By Mark W. Danielson
I may have recently left Colorado to build our retirement
home in Texas, but I still fear for and empathize with our Colorado friends. What is taking place there is the inevitable
firestorm we all feared. For years, the
forests have been dying from the Japanese beetle infestation, and this year has
been dry with record high temperatures.
Fueled by strong winds, the Rocky Mountain’s forests have become
kindling, and the thousands of firefighters on scene are no match for nature’s
fury.
Many years ago, I wrote a story called First on Scene. It began
with the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area and then
went to the 1991 Oakland hills firestorm.
I have never tried to publish this book because publishers generally don’t
care for books that use nature as the antagonist, but it was a real education
nonetheless. The Oakland hills fire,
which stopped a mile from my parents’ house, killed 25, injured 150, destroyed
3,354 single family homes, 437 apartment and condominium units, and burned 1520
acres. The economic loss was estimated
at $1.5 billion. Now, Colorado Springs
is experiencing the same kind of conflagration in the fire’s seemingly
unstoppable rampage. Tens of thousands
have had to evacuate their homes, businesses have been shut down, and yet this is only
one of the Rocky Mountain fires that are burning out of control.
Even though there is nothing I can do and I had nothing to
do with any of these fires, I watch the images feeling like a Titanic survivor. The entire Front Range is choking in smoke
and there is no relief in sight.
This summer promises to be a long one for anyone living in
Colorado. At best, they will get some
rainfall. Worst case, lightning will
spark more fires.
Rightfully, these infernos have caused national
interest. People now realize that we are
at war with nature – but we are also still at war in the Middle East. Let’s keep our thoughts and prayers with all
of those fighting for us, both here and overseas. They truly need our support.
