Jun 29, 2012

The first known death from the Waldo Canyon fire was reported this morning as firefighters continue a sixth day working to contain the wildfire that has so far burned 18,500 acres, destroyed 346 homes, and forced more than 35,000 people to evacuate.

: JUNE 29: A home damaged by fire stands in the Mountain Shadow neighborhood in Colorado Springs June 29, 2012. U.S. President Barack Obama declared those areas earlier today as a federal disaster area releasing federal funds to help fight the blazes (Larry Downing/Reuters)

: JUNE 29: A U.S. Secret Service counter sniper watches out as U.S. President Barack Obama walks around fire damaged homes in the Mountain Shadow neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 29, 2012. Obama declared the areas earlier today as a federal disaster area releasing federal funds to help fight the blazes. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

: JUNE 29: A view of wildfire damage in the Mountain Shadow neighborhood, which was burned by wildfires about 72 hours ago, is seen on June 29, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. US President Barack Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is in the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and efforts to contain the natural disaster.(Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets children at an evacuation center at a YMCA in Colorado Springs, June 29, 2012. Obama declared local areas earlier today as a federal disaster area releasing federal funds to help fight the blazes. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

: JUNE 29: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to the media during his visit to fire damaged homes in the Mountain Shadow neighborhood in Colorado Springs, June 29, 2012. Obama declared those areas on Friday as a federal disaster area releasing federal funds to help fight the blazes. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

: JUNE 29: US President Barack Obama pauses with fire fighters while touring the Mountain Shadow neighborhood which was burned by wildfires about 72 hours ago, on June 29, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is in the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and efforts to contain the natural disaster. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/GettyI mages)

: JUNE 29: US President Barack Obama tours the Mountain Shadow neighborhood which was burned by wildfires about 72 hours ago, on June 29, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is in the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and efforts to contain the natural disaster. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/GettyI mages)

