7.11.2012

July 11, 2012


White Dog and The White Dog Army
Wonderful World Wednesday

White Dog and The White Dog Army have heard the most wonderful news this evening. After 17 hellish days of destroying remorselessly everything in its path, the Colorado Waldo Canyon Fire has been contained! So much has been lost (at least for our lifetimes) and the dangers are not over not that the flames are quashed for now comes fear of flooding as rains hit the denuded land and water tables becoming polluted with toxic ash. So many homes have been obliterated, both for humans and for the wildlife that make the state such a paradise.

It would be so easy to focus on the devastation but the WDA wants you to also remember the incredibly heroic and heart-touching parts as well. Those who fought the fires at the front lines, refusing to give up or even rest cannot be overlooked for the World that they personally hand a hand in saving. We will forever remember the image of a firefighter holding a fawn and administering oxygen with a mask. The animal rescues and volunteers who came from all over the country to set up safety zones for creatures, both wild and displaced domestics, who were scared and without anywhere to go are champions extraordinaire. Images of rows of clean safe kennels donated and at the ready next to stuffies and bowls for food made us tear up during the height of the destruction. The communities who joined neighbor next to neighbor to help each other through the smoke and desperation and fear reminded us of the true meaning of community.

Most wonderful of all, at least to us in the White Dog Army, was that the World joined together to send prayers, and positive thoughts, and tears and hope to those (often half a world away in an unknown part of the USA) in need of support and love.  It is that desire to help, even if just to focus energy on bringing rain or a favorable stilling of the winds, that gives the WDA pause to think that maybe, just maybe the image of the phoenix is appropriate (despite its association with another state).

Certainly in this case, through adversity and disaster, we have all become more connected and richer in spirit. Now, let the healing of the earth begin!

Waldo Canyon Fire 100% Contained
Fire crews call containment 17 days after blaze began.

Jemal Duran  POSTED: 08:00 PM MDT Jul 10, 2012 KRDO.com
The Waldo Canyon Fire, the most destructive in Colorado history, is under full containment Tuesday night.
The announcement comes after a helicopter flyover on Tuesday evening.

Fire commander Troy Nelsen was unable to see any smoke in the Blodgett Peak area. There has not been smoke in that area for 36 hours, giving crews the confidence to make the announcement.

Residents are reminded that smoke will continue to appear over the next few weeks. When you see that, remember that it is all burning on the inside of the fire line and there is no cause for alarm.

The fire destroyed 346 homes during its peak on June 26th, killing one senior couple in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood.

During that period, some 32,000 Springs residents were forced to evacuate their homes.
On June 29, President Obama toured the burn zone, and thanked Firefighters and Red Cross volunteers for their hard work.

GOP Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney followed suit on Tuesday, paying his own visit to Colorado Springs, and urging out-of-state visitors to keep Colorado in their vacation plans.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

6 comments:

Dachshund Nola said...

That's incredible news!
Nola

Tweedles -- that's me said...

We are happy too that the fire is contained. Everyday we thought about those brave fire fighter who risked their lives. We knew how fearful they were, yet they continued to fight the blazes.
We feel very bad for those who lost family members. And all the poor animals who fled for their lives. We did not see the photo of the fawn with the firefighter,, I am sure we would have tears.
We thank those fire fighters!
And we thank you for this beautiful, and heart touching post.
love
tweedles

Teddy Bear said...

We are so happy to hear that the fire is contained. Firefighters are amazing and we are very thankful for their hard work.

Love,
Teddy Bear & Sierra

Brian's Home Blog said...

That really is good news and I love all the heros that came to help everyone.

Random Felines said...

that is good news - thanks for letting us know (since mom either doesn't watch or misses the news most of the time). we certainly love all those that fought and send healing purrs to all those that experienced loss....

bbes tribe said...

Awesome News! Like Tweedle mentioned so many lost so much.The animals and the people. Glad it's contained!
Ernie and the pack