I Am The God Hell Fire

The mountains west of Fort Collins, Colorado are burning. Dry conditions, high winds and great swaths of Mountain Pine Beetle killed trees have caused the High Park Fire, which started on Saturday morning, to burn over 20,000 acres (33 square miles) so far. Late last night Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said this about the fire, "It's spread in almost every direction. It splinters to the south, and then it splinters to the east. I don't know that we've ever seen anything like this before."

No, I guess he hasn't as the weather conditions and the dead trees have created the perfect storm for fire. That red area on the map below showing the greatest concentration of beetle kill in Colorado is right where the fire is burning.



Below is video of the fire as it reaches an area with houses showing a white truck driving around checking to see if the homeowners have evacuated the area.



This fire is not a surprise to the fire fighters, the national and state park services, or anyone who has driven through the miles and miles of dead trees in the Colorado Rockies. We always knew the mountains were going to burn it was just a matter of when. So in a way it is a relieve to know the fires are finally here. The wait is over and the renewal of the forests can begin.