: JUNE 29: US President Barack Obama speaks with US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell (L), as Air Force General Chris Crawford (2nd R) and General William Shelton stand by, after arriving at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport on June 29, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is in the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and efforts to contain the natural disaster. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: A view taken from Air Force One shows smoke from wildfire near Interstate 25 on June 29, 2012 in Colorado. US President Barack Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is traveling to the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and the efforts to contain the natural disaster. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: A view taken from Air Force One shows smoke from wildfire near Interstate 25 on June 29, 2012 in Colorado. US President Barack Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is traveling to the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and the efforts to contain the natural disaster. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: U.S. President Barack Obama walks toward Marine One to depart from the White House, on June 29, 2012 in Washington, DC. President Obama is traveling to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to tour damage caused by the major wildfire. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: Captain Todd Hyatt of the Arvada, Colorado, fire department puts on his boots as he prepares to deploy to the Waldo Canyon Fire, on June 29, 2012 at the fire incident command center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The inferno destroyed at least 346 houses, forced some 36,000 residents to evacuate, and left at least one person dead, according to officials. It is still threatening some 20,000 homes and 160 commercial buildings. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: Local residents cheer people working to fight the Waldo Canyon fire on June 29, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The massive fire, which eased slightly yesterday with the help of cooler temperatures and lighter winds, has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee. One person has been confirmed killed in the fire while others are still missing. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: JUNE 28: Smoke and haze over the Midwest, arising from forest fires throughout the Rockies, are pictured in this June 28, 2012 handout NASA satellite image. While the most publicized fires occur along the eastern range in Colorado, the great smoke plumes in this image came from Wyoming. (NASA/Handout/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: The Waldo Canyon fire camp is set up at Holmes Middle School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Thursday, June 28, 2012. (Susannah Kay/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 28: Cowhands and volunteers at the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado, fight the winds on Thursday, June 28, 2012, to set up a shoot to give medical attention to the nearly 50 cattle that made it through the firestorm on Tuesday. (Jerilee Bennett/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 28: This bull has been given the new name of Smokey. He was one of nearly 50 head of cattle that were brought down from the Flying W Ranch to the Penrose Norris Event Center on Thursday, June 28, 2012, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His face is naturally white, but is now gray from the soot of the area fire. The historic Flying W Ranch burned to the ground during the firestorm from the Waldo Canyon fire on Tuesday. (Jerilee Bennett/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 28: A police road block in an evacuated neighborhood near the Waldo Canyon fire is viewed on June 28, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The massive fire, which eased slightly with the help of cooler temperatures and lighter winds, has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: JUNE 28: A flock of birds fly through a smokey sky at dusk near the Waldo Canyon fire on June 28, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The massive fire, which eased slightly with the help of cooler temperatures and lighter winds, has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: JUNE 27: Smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire rises near the USAF Academy’s Cadet Chapel as cadets head for a briefing on evacuation procedures, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in this U.S. Air Force handout photo dated June 27, 2012. The Academy evacuated more than 600 families and 110 dormitory residents from the base on June 27. Photo taken June 27, 2012. (U.S. Air Force/Carol Lawrence/Handout/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: Smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire encroaches on the USAF Academy’s airfield in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in this June 26, 2012 handout photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. Picture taken June 26, 2012. (U.S. Air Force/Mike Kaplan/Handout/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: An A-10 aircraft on static display is silhouetted against a smoke cloud from the Waldo Canyon Fire at the USAF Academy’s airfield in Colorado Springs, Colorado in this U.S. Air Force handout photo dated June 26, 2012. The wildfire that forced the evacuation of 35,000 people from the edge of Colorado’s second-largest city has killed at least one person and incinerated 346 homes, making it the most destructive blaze in state history, officials said on Thursday. (U.S. Air Force/Mike Kaplan/Handout/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: Two of the hundreds of totally destroyed homes are seen in the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. Cooler temperatures and lighter winds helped firefighters on Thursday in the battle against the fire, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: An aerial photo shows the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon fire at a neighborhood with houses that were and were not destroyed by the fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: An aerial view shows homes destroyed by the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 27, 2012. (John Wark/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: Some of the hundreds of totally destroyed homes are seen in the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: A helicopter flies over the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. Cooler temperatures and lighter winds helped firefighters on Thursday in the battle against the fire, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: The burned area of hundreds of totally destroyed homes in the Waldo Canyon fire is seen from the air with Pikes Peak in the background in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: One of the hundreds of totally destroyed homes in the Waldo Canyon fire is seen from the air in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 28: One of the partially destroyed homes is still smoldering among those totally destroyed in the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 27: A helicopter makes a pass before dropping water on the Waldo Canyon fire burning behind the U.S. Air Force Academy, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 27, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 24: Trees are engulfed with flames in a mountain subdivision in the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 24, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 27: A helicopter drops water on the Waldo Canyon fire burning behind the U.S. Air Force Academy, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 27, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 27: A long line of U.S. Army vehicles and equipment from Ft. Carson arrives at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado with the Waldo Canyon fire smoke seen over the base June 27, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 24: Flames explode next to house in a mountain subdivision, west of Colorado Springs June 24, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 24: The sun illuminates through the smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire, west of Colorado Springs June 24, 2012. (/Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 24: People watch a giant smoke plume rising from the Waldo Canyon Fire during sunset, west of Colorado Springs June 24, 2012. The fast-growing wildfire that blew up overnight in Colorado has forced 11,000 people from their homes and was threatening popular summer camping grounds beneath Pikes Peak, billed as the most visited mountain in North America. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 25: A car speeds down the highway past the Waldo Canyon fire sending up a smoke plume, which could be seen for miles, outside Colorado Springs, Colorado June 25, 2012. The out-of-control wildfire near some of Colorado’s most visited tourist sites expanded overnight and kept some 6,000 people from their homes on Monday, as forecasts said winds could push the flames toward the U.S. Air Force Academy. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 25: A helicopter drops water on the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 25, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: Firefighters stir from their tents at a firefighter camp at Holmes Middle School early Tuesday morning, June 26, 2012, to begin work on the fourth day of the Waldo Canyon Fire burning west of Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 26: A pyrocumulus cloud builds over the Waldo Canyon fire near Cascade, Colorado, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (Christian Murdock/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 25: Fire continues to burn near homes in the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 25, 2012. A fast-growing wildfire in Colorado forced 11,000 people from their homes at least briefly and threatened popular summer camping grounds beneath Pikes Peak, whose vistas helped inspire the patriotic tune “America the Beautiful.” (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: The Waldo Canyon Fire creeps down the north facing hill of the canyon’s trailhead toward U.S. Highway 24 Tuesday, June 26, 2012, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Christian Murdock/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 26: Plume of smoke rises from Waldo canyon wildfire in this aerial photograph taken in Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 26, 2012. (John Wark/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: A C-130 military cargo plane drops thousands of gallons of retardant on the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: A tree erupts into flames in the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: Smoke rises as the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado continues to grow, June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: The Waldo Canyon fire invades the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 26: A firestorm of smoke and ash from the Waldo Canyon fire heads down the mountain towards Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (Jerilee Bennett/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

