Waldo Canyon Fire Burns Homes In Colorado Springs, Over 30,000 Evacuated

Waldo Canyon Fire Burns Homes In Colorado Springs, Over 30,000 Evacuated

The 6,200-acre Waldo Canyon Fire has caused tens of thousands of Colorado Springs, CO residents to flee their homes under evacuation orders. At least six other fires are burning across Colorado.

Homes in Colorado Springs have been evacuated (AP Photo/The Denver Post, RJ Sangosti)

Fires are terrifying.

Two years ago in my home town, my wife and I were driving out to her parents’ home and we saw, up on the mountain, a small plume of smoke. We borrowed their truck and drove to the other side of town to pick up some furniture, and on our return trip that small plume of smoke had turned into a mushroom cloud. Quite literally, it looked as though the mountain had been hit by an atomic bomb. To make matters worse, a second fire had started even closer to town, spreading resources thin.

But we were spared this sort of destruction. While the burning of the forest was a tragedy in its own right, leading to major flooding later in the year, what Colorado Springs is facing looks much, much worse. Entire neighborhoods overwhelmed with flame.

“This is a firestorm of epic proportions,” said Colorado Springs Fire Chief Richard Brown. 32,000 people have fled their homes and untold structures have burned. Even the Airforce Academy has been evacuated.

The Schultz fire burned in Arizona in 2010 (via @daylife)

Meanwhile, to the north, another wildfire is burning near Boulder, CO, with early evacuations already begun.

The Western United States is dry as a tinderbox right now, and ready to light up at the drop of a match. This is made worse by our interventions. Forests meant to grow sparse and sustain small burns have grown dense over the years, thanks to our fire prevention measures. The natural solution â€" to allow logging companies access to thin forests â€" is not as feasible as it sounds, since thinning is much more expensive and less profitable than clear-cutting.

This also raises questions of water rights, climate change, and any number of thorny, but extremely important, political and scientific issues.

Of course, in the short-term, stopping this fire and keeping people safe is the only thing that matters. Well, that and reminding people that this sort of blaze can spark from the tiniest flame, dry brush, and a gust of wind. Leave this sort of natural disaster to the lightning.

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