devastation in Colorado - UPDATED 7/9/12

I have so much to blog about. Happy wonderful things. Birthdays, family vacations, Avi singing, laughter, friends, chickens, our growing garden, babies being born... but I cannot bring myself to blog about such wonders when our state is on fire.

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Here is a small taste of what's been going on here in Colorado. What is listed does not even include the fires burning on the western slope in the four corners and Durango area. But it does include the fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon, right here in Boulder. Avi woke from his nap. We snuggled into the rocking chair, as we usually do, to read a few books. We heard the rain and looked out the window. A few scary (to Avi) thunder bangs, lightening strikes, only two minutes of rain and suddenly I could see the smoke starting to rise above the Flat Irons. Soon helicopters overhead confirmed the worst. It's unnerving that I don't even have to listen to the news to know that another wildfire has started. Meanwhile, my family (sister, brother-in-law, three nephews, and my mom), just west of the Waldo Canyon Fire, have all been evacuated.


Flagstaff Fire: 228 300 Acres. 2400 pre-evacuations in Boulder, CO. 100% contained nine days after it started. No structures threatened. 

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High Park Fire: Near Ft. Collins: 87,284 acres, 259 homes destroyed, 55% 100% contained as of 7/1/12.

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Springer Fire: near Lake George, CO. 1,145 Acres, 100% contained 6/23/12. 

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Waldo Canyon Fire: Near Colorado Springs, 5168 18,247 acres. 32,000 people evacuated.  347 homes destroyed. 2 deaths. 5% 98% contained as of 7/7/12. 

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 People keep praying for rain.... but they forget that the rain we get is so minimal and it comes with the dangerous lightening often making things worse. If you pray... pray for rain without lightening, pray for the firefighters, pray for those displaced - humans, pets, livestock, wild animals, and pray for those who won't have a home to return to. If you want to help, consider these:

• Donate online with Salvation Army at https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/intermountain/EDS where 100 percent of your disaster donations go to fire relief efforts. Also, the kettles are out in Denver and elsewhere, ready to take your immediate contribution.

• Customers of Verizon Wireless can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make $10 donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for evacuees and those affected by the High Park, Waldo Canyon and other fires in Colorado. Text-messaging fees waived, and 100 percent of each donation goes to the Red Cross.

• Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado has launched the Colorado Fire Relief Fund to help victims, firefighters and other first responders. Contributions can be made (100 percent donated) by visiting http://www.jewishcolorado.org/ or http://jewi.sh/cofires. In addition, checks with the notation "Colorado Fire Relief Fund" can be mailed to Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, 300 S. Dahlia, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80246. (source)