Good morning everyone. I want to update you on the latest forest fire.

The beginning of last week was hot, dry, and windy. On Monday morning, a neighbor spotted a plume of smoke rising from a nearby peak and called it in. Because our area is subject to massive wildfires, mountain dwellers, and county officials are hypervigilant to any reports of smoke. (We’ve had the fire department called on us for a burn barrel.)

By the time fire crews arrived, the blaze had grown enough that it warranted a heavy response. The winds became erratic over the next few days as the heat dome settled in. We live on one side of several old (Cameron Peak (2020), High Park (2012), and Bobcat Gulch (2000)) burn scars. Wildfire officials believed we were safe from the main conflagration—but with no guarantees. (They ‘hoped’ the natural breaks would work. They did.)

One week after ignition, the Alexander Moundain fire stands at just under 10,000 acres and is more than 50% contained. The weather pattern is changing from hot, dry, and windy to cooler with more humidity and precipitation. As the western mountain states enter the annual North American monsoon season, moisture pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean should ease the risk.

After a tense week, our new home is safe from the latest wildfire.