: JUNE 26: Evacuated residents and others listen to a briefing as smoke rises from the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: Smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire hovers over the I-25 north of Colorado Springs in Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire engulfs the I-25 north of Colorado Springs in Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: A tree erupts into flames in the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 26: A firefighting helicopter approaches the Waldo Canyon fire, west of Colorado Springs, in Colorado June 26, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 27: Smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire lies behind the Air Force Academy stadium on June 27, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Chris Schneider/Getty Images)

: JUNE 27: Smoke rises behind a neighborhood in the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 27, 2012. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: JUNE 27: Robert Smith and his wife Ruth Smith watch the Waldo Canyon fire on June 27, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Smiths’ are residents of the Mountain Shadows subdivision where several home were burned yesterday. (Chris Schneider/Getty Images)

: JUNE 27: Kent Tinsley and his mother Miriam Tinsley try to unsuccessfully talk emergency personnel into letting them go to their home to pick-up medical supplies for Miriam’s husband Herbert Tinsley on June 27, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Chris Schneider/Getty Images)

: JUNE 27: Susan Custer (L) and her husband Gary Custer watch the Waldo Canyon fire on June 27, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The fire burned several homes yesterday as it expanded to 15,000 acres, with over 32,000 people having been evacuated. (Chris Schneider/Getty Images)

: JUNE 27: A chimney from a burned home stands next to untouched homes from the Waldo Canyon fire on June 27, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The fire burned numerous homes yesterday as it expanded to 15,000 acres and over 32,000 people have been evacuated. (Chris Schneider/Getty Images)

Update 2:
Obama to tour site of worst-ever Colorado wildfire
Keith Coffman and Jeff Mason
Reuters
3:11 p.m. EDT, June 29, 2012

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) – President Barack Obama arrived in Colorado on Friday to tour the devastation left by a Colorado wildfire he declared a “major disaster” that has destroyed 347 homes and forced the evacuation of 35,000 people from the edge of the state’s second-largest city.

Before landing, Air Force One flew over part of the Rocky Mountains where smoke could be seen rising from the areas ravaged by what officials say is the most destructive blaze in state history. At least one death has been blamed on the fire.

The blaze had roared unchecked on Tuesday night through communities in the northwestern corner of the city and threatened the U.S. Air Force Academy campus. But the lighter winds that helped firefighters gain new ground against the inferno on Thursday were expected to continue on Friday, fire officials said at a news conference.

They said the wildfire did not grow overnight and it is now 15 percent contained.

Read more.

Update:
Weather may bring some relief from raging Colorado wildfires

Keith Coffman
Reuters
1:19 p.m. EDT, June 28, 2012

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) – Cooler temperatures and lighter winds helped firefighters on Thursday in the battle against Colorado’s Waldo Canyon fire, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee.

