Where there's fire, there's smoke
A smoky haze from the California wildfires hundreds of miles away has swept across Colorado, reaching at least as far east as the central Rockies.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said the air in southwest Colorado could be unhealthy for the elderly, those with respiratory ailments or others with health problems.

"Even people considered healthy might experience symptoms," said Nathan Ballenger, air-quality specialist with the San Juan Basin Health Department.

The deadly California fires have burned some 750,000 acres.

"The flow off California is coming almost directly toward Colorado," said Carl Burroughs of the National Weather Service in Boulder. "As long as it's been burning, and as big as it is, we should be getting some of that smoke."

posted on Fri, 10.31.03 @ 04:12 PM MST [more..]

Though uncommon, fall wildfires pose threat to Foothills
FORT COLLINS - Major fires this late in the fall are not common in Colorado, but they have happened before. Fire experts say all it takes is the right weather conditions.

The flames that roared through Boulder and Douglas counties on Wednesday devoured trees, shrubs and grass that were tinder dry, after almost two months without rain.

Full Story on 9NEWS.com
10.31.03 @ 12:50 PM MST [link]

Calif Wildfires a wakeup call to Colorado mountain homeowners
The devastation caused by this week’s California wildfires is another warning to Colorado homeowners that they need to be prepared for the unthinkable. While Colorado was extremely fortunate to have escaped the 2003 wildfire season unscathed by destructive wildfires, residents need to watch the flames in California with an eye toward their own future.

“The lives and homes lost in California this week are a deadly reminder of what could just ass easily occur in any community here in Colorado,” cautions Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “People are already starting to forget the state’s destructive 2002 wildfire season and this is a wake up call that when you’re in the path of a wildfire, it’s often too late to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your property.”

posted on Mon, 10.27.03 @ 01:45 PM MST [more..]