The place where I was born is burning and I resent that my writer's block is jolted into action by this disaster.
One of my archaeology professors at UCCS, a High Plains specialist, taught us that a drought lasting 200+ years is to blame for the extreme dryness of our region. I never knew how dry it was there until I moved away, but I really can't imagine a wetter Colorado. My body prefers the dry cold nights and powdered snow. But apparently, there is evidence to support a naturally greener Wild West.
In Charles Mann's book 1491 he wrote that American Indians periodically burned the landscape to keep the forest floor from accumulating too much debris, to prevent wildfires from getting out of control. Mann criticized cultural icons like Smokey the Bear and wildfire images from Disney's Bambi, and the modern approach of avoiding fire - because ultimately in such a dry region there will be a fire, and without clearing debris through controlled fires, a wildfire will have a rich source of fuel to feed it for a long time. My archaeology professor added to this theory by telling our class about a certain pine tree that requires extreme heat to procreate. Without fire, the tree would be extinct. Interesting.
Enough about history.
Colorado Springs is my homeland and I miss it so very much. I have been suffering from an extreme case of topophilia since I moved away 542 days ago. Can you blame me? I spent 95% of my life there, so naturally I miss it terribly. Hundreds of thousands of people love Colorado Springs as much as I do. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. People can't get enough of the fresh air and sunshine. Those who love it can't say enough about how wonderful it is to live there.
The wildfire that is currently burning my beloved hometown has in four days consumed an unknown number of buildings and 15,000+ acres of forest. Since Tuesday, I have watched from afar as 800+ firefighters and experts from Idaho battle the flames, and national media describe the event as a freak firestorm of nature. All I can do is watch this coverage along with amateur YouTube videos and seek updates from my commiserating Colorado-loving Facebook friends.
In case you didn't already know this, my in-laws and some friends have been forced to evacuate their homes in Woodland Park. Our tenants in Crystal Park evacuated our property in the middle of the night on the second day of the fire. This is a nightmare that robs me of sleep and breaks my heart.
What a disaster. I can't stop thinking about those who lost their homes and businesses, and residents who want to help but can only watch in horror, and people who are seeking shelter at the YMCA and in public high school gymnasiums and praying for rain, hoping that the fire doesn't consume their livelihood.
I feel so helpless. Some of my favorite places are burning and nobody can do anything about it.
What a better way to end this gloomy post than by sharing a link to some very high quality but disturbing photos. P.S., I recognize every location in each one of these 200+ photos, and I am still in disbelief: Click here
I looked at the slide show. A lot more pictures have been added since you posted the link. There are shots of now homeless victims next to the remains of their homes and some really nice photos of the relief efforts.
ReplyDeleteThat's great to know. Thank you :)
ReplyDelete