Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my FireCon Checklist. I will update when I get home, with all of these suggestions!!!!

Thanks again!!!

The firefighters sometimes use swimming pools as a water source. Just something to consider.

Had to smile at that recommendation. Not too many folks have pools out here, especially in the mountains -- but we DO have a lot of hot tubs.

Yesterday the smoke and temps were pretty awful, but the firefighters managed to hold their lines fairly well. There was report of a moose coming into town that had to be tranquilized, as well as someone impersonating a firefighter and driving around abandoned neighborhoods in a truck with stolen govt' plates that was arrested.

There are now THREE major fires burning in the state. One near Fort Collins, one to the west of Colorado Springs and one near Pagosa Springs. Ugh.

How are you guys doing out there, Meadowlark?

Fire is over 50% contained and just short of 60,000 acres burned.

Crews are working hard to protect property and hold defensible lines (river, roads). They are letting it run West thru beetle kill to a good sized road and where CSU Pingree Park campus is and try to hold there.

100 degree temps yesterday made it pretty tough.
We have a cool break today and tomorrow then more high temps for weekend.

The logistics and equipment in use are very, very analogous to a war.

A co-worker's parents house is right on the line to the north. They are in "pre-evacuation" mode and have been for days. Just a little North wind and their place may be gone.

Hi Arney --

Sorry to not get back sooner. It's been kinda hectic.

I wish I could report more progress, but the 100+ degree temps and dry winds have not let up. The fire is now at least 83,205 acres, with 248 homes and many more structures lost. At one point there was 60 percent containment, but yesterday it went back down to 45.

More info here: http://inciweb.org/incident/2904/

We had a bit of a fright when a new fire started up just outside the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park; last word is that it was 75+ percent contained and at least 21 homes lost.

There are numerous other fires in the state, including near Leadville, Pagosa Springs, and Manitou Springs/Colo Springs. Several thousand people in the latter area have been evacuated, including quite a few tourists to Pike's Peak:

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/25/us-usa-wildfires-idINBRE85L1DD20120625



Hopefully we'll get some rain soon....

Here's my revamped FireCon Checklist. Please shoot it full of holes so that it may be improved for those who can use that info. Feel free to copy and send this to anyone who might benefit from it as well.

FireCon Checklist
Updated 25Jun2012



5=Set at the beginning of Fire Season or when conditions are ripe.
4=Fire(s) have started within your state or in a nearby state.
3=Fire(s) have started within your county and there is fuel to sustain the fire between where the fire is now and where you are.
2=Winds are forecasted to shift to an unfavorable direction
1=Local authorities are expected to issue an Evacuation Order for your area; Fire is approaching your area.


FireCon 5: Upon setting FireCon 5:

1) Have a “Family Plan” of what to do and where and how to meet in the event of an incident. Insure all family members are thoroughly briefed.
2) Ensure that basic supplies are kept at home for a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) sustenance/maintenance.
3) Know where the other family members are, when not at home.
4) Keep vehicle gas tanks at least half full.
5) Check local wildfire plans. E.g. when I lived in Irvine, CA, the city had its own low power AM radio station for emergency broadcasts with possibly more pertinent info for residents. And certain neighborhoods there actually have a priority on shelter-in-place rather than evacuating, due to more modern, fire resistant building requirements and landscaping.
6) Perform brush clearance and any other landscaping/maintenance tasks that local fire codes call for. Small but critical things like clearing dried leaves from rain gutters. Try and encourage your neighbors to do likewise.
7) Check your insurance coverage, update any photos/inventory of your possessions for insurance purposes.
8) Make any necessary copies of new, important documents and add them to your archive, whether a fire-resistant safe at home, a safety deposit box, another person's home, etc.
9) Also update any new info that you need to take with you, e.g. you switched insurance carriers and new contact info for them
10) Change filters on air conditioner and any room air filters, especially if you have household members with respiratory issues like asthma or emphysema.
11)


FireCon 4: Upon setting FireCon 4:

1) Ensure that basic supplies are kept at home for a minimum of 6 days sustenance/maintenance.
2) Know where the other family members are, when not at home.
3) Insure that 72 hour BoB’s are ready and readily accessible.
4) Maintain the “normal“ ear to local news broadcasts.
5) As opportunities occur, maintain contact with neighbors to share information.
6)

FireCon 3: Upon setting FireCon 3

1) Establish a “Rendezvous Point“ for family members, in case of separation.
2) Top off vehicle fuel tanks.
3) Load BoB‘s in vehicles and park with nose facing OUT, towards street.
4) Maintain a close watch on local news broadcasts.
5) Establish alternative communications system with extended family members.
6) Know where family members are and evaluate any destinations that family members wish to go to.
7) If you have pets, check on availability of pet-friendly evacuation shelters or find other arrangements ahead of time
8) Check your planned escape routes for any new impediments or bottlenecks that you might not be aware of, such as road repairs/construction, that may make them unsuitable for a mass evac. However, if there are official evacuation routes, use those. Other roads may be closed or restricted to official vehicles during an actual evac.
9)



FireCon 2: Upon setting FireCon 2:

1) Call Family Members home. Know everybody’s whereabouts.
2) Keep fuel tanks in vehicles above the ¾ full level.
3) Decision Time: When to leave and where to proceed.
4) Consider applying fire resistant foam or other chemcials to exterior of house. Others may start watering down exterior of home but be aware that if everyone does that, you may be depriving fire fighters of critical water main pressure, especially in a hilly area. Some insurance companies will send a specialist to spray foam on your home for you.
5) Move flammable outdoor items indoors. Drop water resistant furniture into your pool (If you own one).
6)


FireCon 1: Upon setting FireCon 1:

1) Execute Bug Out Plan.

I just read on msnbc.com that over 30,000 people have been evacuated in one area alone.


Quite a dramatic picture and you can't help but feel for the people whom have lost everything and their lives have changed forever...

+1. Seems the worst possible conditions have come together all at once.