Colorado High Park Fire II

I don't want to make this a news channel by any means but I would like to emphasis that fact the Colorado is facing a tough dry summer. The High Park Fire is at almost 60,000 acres and has destroyed 189 structures making it the most destructive fire in Colorado history. The biggest fire destroyed some where in the vicinity of 139,000 acres but did not approach the structure count that High Park has. I found a very good link that let's you monitor fires throughout the US; http://inciweb.org. There is a statewide ban on open fires in the state right now. Fires can only be started in designated areas within campgrounds, and private fireworks are included in the ban. Although the High Park fire was started by a lightning strike please remember that it doesn't take much to get a fire going in the very arid conditions that exist in Colorado right now.
Here is a link straight to the High Park fire; High Park

If you are going to vacation in Colorado this summer, which I personally still recommend, or any where in the western US then I would definitely check out this website.

This is a late afternoon moonset behind the smoke. When I saw it the moon was blood red, I can't seem to recreate that color in the picture though.

Colorado - High Park Fire

I love living in Colorado. However, there are some downsides to living here. The High Park Fire is just 15 miles west of Fort Collins where I spent the weekend. Although I'm sure you can find all kinds of pictures on the web about it I have a few of my own. Currently this fire has consumed 37,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures and I'm sure a many of those are homes. Its a danger you have to be prepared for when you live in an arid climate like ours. These fires can spread fast, when you get the order evacuate you just go, you don't wait thinking you have another 30 minutes to get out, that's how people die.

Smoke from the southern end of the fire. Those dark clouds aren't storm clouds that's all smoke from the fire.

Panning to the north. I think the lighter orange in the clouds is a reflection of the fire, but I'm not sure about that.

My first view of the smoke from where I was staying. From here it actually looked like it was in Ft Collins itself because of the orange tint at the bottom of the smoke cloud.

Later in the day, this is a shot of the moon as it was setting behind the smoke clouds. It doesn't seem as red in the photograph as it did when I took the picture.