hi everybody.

so, in case you haven't heard, boulder, where i live, has been battling a very serious and very large wildfire just outside of city limits since monday.  we seem to have a good handle on it now, but it has been a harrowing week.

last night, the winds shifted and brought a very serious threat of fire to the city limits and a portion of the city, a part i happen to reside in, was put on standby for evacuation.  an area encompassing thousands of homes, businesses, hospitals, and schools with a population of ~12,000 people.  yes, harrowing.

roughly about 9:30pm the winds picked up and the smoke began to make its way into the city as forecasted.  it was starting.  so, i sat, with a few important items packed in my fully gassed up car parked pointed in the direction of the street (as advised so that it was easier to drive through fire) waiting.  and then at around midnight, for no reason beyond the will of good energy and intention, the winds stopped.  the night stilled, crickets began to chirp, and the smoke cleared to reveal a starry night that would otherwise go unnoticed.  though relieved, i remained vigilant until roughly sunup and the following came across the police and fire scanner:

the fire line held... nothing but good news to report up here...

but this isn't about me.

this is about the 170 homes that were lost (as of the latest count)

this is about the ~1100 firefighters from 6 states battling to save what they could. (some even losing their own home while saving their neighbor's!)

this is about a community that forgets political affiliations, race, religion, and petty differences to come together to to help those in need.  

i learned much this last week.

of note:

-it is not possible under any circumstances to fall asleep while listening to a police/fire scanner.

-fear does things to your body that no amount of caffeine will ever do.

-rain falling through smoke (as it did on wednesday for a short bit) is the most wet and lush thing you will ever smell

-if you don't cry when you see two children passing out stuffed animals at an emergency shelter to children who lost everything in the fire, you are not human.

-no iPhone, computer, compass, or GPS unit will ever replace the value of our animal ability to smell, feel wind direction, and understand your place on this earth.

-boulder is my home.

so, in closing, the next time you see a fireman, thank them for all that they do... for all that they might be asked to do.  they are knights among men.

and if you have a little extra of something, of anything, consider giving it to the American Red Cross or your local Humane Society.  whoever gets it really needs it.

i leave you with a short feature of some shots of the fire.  most are mine, but i am able to describe those the best.  many of you who read this i know to be wonderful and kind people, thank you for being who you are.

-C

this is far-and-away the best shot of the fire.  so much so that it has been picked up by the AP.  congrats to `kkart.  this is from the far east section of boulder ~5 miles from the foothills, ~9 miles to the fire.

:thumb178379471:  by =1001G, this is from the eastern plains section of the rocky mountain front range.  i would estimate that this is 4 or 5 hours after the fire began.  impressive shot, edie

this is my shot, taken with my iPhone, 3 miles due east of the fire.  this is 4pm.  

also my shot.  same location and time as previous.

ditto, a little further south.

  further east and a few hours later.

and finally, follow this youtube [link] for a time lapse video of the fire from the mountains due south of the blaze.  it will drop your jaw.

thank you so much for reading, my friends.