June 29th, 2012 
Waldo Canyon Fire - Photo Credit - Denver Post
Many of us watch from a far in horror as devestating fires continue to sweep the Rocky Mountain region, wreaking havoc on our beautiful state. A single lightening strike in High Park near Fort Collins on June 9, 2012 attributed to what has now been deemed the second largest fire in Colorado history. Scorching temps and high winds are other factors adding fuel to the fires that have encroached upon communities of Boulder County, Waldo Canyon, Flagstaff, Colorado Springs and Estes Park to name a few. Air support, ground crews, and fire engines have been exhausting all options to tame and diminish the damaging effects of these fires, yet displaced families are still in need of all the support they can get.
The American Red Cross has workers throughout the state staffing shelters and providing basic needs for evacuees of a number of wildfires, including:
* High Park Fire – west of Fort Collins. Shelter is at Cache La Poudre Middle School, 3515 W. County Road 54G in LaPorte; additional services for evacuees located at The Ranch in Loveland, the Disaster Resource Center on the CSU campus and a bulk distribution center at the Foothills Mall.
* Weber Fire – south of Mancos. Shelter is at the Mancos Performance Center on the corner of Beech and Grand streets in Mancos.
* Springer Fire – west of Woodland Park, near Lake George. Shelter is located at Woodland Park High school, 175 Panther Pkwy.
* Pyramid Mountain Fire -west side of Colorado Springs above Garden of Gods. Shelter is opening at Cheyenne Mtn. High School, 1200 Cresta Road, Colorado Springs.
* Estes Park Fire – west of Estes Park. Shelter is located at Estes Park High School, 1600 Manford Ave.
The Red Cross has received numerous reports of people concerned about locating family as well as potential cell phone overload. Please help them get the word out that people who are safe should register themselves with Safe and Well. People seeking information for loved ones can check Safe and Well for such information. Finally, the RED CROSS HIGHLY encourages any one who isn’t currntly affected to start working on their family communications plan NOW so they can avoid such a stressful situation.
TIPS
–Pick a location outside your area where you know you will go to meet up if cell service is down or you had to leave without your phone
–Select an out-of-area contact to be your “funnel” for information and inquiries about your well being. You can call this person to update your status and let other family/friends know they should call that person to do the same or find out how you’re doing.
–Other advice can be found at www.ColoradoRedCross.org/prepare
People who would like to support these efforts can do so by making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.
