am worried about my children and grandchildren, that they also may face the danger of fires in their area. Please keep them all in your prayers!
I am adding this post to Jenny Matlock's "Alphabe Thursday" weekly blog event -- the letter this week is "F" Sadly the word fire more than qualifies. Thanks, Jenny!
Thank you.
