Al's Photography Blog

Al's Photography Blog
Pikes Peak As Seen From Our House

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Wildfire Results

We were finally allowed back into our office this week after it was professionally restored and declared fit for people (it survived the wildfire but had some serious smoke damage). Here are some photos I took. First are a couple on the drive in - in the first one you can clearly see where the fire was stopped on the mountains (notice the line where everything to the left is blackened). I pulled over to take these as I didn't want to try using the camera on a busy highway at 75mph (120kph).
Here's a closeup of the worst-affected part of the city, at the base of the charred ridge.
This ridgeline is directly behind the office and you can see burnt trees.
The fire came onto the office property, as these photos are right next to the parking lot. Notice the houses in this shot, their fences were burned down.
 I don't think this tree in the parking lot will live, too much was burned.
And the real toll - all that's left of this house is the foundation, and you can see the remaining stumps of what used to be a fence for another house (that survived) in the foreground. This is right behind the office.
Several people where I work lost their homes in this fire. It's very strange how some trees are still green in the middle of all the devastation. Hopefully this is my last wildfire post for a while; visit Our World Tuesday to see wetter parts of the world.

21 comments:

  1. Wildfires are like that. Coniferous trees die even when mildly singed, yet the fires will leave some trees standing. Fires are fickle like that. Good to see some green regenerating already.
    This wakens so many memories.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So much devastation, Al!! I'm just so glad that you and your family and home were spared! Excellent captures even if they are frightening! Hope your weekend is going well! Give Socks a pat!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope this is the last fire you will be so close to as this is all very scary! How do they get rid of the smoke smell in a building that survived?! It seems like everything would have to be gutted and redone. Take care.♥♫

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry to see and hear all this .. I could be flippant and tell you to come back to this side, but ... I'm not a flippant kind of person, well sometimes, but not when I see photo's like this... JUST SO WISH WE COULD SEND YOU SOME OF OUR RAIN... you take care babes..... x x x

    ReplyDelete
  5. such devastation the fire left behind. so sorry some of your coworkers lost their homes. prayers for them as they rebuild their lives. but, pleased for you being able to go back to work and get into a routine again. have a great night~

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Al..It is good that you can get back into work, but how awful it must have been to take that first ride through this area!!
    It must have been terrible for these people so much loss!! I wonder about animals and what effect it had on them!!
    Thanks for sharing these Al...hope you never have this happen again!!
    Enjoy your Sunday!!
    Grace

    ReplyDelete
  7. Seeing these photos after fridays beauties, tell us all to take good care of the nature!

    ReplyDelete
  8. These are heartbreaking photos Al. I hate it when fire destroys so much of nature's beauty and people's lives.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is sad to see the loss of property. I also think about wildlife. Hopefully this is the last of the wildfires for a while. We are in a burn ban here and hope we all get some relief with some rain in the near future.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such a tragedy; glad your office was spared.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great photos Al. Glad you and the family are safe. A very sad situation for man and nature.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am so sorry that several people where you work lost their homes in this fire... What a tragedy, what a serious wildfire... These photos are heartbreaking, Al.
    I'm so glad that you, your family and your hom were safe!

    I visit the site The Big Picture, from boston.com and I saw the photo reportage Wildfires in Western US. What a ferocious wildfire! The link is:
    Wildfires in Western US

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so sorry what your city has been through with wildfires. You captured both the beauty and damage.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such a sad situation. I've seen a little about this on news reports, but not much. Your close-up shots really bring it home - how much some people have lost. And of course how lucky you have been.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The one just north of us is still burning in the bogs. The fire sets the peat underground on fire. You just hope it will go out in the winter. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  16. How awful that so many people lost their homes! I'm glad you are okay!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've been hoping and praying for you all during this fire situation. I'm so glad that more houses weren't burned. There has been devastation enough. I hope the recovery goes well.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Various over here as well. Yet not as many as it used to be a few years ago. Am sure that in a few month there will be much green available to be taken a picture of. Please have a good Tuesday.


    daily athens photo

    ReplyDelete
  19. How sad seeing the photos of the burned areas.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi there - I know there are people who have had much closer experiences with fires than me - but these sights run a shiver through me.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

    ReplyDelete
  21. Those who commented clearly feel your pain and shock, Al. I found myself nodding as I read thoughts like: "Sad for man and nature" and "heartbreaking." I really appreciate your fine photos that document the devastation. I feel that is important, both for those who saw it firsthand, and for those of us who watched from afar.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment - I love reading them and look forward to viewing your blog. If you only allow Google+ comments I won't be able to leave a comment in return.

Related Posts with Thumbnails