At the desk, 7:39 a.m.
It's been hot here, as hot as it's ever been in Colorado. Ever.
After three years of wet mild weather, the Colorado mountains have erupted in fire, a lot of fire. Fueled by wicked gusts of winds, lots of timber, and high heats, the fires are burning out of control.
More than 32,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Colorado Springs where the last estimate was that 257 homes had burned to the ground. Yesterday afternoon, fire reached the highly congested Boulder County and continues to burn out of
control.
The Colorado National Guard is out assisting. The Cadets at the Air Force Academy are ready to join the battle. Soldiers posted at Fort Carson are involved.
And the Volunteer Firefighters lead the way. These unbelievable men and women are out there, in the mountains, fighting for their lives against walls of flame and ash.
If you're so inclined, the Firefighters and homeowners could use any prayers and thoughts you can spare.
In the meantime, here is a list of places you can donate to support the victims and communities dealing with wildfires in Colorado:
• El Paso County Sheriff's office: Large animal shelter at Norris-Penrose Equestrian Center needs volunteers: 719-520-7773.
• The Red Cross in Colorado Springs is at 719-632-3563. Those wanting to donate money to the Red Cross can go here.
• Help Colorado Now, a partnership of Colorado Division of Emergency Management (CDEM) and Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (COVAD), has a list of donations needed and Fort Collins location for drop-off.
• The Salvation Army can take monetary donations; specify 'Northern Colorado Chapter - High Park Fire' or 'Northern Colorado Chapter - Waldo Fire:' 303-866-9216, The Salvation Army, 1370 Pennsylvania Ave., Denver, CO 80132.
• Donate online to Larimer Humane Society or mail checks to 5137 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80525. Society currently coordinating rescue of all animals in High Park Fire area, providing water to animals that have not been evacuated, reuniting owners and pets and sheltering evacuated animals: 970-226-3647, ext. 7.
• Text HIGHPARK to 80108 to donate $10 for fire relief in northern Colorado through The mGive Foundation: mgivefoundation.org
• Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Donations can be mailed to: RCVFD-Treasurer, PO Box 2, Bellvue, CO 80521. (List from the Denver Post)
Thanks.
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