Category: colorado

Two Weeks Ago

20130612wildfirefromfriends

Day two of the Black Forest Fire I went to my friend’s to help evacuate chickens and also pick up some hay for her horses we were keeping at our place.  This was the view from her back yard. Her place was about a mile due south of the start of the fire, and we were obviously concerned what might happen if the wind shifted to the north.

Refuge Chickens

 

We couldn’t figure out where we could safely put the chickens, until I remembered the old stock trailer parked by our driveway.  This made an adequate summer chicken coop, since it provided both shade and ventilation, as well as protection from predators.  After their initial bewilderment, the three chickens relaxed enough to lay three eggs while they were here.  They certainly had  a lot more room than if we had kept them in the crate in the garage, which was our backup plan.

20130612evacuatedchickens

 

Rain, Sweet Rain

20130617rainsweetrain

Quite a difference from the photo I took from the same spot six days ago.  The Black Forest Fire is 75% contained as I post this.  Our house guests have returned home.

Unfortunately, the area is still considered under severe drought, and it will take more than a couple of days of occasional showers to fix.  We are supposed to be getting hotter and drier weather again in a day or so.

Black Forest Fire

Black Forest Fire

We are approximately due west of the fire, which is moving in a northeasterly direction. Three times I’ve evacuated horses to my friend’s place in South Black Forest.  This afternoon we moved two of her horses here.  Three went to another friend.  We are also playing host to three refugee cats.

This is the fire we have dreaded for years in this area.