Thursday marked the first day in five days when a so-called red flag warning – indicating conditions that could increase wildfire activity – was not being posted in the Colorado Springs area, authorities said.

Despite the weather relief, the Waldo Canyon blaze remained devastating and only 5 percent contained, officials said. Exceptional high temperatures and strong winds have fueled the blaze, which started on Saturday.

It has burned 18,500 acres near Colorado Springs, the state’s second-largest city, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

“There was nothing left in some areas, burned out foundations that were smoldering. It looked like a nuclear weapon had been dropped. It’s as close to hell as I could imagine,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach, who toured the heavily damaged Mountain Shadows subdivision.

12 Comments

steve
Jun 29, 2012 @ 20:56:42

why NOT let the pinon valley residents return home? is it because a high percentage of them are renters?

Buddy
Jun 29, 2012 @ 17:33:18

Tell mb to catch next flight out to Colorado and see if firefighting is easier than going in a storm shelter for a hurricane. We will give him a shovel backpack jacket and 18 hours a day running from flames and see if he keeps that fist in his pocket and his mouth shut and feel compassion for our fellow colaridans

Bri
Jun 29, 2012 @ 16:04:32

mb, are you kidding me? I lived in Florida for a decade, and “survived” at least 3 or 4. Hurricanes are NOTHING compared to a fire in most circumstances. If you’re really from Florida, you know exactly how it is. People throw PARTIES for hurricanes! The insane people get excited for the surfing! A fire is absolutely nothing to get happy or excited about.

Irritated
Jun 28, 2012 @ 22:32:59

Please quit clogging up search engines with information that distract from the real time Colorado events that post several hours prior.

Brian Scott, Keeney
Jun 28, 2012 @ 19:25:42

prayers for all that has lost

Amber
Jun 28, 2012 @ 18:26:41

MB, if you were here you wouldn’t say that. Fires here in the west are windswept from every direction, unpredictable and killers. Hurricanes have a route that can be predicted. Fires do not.

mb
Jun 27, 2012 @ 16:58:47

this is b s. i am from miami florida. i am a hurricane andrew survivor. i shake my fist at this fire.

- joe
  Jun 27, 2012 @ 18:50:40
  
  cool, then come help.
  
- ALi
  Jun 28, 2012 @ 18:18:36
  
  Why is it BS? normally fires arn’t in such urban ares, it is really devestating and has destroyed historic landmarks. Hurricane’s are terrible as well but that doesn’t negate the devestation of the fires. And yes there are 10 in Colorado right now. Waldo Canyon is 1 of 10 going on right now, this the worst fire season in Colorado history.
  
- Cat
  Jun 28, 2012 @ 22:38:02
  
  Wow. What a horrible thing to say… Just because you survived a hurricane doesn’t mean you should be heartless to other people who lost their homes. You think you’d learn some sympathy from your experience. I’m a “hurricane survivor” too, and am living in Colorado Springs. “Don’t say anything if you’re not going to say anything nice.”
  
- Michelle
  Jun 29, 2012 @ 16:11:44
  
  The hurricane survivor is an ass. I too survived a hurricane and my heart goes out to anyone and everyone that is impacted by natural causes…tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, ice storms etc…not one is any worse than the other…each natural disaster is horrible. We should all be sympathetic to each other during these times.
  
  I would love to see the hurrican survivor, survive a Colorado winter or Colorado wildfire….keep your hatefullness to yourself until you walk in the other persons shoes!!!
  
- Paul
  Jul 01, 2012 @ 12:10:29
  
  BS huh….tell that to my sister who left for a short weekend trip to NYC and then had nothing to come home to. What difference does the means make when the end result is the same. Suffering my is suffering, total loss is total loss. Grow up

Waldo Canyon Fire claims first victim, 15 percent contained, Obama tours area

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